Konnichiwa

Sayonara.

Constantly amused by American adhering so closely to their stereotypes in these reviews! Absolutely deserves it's place on this list because: 1. It's fucking awesome 2. It's took grime to the next level commercially, creating space for the UK rap derivatives that are still dominating the UK charts to this day 3. The list is not an American list.

The ting goes skrrrahh (Ah) Pap, pap, ka-ka-ka (Ka-ka) Skidiki-pap-pap (Pap) And a pu-pu-pudrrrr-boom (Boom) Skya (Ah) Du-du-ku-ku-dun-dun (Dun) Poom, poom You don' know

Grime is a fun genre and this is a good album. As with most rap, I really don't need the skits. I get it, it's a fundamental part of the genre. But really, I cannot imagine a single person on the planet earth who is like "oh yeah I loved that skit off that rap album" CUT EM OUT OF ALL RAP ALBUMS

I'm glad that's over. At first I thought, ok, I can get through this, it's not too horrible, but as it went on I started hating it more and more. I don't enjoy rap to begin with but something about British rap just makes me cringe. 2 stars for the effort.

Absolute trash that this album is on here and many American hip-hop/rap albums are missing. I don’t need to listen to it just because it’s British. Such a biased author. It’s disgusting how biased this list it towards British albums that are average at best.

At first, I was like, "Hey, that's different and interesting" and then I was like, "hmmm, these are all starting to sound the same" and then I was like, "Skits? Really? I thought we were past this as a genre." Overall, it was exactly alright. The good balances the bad and averages out to a "meh" 3-star score.

Made me feel like I was in a Guy Ritchie movie

Konnichiwa. Well, alright, that's it. The final album. Maybe a more poetic end to the journey would have been a British psychedelic post-punk album from the 80s featuring cameos by Neil Young and Elvis Costello. But I guess some weird album I've never heard of, where the only review I can muster is the 500th new way of saying "Who fucking cares, 2/5", is the second best thing. See you all in the next life. Thanks for all the great albums I've discovered through this list, all the hilarious and interesting reviews I've had the pleasure to read, the fun Reddit discussions, and thank you to everybody who liked my dumb drivel enough to give it a thumbs up - especially for all the love that "Kollaps" review got (still the lowest rated album though 😞). I've now heard all of the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, but the most important thing, the thing I'm most glad I got to hear before I died, was the story about the boys in Dresden getting head from a fat goth lady. Who fucking cares, 2/5. Sayonara.

Lyrics were meh, British accent - noice

I could not wait for this to be done. Not only bad. Intrusive. Obnoxious.

This style of music is just so uninteresting to me

I really don't understand why this is on the list, it adds nothing that wouldn't be added by any other mid-10s trap album. The songs are average at best and downright cringey at worst. I don't usually agree that albums get added to the book purely because they're British, but I can't really disagree in regards to this album. I'm probably biased because I don't like the Roadman subculture which, to me, just seems to be British youths pretending to be what the American gangsta rappers of old actually were. "Trying to not get killed by police" bruh you live in London, not fucking LA.

Guess I don’t like this flavour of rap, either.

Classic grime, definite high points with Shutdown and That’s Not Me but every song slaps.

This shit hit hard as fuck. Definitely going into the rotation.

I really forgot how amazing this album is. Soooo nostalgic for me. Bangers on bangers on bangers. Amaze!!!

"Two plus two is four / Minus one that's three QUICK MATHS"

Why do all Brit’s sound like wussies

Fond memories of Chad putting this on at a veeeeeery deep point of the 2016 splendor session. TRUST ME DADDY

A very fun, even if slightly dated, timestamp of 2010’s culture that will have you vibing the whole runtime. I enjoyed the singles here, even if the in between stuff was somewhat forgettable.

I listened before bed and didn't really care for it. Too much bass. But I listened again (and on a different speaker system) and liked it more. Gonna try it the next time I drive somewhere

HE SAMPLED QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE

This is one I’ll have to sit in and give another listen later. I’m not super up on my Brit rap, it’s a different style, different rap scheme. I never cared for some of the other Brit rappers, but I do like this guy. The American rap influences are present with talks of gangs, bitches, drugs and arrogance. Themes I think are week and cliche, but Skepta makes up with a lot of this with nuanced skill and expertly crafted beats. I really liked Numbers. I think others would grow on me.

I'm a casual rap/hip hop fan at best and still just barely familiar with the grime genre. That said, I don't know enough about the genre to really assess if this is top of the top or not, but I did enjoy this album all the same.

