Skepta: Konnichiwa Review

A lot has changed since 2012, the year Skepta’s last album Blacklisted was released. The world has survived a cataclysm—US President Barack Obama has served his last four years in office, and Skepta has become the personification of grime music’s resurgence. Grime isn’t driven by albums, but rather screw face inducing one liners and high energy radio sets. With Skepta's fourth release, aptly titled Konnichiwa, the north London emcee aims to let his listeners know it’s a new day with this body of work—four long years in the making.

Until 2014, Skepta struggled with musical identity and sincerity, we watched him assume many different forms through the years from rapping about making it rain in Turk inspired "Oynama Sikidim Sikidim" to singing with auto-tune in "Amnesia." It was evident that Skepta wasn’t only unsure of what type of music he wanted to make but who he wanted to become. Ironically this all seemed to fade away after releasing his forward-facing banger “That’s Not Me.” The Music of Black Origin award winning single wasn’t only theme song to summer 2014 but an epiphany and moment of self-realisation. Skepta finally looked at the Gucci-laden personae he’d become and had decided that was simply not him. In many ways, Konnichiwa reps the ferocity of self-doubt and how powerful self-belief can exist within the same being. But enough of all that—let’s get into it.

Saying Konnichiwa, "hello" in Japanese, Skepta introduces himself to his audience and sets the scene, after a years on end journey searching for himself. Straight away, the single delves into Asian culture channeling Shaolin Kung Fu vibes—something the RZA would cook up. The beat drops and heavy grime-sonics are introduced. The narrator speaks on corrupted agendas and dodgy prime ministers, revealing the inner-activist Skepta has only recently introduced to us. "Soon as I get bored, I jump on the plane. Nothin' ain't changed. Boy better know a man went to the BRITs on a train." He flexes the juxtaposition of his life, immediately setting a fearless and introspective tone for the album, touching on his personal losses after a miscarriage and losing a dear friend in Lukey, who was stabbed to death last summer.

Lyrics features south London’s new school grime emcee, Novelist, who shares Skepta's love for battling rival emcees. The beginning of this song samples something Wiley said in a 2001 Heartless Crew vs. Pay As U Go Cartel clash. "Lyrics for Lyrics calm" is now an iconic phrase and apparently inspired the etymology in this track. There’s heavy eski influence here, expressing both of the artists' love for war dubs and the elements of conflict. Skepta loves asserting his superiority of his rivals, both as a spitter and a man, making reference to his infamous duels with Birmingham rapper, Devilman that ignited Skepta's career in 2006. Skepta reminds us that he's ready to squash anyone who steps before him.

After being sampled on the previous track, the Godfather Wiley appears on Corn on the Curb. This track seems very freestlye-esque as Skepta weaves through a plethora of topics including: progression, women, skengs, fame, Grime beef, jewelry and status over several verses. Wiley absolutely obliterates his verse here, he speaks a lot about other lyricists, and this verse sounds like it might have fitted well on the previous track, a very good verse none the less. This track seems like Skepta took a chance to exhibit his skill over an intense beat. The end of this track features an intimate phone conversation between Skepta and Chip. Skepta confides in Chip, telling him about his uncertainty and pressure he’s facing in terms of music. Chip first addresses a stray shot he caught from Skepta on last year’s diss aimed at Devilman on "Nasty." Chipmunk then galvanizes and reassures his friend about his ability and the importance of his forth coming success.

Crime Riddim narrates a story in which Skepta got into a bar fight with a bloke who apparently spilled Skepta’s drink... more than once. Chaos ensued as Skepta punched him in his face and left him devastated and subsequently got arrested. The hook on here is very repetitive, with a minimalist and stylistic beat reminiscent of old school grime, that doesn't appear to fit.

It Ain’t Safe first surfaced back in 2014 just before the Red Bull Culture Clash, in which three groups took each other on, including Boy Betta Know and the A$AP Mob. This hook provided by A$AP Bari is simply one line repeated over and over ‘It ain't safe for the block, not even for the cops’. This song is very gritty and tough all the way through. The album has been very intense thus far and this song is no exception.

