Reviews (page 5 of 7)
The big man ting not my ting here, some fun beats though
Numbers, Man, That's not Me
Not my thing
I like British rap a lot. Tiny Tempah was my first. 4 stars.
Very cool UK rap. Great beats and very viby! Never heard of Skepta before. Will def listen to more.
Although I could think of dozens of hip hop albums more worthy of being on this list, I still enjoyed this (minus the skits). I don't think that's an American bias as another reviewer suggests, I think it's "just ok" rapping. Pair that with the relative insignificance of this artist and you have a head-scratching addition to 1001 albums you must hear before you die. Some of the beats were cool with chip tune aspects and what not, but like many of the questionable rap selections for this site, I'm not sure why this one makes the cut.
Oi bruv! I be right straight chuffed bout dis 'ere geezah Skepta's brilliant production and fire bars. Noice surprise innit?! Seriously though this one grew on me with each new production choice (YES, Queens of the Stone Age first album being sampled absolutely threw me for a loop!) Not to mention the lyrics were extremely well executed. This was about the craft and I appreciated that very much. I feel like this one has layers that could grow on you over time and I'm looking forward to digging back into it. Cheerio!
drei plus
In the midst of a brief surge of interest in the grime genre in the U.S. (a resurgence was also going on in the U.K., the birthplace of the genre), Skepta cobbled together a tale of two cities in the form of Konnichiwa. The first half features familiar faces and opportunistic collaborators dipping their toes in the grimy water, being on both measures successful and grating. The second half sounds of a Skepta not encumbered by such frivolous endeavors, leading and lending the album some of its highest points that sounds worthy of the album it's housed in. Overall, a decent showing from a big fish from a big pond planting his flag (however briefly) in uncharted waters. Favorites: Konnichiwa, Corn on the Curb, It Ain't Safe, Man, Shutdown, That's Not Me, Text Me Back.
LMAO look up the video "RZA unironically creates a terrible beat for a Guitar Center promo", there is a lot of overlap with that beat and Crime Riddim. The fact that this album reminded me of that video is hilarious and I can't even remotely take this seriously anymore. I understand why some people like this, but I just don't like Grime. The UK are really good at making rock music and that is about it. Whenever they try to branch out to other genres it always sounds a little lame. I just don't think the British accent fits rap at all. A lot of the beats are also pretty annoying, I'm pretty sure that overused airhorn sound effect was in its ironic phase in 2016. I'm also not a huge fan of his flow, he makes ever song sound the same, and it has a lyrical spiritual kinda vibe. Every synth he used for the rest of the album just made me laugh, because I just kept thinking about that stupid video. Specifically the part right before he adds the doorbell sound effect. Skepta is trying so hard but it just sounds so weak. Ok, so I don't think this is the worst album ever in the grand scheme of music, but in terms of this list, this is one of my least favorite albums so far. Ever song sounds like a joke song or a parody of real rap music, those synths sound terrible, it is way too tryhard, I don't like his flow, I was starting to get a headache, It was a slog to get through. Despite those complaints it isn't the worst album ever, I just feel like it is the bottom of the list and I don't give enough 1's so here we go. High 1.
Not my thing.
While I enjoyed this not made me feel equally young and old. Things held in such a specific time rarely stand the test of it.
I didn't mind this album at all - love hearing new sounds...
Pleasant surprise.
