Not too long ago, Krept & Konan were on course for the very top. Their 2013 mixtape ‘Young Kingz’ went top 20 in the UK and paved the way for the duo to win the Best Hip-Hop Act MOBO a year later. But while they’ve kept material coming in dribs and drabs over the years, their focus has largely shifted to their community, where they’ve opened a foundation, a supermarket and a restaurant.
So in refocusing on music, where better to start than with a sequel to a formative work? ‘Young Kingz II’ is a smart move that reminds us just how high the Freak Of The Week hitmakers once flew, and tracks such as New Snap City and Street Therapy pick up where they left off.
They sound energised, hungry and vital, while features from Chip and Potter Payper respectively elevate the tracks further.
The record treads expected hip-hop ground by chucking in a few more sensual and sappy entries, and while Smooth Lovin and Bedroom are fine enough, Krept & Konan are at their best when they're rapping with rage and vigor.
Low Vibrations mashes a dance beat and catchy hook with lashings of attitude, while Last Night In Kingston weaponises choral lines and funereal bells to give the record its most venomous moment.
‘Young Kingz II’ does sag in the middle, though, and lyrics like “done it in a Tesla, felt so electric” reveal the ring rust that has built up in the five years since the put out ‘Revenge Is Sweet’. But the odd dud punchline and sense of content overload comes with the territory, and they make up for it with the superb Ghetts-featuring Rage, which shows the duo at their performative best.
All told, ‘Young Kingz II’ won’t go down as the year’s most essential work, but it is a welcome return for a duo that deserves celebrating on and off the mic.
Krept And Konan Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu March 06 2025 - LONDON HERE at Outernet
Wed April 09 2025 - LONDON HERE at Outernet
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