After all that intensity in the first few tracks, Skepta slows it down with the wavy Ladies Hit Squad. This seems like one aimed at the clubs. The stark sonic differences between grime veterans D Double E and Skepta are blended seamlessly with the New York style hook A$AP Nast provides. This one is very appropriately placed on the album as it serves as a breather to the pure grit we have been listening to thus far. D Double E showed of his versatility here with a calm verse, unlike his usual high energy and volume style.

In Numbers, Skepta holds the suits and label sharks accountable for the deteriorating the quality of music to generate dollars. He talks about how the people showing him attention now, who were noticeably absent before his come up, but showing up at his door hoping to cash in on his success. He also blames execs for his struggle to find his own identity early on in his career—and he wants little to do with them now. The joint is fun, featuring a Pharrell Williams on the hook and final verse, rounding off Skepta's swipe at the music industry, and building onto his anti-establishment personae.

After a two track break, we're back into the deep and gritty with Man, a nod toward Skepta’s closest companions, and a diss aimed at the fake friends he's encountered. He cleverly paraphrases his buddy Drake with “You are not mandem, you are not gang”. A gritty but still very simple and again minimalist track.

Shutdown is a previously released 2015 banger and one of Skepta’s most viewed YouTube videos—you'll definitely hear it playing from the roofless cars driving past you this summer. It also features a hilarious Drake sample. One would think that the self-proclaimed 6 God would make a fresh cameo on the album version, those holding out for such a surprise will find themselves disappointed.

That’s Not Me is another banger, but a bit more meaningful. This high energy track continues with one of the themes of identity in this album, he might not tell us who he is here, but he definitely tells us who he isn’t. He laments for past mistakes like wearing excessive amounts of Gucci and LV and falling in love with a ‘Sket’. There is a strong triumphant tone to this one as he celebrates finally discovering himself. He features his younger brother JME, who calmly dispatches his verse focusing on keeping it real and genuine.

Next up, the very spacey Detox features the BBK crew minus Solo 45 and JME. Appropriate as this song is about turning up and getting high. Each member of the crew drops a clever and nimble verse then keeps it moving. It’s a fun and almost humorous song, that Frisco completely blows away. The end of this song pays homage to Solo 45, who was incarcerated while the joint was being recorded.

As the final track on the album, Text Me Back, starts of comical but then he starts addressing someone, it turns about to be a lady, a lady seemingly very close to his heart. The beat transitions from a texting sound sample to a smoother more RnB sprinkled rather softer grime beat. He is very apologetic for not texting this lady back and tells her even though he doesn’t he never means to disrespect her he repeats this a few times. He tells her after all his travels he doesn’t want to be with anyone else apart from her. He then starts talking to his mother, he’s very honest and vulnerable here, he tells her he doesn’t want to see her cry anymore, and the reason he is always away is because he wants her and the rest of his family and friends to live better.

The project is very solid, true to grime culture, and this may be the first body of work in the genre that people around the world will listen to that isn’t watered down. Unfortunately, we’ve heard many of these songs before, and being only 12 tracks long, with 5 already in circulation, the record is hardly offering anything new for dedicated fans. With the amount of previous release dates, and the length of time we waited for this album, there’s much left to be desired. Hopefully tracks that didn’t make the final cut, will be released as b-sides to fulfill that appetite.

The conflict of Skepta’s self-doubt and confidence battling was refreshing and energetic, the emcee isn’t someone you see smiling or getting personal on stage, so it’s quite humanizing to see these elements shine through his lyrics. Konnichiwa mirrors an R-rated superhero flick, telling the familiar story of a person battling internal and external forces, but predictably triumphs after becoming true to one’s self and persistence. Skepta's journey is a bit more morbid than your average celebrated vigilante, it’s raw, authentic, honest and brave.