erste track slappt jo heeeert. er isch chli links und rechts am usteile. beats gönd dumm. lyrics for lyrics checki nöd aber de chindergschrei und fette bass geeeil. corn on the curb chunter mit de fireman sam line hinefüre. crime riddim au siiiiick. fiuick. jo fiuick. ladies hit squad definitiv nöd de best liedtitel hä. britschr rap scho witzig sie reded so über d premier league haha. man isch jo huuuere geeil de beat mann holy moly
こんにちは de title reack hani jz um einiges weniger grimey gfunde alsi erwartet han AAHH jz FAM FAM FAM FAM FAM FAM FAM crime riddim gaht na dumm, de rest hetmi nanig so umghaue getting lovey dovey with the hoes😭😭 ladies hit squad kenni glaub?? find de beat sehrsehr geil I HIT THE G SPOT WHEN MY JEANS OFF WISOOOOOOOOOO ja jz hets es gad chli verkackt für mich hahaha pharrelllll puuuh die beats ich han immer s gfühl ich bruch es ziitli, bis ich mich ah grime gwöhnt han, aber denn BOUM man dumm shutdown kenni vom drey? so oder so en bangggggger bin momentan zwüsche 3 undeme 4 text me bsck wieder seeehr cool bin seeehr gspalte iwie okk ich han nomal chli drii glost, es git es 4i
I don't hate this because is not american, I hate it because it's another boring rap album. One star more because of the QOTSA sampler.
I don’t know what it is about British rappers that just hits better with me. Maybe they sound smarter than American rappers.
Grime as a genre emerged in the early 2000s so by this point it had transcended the mainstream and was well into the twilight of its relevance. At this point Drill was cementing itself as the darker, grittier successor, truly reflecting what was happening on the streets of London and filling the void that the grime scene left when it became ultra commercial Brit award winning fodder. This just sounds like uncle music now… painfully mid 2010s.
I admire the editor’s resolve to find new and exciting forms of English hip hop that I don’t like, for later editions of the book.
UK Rap ist eh besser als US Rap und fand das ganz gut, nur halt nicht mein Genre
Eh, not my thing. Not a must listen
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.
Skrrrr papapapa rumbrumbrimb
3.7 2x liked it better than expected. never heard of this British rapper
Meh. Nothing that compelled me to listen again
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 heard Man from the song generator (R.I.P.) a couple of years ago and found it pretty good. Was hoping this would be up to snuff, but sadly it's just okay, and I'm wondering if I only like Man because of the Queens of the Stone Age sample. Still, not horrendous, but this certainly isn't winning me over to U.K. hip hop.
British people simply should not be allowed to rap.
I feel like with another listen I could find something I'm apparently missing here, but I didn't get it on the first pass. Decently solid flow but didn't sit with me.
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.
Like being trapped on the London Underground with a guy who won’t stop free-styling into his phone. No thank you, mate. Sayonara!
Really enjoyed this!
Hip Hop. 1/5
I’m offended I had to listen to this album. Years ago I listened to another grime album Boy in the Corner by Dizziee Rascal and was underwhelmed by the heavy staccato beats battering my ears. This is no exception. Ba ba, ba ba ba ba, boom! It wears me out. I can imagine hearing this on a sweaty dance floor after downing a dozen Ridley Brown Ales, but those days are far behind. This is an album someone might put on a list knowing there are far better rap albums in order to appear edgy and cool. It’s not.
As rap goes, I don’t mind a bit of grime. Some good beats here and rich production, but I can’t help but find the lyrics so cliche and cringe (the standard sex, drugs, money, fame) that it puts me off somewhat. Hard one to rate so going down the middle.
Some annoying bits, some okay parts.
I kinda like British rap just because the accent is something different. But this just got old after a bit. Also, who the fuck is this guy?
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, considering I would have never given this album even a second glance after seeing the tag "grime" on it. Very catchy and creative beats, great rapping that doesn't try to sound american and so it keeps a distinct britishness. Guess this should teach me not to judge a book by its cover, or rather an album by its music genres. Key tracks: It Ain't Safe That's Not Me
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.
I didn’t think it was totally awful, but I also didn’t really enjoy it.
Not my thing
When you hear one track on a Gorillaz album it's kinda fun. A whole album? Gets old fast.
What happened to that girl who was singing at the beginning of Konnichiwa? I heard that and figured it might be pretty good. And then she left, and all we had was... that. Not horrible; I can go maybe 2.25. At least it wasn't Eminem.
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.