I'm rating it this low very begrudgingly. UK grime is so good, and this is such a poor representation of it. The highlights of this album are all songs that were originally released as one-off singles, and it shows. I think Skeptas brother JME is far more talented and releases much more interesting music than Skepta. Dizzee Rascal too. It's a shame because this album is a real nostalgia trip for me, and I don't hate it, but it should have been an EP and better albums could have taken it's place

Hab aktuell keine Motivation, gute Sachen hier zu schreiben. Fand es langweilig und eintönig. Britischer Rap klingt aber oftmals cool. Hat mich leider nicht abgeholt.

It was interesting, not really my style. One song made me stop listening to it and go find Queens of the Stone Age.

Flunssahuuruissa meni enemmän kuin ohi. Pari kertaa yritin pyöräyttää uusiksi muttei vaan tarttunut. En tiedä kummassa oli vika lopulta.

Ihan laadukas setti, mut tyyli ei mitenkään erityisesti puhutellu

I mean… meh? I find it very confusing that the album title is Konnichiwa but then it’s full of very British rap. I like the album cover though.

Rap with British accents will just never sound right to me.

Why is there so much of this on the list? This was crap.

I don’t know much about hip hop but this is stupid.

Probably the most important album to the entire genre of grime next to Boy in Da Corner. Extremely biased review because I was 17 when this came out, where It Ain't Safe, Shutdown, and That's Not Me were a staple of every house party I went to for my late teens. If you didn't have the privilege of hearing songs from this album at house parties you went to, you either weren't cool enough, or didn't live in AU/UK. Suck shit. I have no ills with this album, this is grime perfection. I'm not surprised this album is rated so poorly on this site. Though it's mostly yanks winging., there are some valid criticisms, but those criticisms reflect on the genre itself rather than this record. Grime isn't for everyone. That's was the whole point until Stormzy ruined it by selling out and making music with that greasy ginger cunt Ed Sheeran. Now it's a household name and the genre is ruined forever. Much like mainstream hip-hop in the US, Grime is no different nowadays. You absolutely fucked it, Stormzy. Skepta's booming voice really stands out, but it's the production that really makes this album. The latter of the half has some of the filthiest production I'd ever heard on a hip-hop song. Man, Shutdown, and ESPECIALLY That's Not Me - one of the most sampled grime songs of all time. Which itself was a sample of another early grime song. That's Not Me is probably the song that defines this album, and probably is the biggest grime song of all time up to that point. In fact, I think it still is the biggest & most impactful grime song of all time. If you can't tell, I enjoy the fuck out of that song, and considering the amount of artists that sample or rap over the beat, I dare say I'm not wrong. Like I said, grime isn't for everyone - but if you like grime, you definitely recognise that this is probably one of the most important albums to come out of the genre, if not THE most. I don't think any Grime artist has been able to replicate an album like this, nor will they. This defined what grime is at the time, and will always be remembered as so. Well deserved 5. It's a shame this is probably one of two grime albums on here, but I understand, it's not everyone's cup of marmalade or whatever the fuck it is they say. /end biased review.

I don't know anything about grime, as a white 53yr old never been my thing, but after listening to this and looking up the prison population stats and stop and search I get the anger. We live in a country that promote British values, and as a teacher I do this but these only really apply to white people. This is a well made album and dwarves 4 stars.

Don’t know anything about grime, and I always think UK rappers sound goofy at first, but this was a great listen. I loved the beats and the lyrics started to get me hooked towards the end.

Very cool

Wow. I went into this fully expecting to hate every inch of it. Loved it. skits can do one, but this is absolute hype fam

This is the most fun I had since starting this project

Blown away easy 10/10 album no skip. and epic qotsa sample in Man.

along with dizzee rascal, this álbum helped me realise that i actually quite enjoy grime. was very impressed on my first listen.

I enjoy rap/hip-hop with at least some aggression and this strikes a good balance of being passionate and a bit angry without being just gangsta' rap. I enjoy the rhymes and some of them are reasonably intelligent. The beats are also nice and punchy. I also enjoy that the lyrics have a purpose, a meaning, other than just: fuck bitches, shoot snitches, get stacks, like some rap (that is sometimes enjoyable, but in a different way). It's not the biggest 5 I've given, but I would probably recommend this one to a friend if I knew they were into this kind of stuff Standouts Konnichiwa It Ain't Safe Man Shutdown That's Not Me 5/5

Måske det bedste grime-album der findes

Strong start, I was UP from the first set of sounds, amazing repertoire and just strong energy. Loved it

muito bom

Gewoon echt goed, dikke beats, vette raps en echt anders dan wat ze in de VS maken.

Dark, clever, refreshing.

Wagwan fam, can't lie man was loving the first half of this album fam, but some of the talking parts were proper cringe blud you get me? Man took a star off for it fam, but then Shutdown and That's Not Me came on and man couldn't not give 5 stars fam, see what I'm saying fam? Big man ting.

very cool

шаг в перед. нью-йорк, я работаю в закусочной, но танцую в команде, мы мечтали, хожу в джинсовых шортах, гавайской рубашке и катаюсь на скейте и у меня всегда проводные наушники. и мне хорошо.

Dope

Gosh this is so good. I just love the way that UK hip-hop went from being the most cringeworthy thing in the world to stuff like this, which is so raw and feisty and just such an insight into that world and culture. "Shutdown" is amazing. Scary that this is getting on for 10 years old now! I am so old.

Hard as hell, one of the greats of the grime scene, amazing guest spots, important and good (not just one or the other!), absolutely brilliant

Rating: 10/10

Heel dik album

Love grime!

So so good. Ended up listening to Skepta and other english rappers all night.

OK. I guess I like grime? I very much like the rhythm of the words and the backing tracks and definitely the dialect.

Кайфово было. Качало. Переслушал еще раз. Numbers заела в голове.

woooooooooooo

Damn, this was a vibe. Really dug this one

This album was awesome. I didn't know about grime, grateful to have the chance to learn about it. Really catchy hip hop, with the songs focused largely on social commentary and internal reflections. That's spot on my taste for hip hop. 4.5 I'd say, rounded up this time.

Я так и знал, что топовое ревью будет на 1 звездочку с каким-нибудь кринжовым комментом про то, что хип-хоп уебская музыка. Честно сказать, "сайонара" даже вот норм, хотя, на мой взгляд, совсем незаслуженно. Альбом вплоне себе. Лучшая песня - Man.

3.7 2x liked it better than expected. never heard of this British rapper

Wow what a throwback. I learned about Skepta in 2014 and was immediately blown away with UK grime. I remember the build up to this album and listening to it the day it dropped and being impressed. There are definitely some songs that were made to be more radio-friendly and commercially successful that stray away from his previous more underground style, but nearly 10 years later this still holds up insanely well.

I'm not deep in the grime. I've listened a little and liked what I've heard. Never heard this before. Cool album cover. This has great energy. His flow is sharp. Some of these beats are so good for being so stripped down. They grab my attention in the first couple seconds and hold it. I'm not feeling Ladies Hit Squad, skits can be ignored, but most of the tracks click for me. I'd listen to some of this again.

I liked a lot actually - wouldn't say I'm a particular fan of grime but very listenable and Skepta's definitely got a more main character rap style compared to some of the collaborators on some of the songs which I enjoyed less. 2014 passed me by in a tired haze of young children so nice to revisit and enjoy the album.