A little EDM, a little rap, a little dancehall shoved in. The fact is, I don't see how this sonically builds on Dizzee Rascal's foundations (his debut album Boy in da Corner is also on the list). They are siblings rather than spawn of. Also, I thought the days of skits on albums were behind us?! Overall: 1/10
Difícil encarar o estilo!
Not a fan of drill/grime, or whatever this is.
absolutely not my kind of music, had to skip
It's hard to take British Rap seriously, but Konnichiwa is as close as I think you can come.
The other primary example of grime on the 1001 is Dizzie Rascal, after which I declared that grime was just not for me. But Skepta took my skepticism and challenged it. I don’t love “Konnichiwa,” but it’s definitely a step up from “Boy in Da Corner.” There are a lot of features on “Konnichiwa,” but they kind of get in the way of Skepta fully defining his style. I preferred his rapping to almost all of his guests, but particularly A$AP Nast. Nast copies my least favorite style of rapping of all time - overprocessed and incredibly ubiquitous obnoxious flow shared by dozens of wanna-bes - that almost completely killed my interest in rap music in the 2010s.
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.
Rap with British accents will just never sound right to me.
Rating: 7/10 Very good hip-hop album. Great production and decent rhymes but pretty pedantic lyrically.
Konnichiwa is agressive and very grime/electronic beatsy. I have a hard time with British rap, I can’t stop thinking of the gang kids from a British crime drama. 5.2/10
I'm not a fan of most other hip-hop, let alone some unknown (to me) British shit. A lot of repetition in these tunes, I could see where it could end up being catchy. For the most part, I find these songs way more cringey.
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.
not totally my thing but i fw it
Great rhythms and flow. Good beats. Interludes which I always love as a conceit. Maybe some tracks get lost in a sea of same?
Tried to give it a chance, nah, not for me.
If this is the BEST example of grime, sure. I still don't need to like it though.
I try not to speak towards grime or British rappers when I say: this was shit. Just absolutely abysmal. It’s all repetitive garbage with some of the most annoying vocals I heard. I really don’t want to pin it on Skepta being British, but… God I couldn’t stand his voice. And he’s just rapping the same lyrics over and over again. If I hear “It ain’t safe for the block, not even for the cops again”, I’m going to snap. And what the fuck is with the skits? You’re fucking seriously putting shit like a phone conversation and a fucking exchange between you and some salty fuck over a game of Call of Duty (or whatever fucking shooter was popular at the time)? What is this, the 80’s? De La Soul did this with that game show on 3 Feet and Rising in fucking 1989 and that was miles better. I don’t want to lump an entire music genre into one bad experience. There’s probably better grime albums out there. But this ain’t it. “Favorite” track: Ladies Hit Squad (because there are two buffers, I mean guest vocalists) Other hits: Numbers, sort of. It’s still annoying.
in the fast-moving world of hip-hop, few things sound as dated as music from 10 years ago. it's ok.
I'd never heard of this guy, but glad to finally get another rap album. The album starts off strong, hard funky type beat on title track. Ladies hit squad pretty good. Not sure I love the rest of the album, but it's not bad for sure. Better than much of what's out there in rap these days, at least. Perhaps worth another listen. Base lines hit pretty hard in some tracks, but for others the beat is just more irritating than anything. Some tracks the lyricism sounds a little on the lazy side, like delivery on chorus on Numbers, for example. Shutdown is a pretty solid track, and That's Not me. Last trackis pretty tight as well. 3.5 stars.
Uhhhh yeah, not my thing for a whole album. Grime is cool, though.
Music for the dullard
I kinda like it
A tale between two halves; the first half was good, but the second half was weak. If nothing else, it's something different. Favorite Track: "Konnichiwa".
I'm sure this is good, but it's not for me.