Skepta's *Konnichiwa*, released in 2016, is a landmark album that propelled grime—a uniquely British subgenre of hip-hop—into mainstream consciousness globally. The album is a bold statement of Skepta’s artistic identity, blending raw lyricism, gritty production, and themes of self-belief, struggle, and cultural authenticity. Below is an in-depth review focusing on its lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and an evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## **Lyrics** Skepta’s lyrics on *Konnichiwa* are a mix of introspection, braggadocio, and socio-political commentary. Tracks like “Konnichiwa” and “Shutdown” showcase his ability to balance personal storytelling with sharp observations about fame, identity, and the music industry. For instance, in the title track “Konnichiwa,” Skepta juxtaposes his rise to fame with his grounded lifestyle: *“Boy Better Know a man went to the BRITs on a train”*—a line that underscores his rejection of industry pretensions[1][3]. The album also delves into darker themes. Skepta reflects on personal losses, such as the death of his friend Lukey and struggles with self-doubt. In tracks like “Text Me Back,” he explores vulnerability in relationships, offering a rare emotional depth within grime’s typically aggressive framework[1][4]. However, some tracks like “Ladies Hit Squad” fall short lyrically, leaning on generic themes that lack the punch of the album’s stronger moments[3]. --- ## **Music and Production** Musically, *Konnichiwa* is deeply rooted in grime’s sonic traditions—fast-paced beats, sparse instrumentation, and heavy basslines. Skepta produced much of the album himself, ensuring it stayed true to grime’s raw aesthetic. Songs like “Lyrics” and “Crime Riddim” are prime examples of this minimalist yet hard-hitting approach[5]. The album also experiments with cross-genre influences. Tracks like “It Ain’t Safe,” featuring A$AP Bari, blend grime with American rap elements, creating a hybrid sound that bridges UK and US hip-hop styles. However, this experimentation is not always successful. Pharrell Williams’ production on “Numbers” feels out of place within the album's gritty context, diluting its cohesive grime identity[3][4]. Despite these occasional missteps, Skepta’s production shines in tracks like “Man (Gang)” and “Shutdown,” where he crafts infectious hooks over innovative beats. The closer "Text Me Back" stands out for its propulsive yet emotional soundscape, showcasing Skepta's versatility as both a producer and artist[3]. --- ## **Themes** *Konnichiwa* revolves around themes of authenticity, resilience, and cultural pride. Skepta uses the album to assert his identity as an independent artist who refuses to conform to industry norms. This DIY ethos is evident in both his lyrics and the fact that the album was released under his own label, Boy Better Know[3][6]. Another recurring theme is Skepta’s role as a cultural ambassador for grime. The album celebrates the genre’s roots while pushing it into new territories. Tracks like “Shutdown” are anthems of defiance against institutional gatekeeping in music and culture[4]. At the same time, songs like “Corn On The Curb” reflect on the challenges of navigating fame while staying true to one’s roots[3]. --- ## **Influence** *Konnichiwa* had a monumental impact on grime and UK hip-hop. It marked a turning point for grime’s global recognition, particularly in the United States—a market historically resistant to UK rap due to accents and cultural differences[2][3]. Skepta’s collaborations with artists like A$AP Bari and Pharrell Williams helped bridge this gap while maintaining grime's core identity. The album also inspired a new generation of grime artists to embrace their authenticity rather than chasing commercial trends. By winning the Mercury Prize in 2016—a rare feat for grime—*Konnichiwa* cemented its status as both a critical and cultural milestone[6]. --- ## **Pros** 1. **Authenticity**: Skepta stays true to grime's raw essence while addressing personal and societal issues. 2. **Production**: The beats are innovative yet faithful to grime's minimalist roots. 3. **Cultural Impact**: The album elevated grime onto the global stage without compromising its identity. 4. **Standout Tracks**: Songs like “Shutdown,” “Man (Gang),” and “That’s Not Me” are iconic examples of Skepta's artistry. --- ## **Cons** 1. **Inconsistent Middle Section**: Tracks like “Ladies Hit Squad” and “Numbers” disrupt the album's flow with less compelling content. 2. **Repetition**: Some songs feel sonically similar, leading to moments where the album risks sounding monotonous. 3. **Limited Accessibility**: While fans of grime will appreciate its authenticity, listeners unfamiliar with the genre might find it challenging to engage with its dense lyricism and unconventional rhythms. --- ## **Conclusion** *Konnichiwa* is a landmark album that solidifies Skepta’s position as one of grime’s most important figures. Its strengths lie in its raw lyricism, innovative production, and cultural significance as a bridge between UK grime and global hip-hop audiences. While it has some weaker moments in terms of pacing and experimentation, these do little to detract from its overall impact. Ultimately, *Konnichiwa* is more than just an album—it’s a declaration of independence for both Skepta as an artist and grime as a genre. It stands as a testament to the power of staying true to one’s roots while pushing boundaries—a balance few artists achieve so effectively.

I like the beats the best so shout out to the main producer, Skepta. His flow is pretty decent too. British rappers always seem to make it sound elegant.

Wildly inconsistent, but i'm still nostalgic for it. You get some insane bangers like It Ain't Safe and That's Not Me, but also duds like Ladies Hit Squad and Numbers. One thing you can't deny is it has some infectious energy.

Never heard of this guy but I liked it. Good rapping, some clever lyrics, good beats. Dumb interludes. But overall good effort from a modern rapper from the UK. Favorite songs were the title track, Lyrics, Crime Riddim, Ladies Hit Squad, Man (sampled Queens of the Stone Age's Regular John? Loved it), Shutdown, That's Not Me.