Never been fully into grime personally but I do enjoy how it mixes traditional gangster rap braggadocio with very unglamorous British colloquialisms and frequent references to people's mums. There’s quite a lot of to like here (the run of Man -> Shutdown -> That’s Not Me is pretty great), along with some more ordinary stuff and unnecessary skits. Not sure if this album is exceptional in itself but I remember it being at the forefront of the grime revival which was pretty big for a while a few years back, along with Stormzy. As a layman I’d say it represents the genre reasonably well?
After a very rough start with the inaccessible tracks Konnichiwa and Lyrics, the album improves slightly with some high-energy and thick-textured dubs. It Ain't Safe has a catchy enough vocal hook ("...not even for the cops!") to justify its repetitiveness, and it's actually one of my favourites on here. It's one of the rare hip-hop tracks that doesn't go completely off the rails lyrics-wise. Numbers is another strong track with some soft mixing of industrial noises really adding atmosphere to complement the humorously earnest lyrics (numbers! calculators!!). The song Man vaguely approaches a Nirvana-esque chord progression with its high synths, and I can respect that. Similarly, the almost ethereal keyboards in Shutdown are absolutely the star of the track. Unlike most other songs on here, they provide some kind of melody that allows the track stand out. But there are some real issues with the album – first and foremost that countless other albums from the same era should have been included in the list for the post-2005 update. A 2010s hip-hop record with the most generic possible British rap vocal isn't going to cut it. The album flow is a bit rough too. The tried-and-true best strategy for organising an album of mixed good and bad tracks is to place the best ones at the start and end, letting those two points on the album pack the most punch. It leaves the listener in awe and wanting more. In the case of Konnichiwa, the aforementioned starting duo is pretty bad – and to top it off, the finale couplet of Detox / Text Me Back is (arguably) even worse. Completely monotone vocals on top of identically monotone backing instrumentals, including a simple trap beat that provides nothing interesting. And once you've managed to tune out all of the above elements, there isn't much left to listen to. 2/5 Key tracks: It Ain't Safe, Man, Shutdown
Hip hop
Nope, don't like rap
Skepta definitely has some skill, and lyrical flow. But the chorus on a lot of the songs are very repetitive. And some of the songs feel like they are seizure-inducing (looking at you, "Numbers"). The dialogue at the end of the songs go on for way too long, too. NEXT.
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.
Never heard of the "UK grime scene." I guess that's what this is. Cool, dark sounding grooves, harsh lyrics, rap with a british accent, pretty repetitious. Next.
absolutely terrible. we got like 10 minutes in and was already sick of it. i will never understand how this type of UK rap has shooters
Meh
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.
Perhaps its just a lack of exposure to the genre that had me feeling a bit refreshed with this album, but I quite enjoyed a majority of it. A bit of a tough album to rate, I was thinking about which side of 3 or 4 I would land on but I think some of the weaker tracks towards the middle let it down for me.
Grime is the mentally retarded younger half-brother of gangsta rap. Their parents pretend they love them both the same but we both know mum hasn’t been giving grime as much attention since his dad ran off with his ex drum and bass. She reminds herself at least she doesn’t have it as bad as her sister in Western Sydney as consolation
This album fluctuates between being extremely original, unique, boundary pushing yadayada whilst also being genre defining to having one of the worse songs I've literally ever heard on it (ladies hit squad) 7/10
I have never been a huge hip hop fan, but I'm not going to pretend like the album that has That's Not Me on it is a bad album. Unfortunately, outside of that and Crime Riddim I don't see any reason to come back to this and as an album itself the skits do nothing for me. There are a few good tracks here, two standout ones but as a whole it's not something I would give a spin again. Highlights: Crime Riddim, That's Not Me,
Guter Hip-Hop, mehr nicht.
Okay listen. Not really a fan.
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
Some certified bangers on here. The bass and production go hard on this grime record. But sorry Skepta, it's tough to sound gangsta with a British accent and the lyrics/subject matter isn’t among the best.
Too many skits but really good otherwise
#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.
That was surprisingly good! I'm not really familiar with this subgenre of hip hop, but I liked the pretty minimalist background music and the flow. I love Bob Vylan, now I understand better their hip hop side.