I actually dug this but noticed that it came out in 2016. In a year that had an amazing A Tribe Called Quest comeback album (the first in 17 years, and the same year that Phife Dawg died) and the phenomenal Danny Brown album Atrocity Exhibition, of course this list went with a British rap album. Still good, but come on, we get it, you're British and you like British stuff. Great album but the skits attached to the end of a few songs dragged it down. I thought we stopped doing that shit a decade or two ago

#1001Albums I came to this with no idea what to expect and ended up being pleasantly surprised. It’s interesting to compare this with the Genius SZA album that I listened to recently - they have some similarities - the spoken interludes and martial arts movie samples - but I ended up liking this album a lot more. It’s probably because I could understand what he was rapping about and I got a lot more of the cultural references from Fireman Sam to Knock Down Ginger. Good stuff and righteously angry.

Solid grime

Was not familiar with his music and his work. Good surprise, great beats and lyrics. Bunch of good songs for a different listen.

Skepta, figure emblématique de la scène grime britannique, a sorti son quatrième album "Konnichiwa" en 2016. "Konnichiwa" est un album profondément ancré dans le grime, ce genre musical énergique et brut né dans les rues de Londres. Skepta y déploie un flow puissant et percutant, rappant avec une énergie communicative sur des beats minimalistes et sombres. Les paroles sont souvent crues et réalistes, abordant des thèmes tels que la vie dans les quartiers défavorisés, la violence ou encore l'ambition. L'album a propulsé le rappeur sur le devant de la scène internationale et il a été salué par la critique, remportant même le prestigieux Mercury Prize. L'album compte également des collaborations prestigieuses, avec notamment Pharrell Williams sur le titre "Numbers" et ASAP Nast sur "Ladies Hit That". Ces featuring apportent une touche de fraîcheur et de diversité à l'ensemble, sans pour autant dénaturer l'identité sonore de Skepta. Un gros 4/5, car même si l'album est très bon, il y a quelques titres légèrement en dessous des autres.

Grime is an interesting take on hip hop/rap and I’m definitely intrigued enough to want to listen to more. I think this album/artist has potential for me to fully like it. I did skip through the skits. I do that for pretty much any rap album. They get pretty redundant after a first listen through.

I've had one or two grime albums so far, and thought they were kinda corny. But this guy has a great delivery and some pretty nasty beats. Best grime album I've heard yet

I have a real soft spot for grime.

Damn near solid. Glad this popped up, been looking for some good Rap/Hip-Hop.

Yllättävän hyvä räbälevy. Sanoista saa hyvin selvää ja tekstit tuntuu tasapainolevan hyvin räppiuhon ja itseironian välimaastossa.

Not bad

Oi issa mostly enjoyable an' straightforward album frah Skepta, innit? Bare bangers throughout ya 'ear but the bloody mobile call tings are making meh softer than a fresh baked biscuit in tea, eh! 8/10

I have heard of Skepta before but I never heard any of his songs or albums. I was truly surprised about him as an artist and his songs. It really was a pleasant surprise. My favorite tracks were Crime Riddim, Numbers and Shutdown.

As far as as grime goes, it's really good, you can do alot worse but I've never been too fond of grime.

Favourite song - Konnichiwa

Nothing like skits baked into the songs completely ruining them. Great album but skits need to be their own tracks

pretty good

The flow didn’t quite grab me but I know what he was going for. Great piece of grime.

Το καλυτερο που μπορει να δωσει η uk grime σκηνη

Skepta goes in, fam, bare cold bars from the ends, big man ting, man’s moving mad, patterned it worldwide, fam, merking every ting, every wasteman, mandem, ya get me, fam?

Fun

grime gospel

Verrassend leuk, britt hop met het juiste accent.

I had never heard of Skepta and was unfamiliar with the Grime genre. I had read it's EDM, but this seems more like dirty hip-hop to me. I really enjoyed this record, great energy, flow, and had definitely heard a couple tracks before. This record was a pleasant surprise, very much enjoyed it.

So listen, I love real hip hop and have never cared for grime but this is alright. I enjoyed the fact he’s respectful to his mum and chats about getting tucked in at bedtime. The low point of the album was definitely the US guest rapper A$AP Floppy or some punk. It reminded me how bad enunciation has become for some and I appreciate the clarity of Skapta all the more. He’s got a cool enough tone, but grime beats don’t do it for me. All in all I’m landing in the positive side.

• 4/5 • Grime is probably my favorite flavor of rap/hip hop and Skepta is among the best • Favorite tracks: Konichiwa, Shutdown, and That's Not Me

4 - I got really excited for a rap album from 2016, but there wasn’t much depth. Some good tracks but if I wanted to listen to bravado I’d listen to something with better bars—all to say it was still very good

Liked this a lot more than I thought I would. I know Dizzee came first but I found this much more enjoyable!