Wasn't that familiar with Grime before hearing this, can't say I enjoy the genre a lot, but this album was pretty ok to me. The album gives away an impression of a fairly well produced piece of music, so it can be considered a step up from the original Grime, but the lyrics and the flow still match what the style is about. The point of art is to make you feel certain emotions when you hear/see it. This album captures the UK gheto atmosphere well, you feel british, you feel angry, you feel like a gangster. The beats hit hard and the flow and the vocals match them pretty well. All in all an ok piece of music which captures the atmosphere of the place it is coming from. Probably not a general listen, but can be included when you need to hype up for some training sessions for example. The skits are a bit longer and get in the way of the music.
Solid grime
Grime. There’s definitely a cultural difference between uk and us rap, but overall I didn’t hate it. Some of it is cringe, some of it bangs
Was not familiar with his music and his work. Good surprise, great beats and lyrics. Bunch of good songs for a different listen.
Alors voilà, le Grand Grimoire, ce pavé de 1001 albums qui dicte ma vie musicale depuis des mois, a décidé de me sortir de ma zone de confort. Et pas qu'un peu, car il vient avec l'album de Skepta "Konnichiwa", de me jeter sans ménagement, dans les rues froides et humides de Tottenham, au coeur de ce truc qu'on appelle "le Grime". "Konnichiwa", bonjour, en japonais. Le rapport ? Je le cherche encore. Mais qu'importe le flacon, pourvu qu'on ait l'ivresse, ou au moins un bon mal de crâne. Soyons honnêtes, quand j'ai vu le nom sur la liste, j'ai soupiré. J'ai pensé : "Encore un rappeur." Et je ne parle pas du Grime... ce mot seul évoquait pour moi une culture lointaine, hermétique, une affaire de jeunes en survêtement qui communiquent par onomatopées sur des sonneries de portable. J'avais tort, enfin, pas sur toute la ligne, mais j'avais tort sur l'essentiel. "Konnichiwa" n'est pas un album qui cherche à te plaire, il s'en contrefout, il t'attrape par le col et te hurle sa vérité à la gueule. C'est brut, c'est minimaliste, c'est d'une froideur quasi industrielle. Et là, forcément, ça a commencé à me parler. Les productions sont squelettiques, métalliques. On n'est pas dans le G-Funk californien, ensoleillé et plein de basses rondouillardes. Non, ici, la basse est une lame de rasoir, les beats sont des coups de matraque sur un conteneur en métal. C'est l'architecture brutaliste des council estates londoniens mise en musique. C'est gris, c'est anxiogène, c'est claustrophobique. Et putain, c'est efficace. L'énergie qui se dégage de ce disque est sidérante, c'est l'urgence de ceux qui n'ont rien à perdre. Skepta ne rappe pas, il débite et son flow est tendu comme un arc, précis comme un sniper. Et surtout, il a cet accent du Nord de Londres à couper au couteau, qui ancre chaque syllabe dans une réalité sociale et géographique bien précise. On n'est pas à L.A., on n'est pas à New York. On est à Londres, et ça s'entend. C'est cette authenticité crue, cette fierté d'appartenir à une scène locale qui a fini par conquérir le monde, qui fait toute la force de l'album. Il y a une filiation évidente avec le punk, la même rage, la même esthétique du "Do It Yourself", la même défiance envers l'establishment. Quand Skepta balance un "Shutdown", c'est un "Anarchy in the U.K." de son temps. C'est un grand "allez vous faire foutre" balancé à l'industrie musicale, aux politiciens, à la police, à ceux qui regardent sa culture de haut. Et le fait qu'il ait remporté le Mercury Prize avec cet album, coiffant au poteau des Bowie et des Radiohead, c'est la cerise sur le gâteau et la plus belle revanche qui soit. Le système a été obligé de reconnaître la pertinence d'un son qu'il avait longtemps ignoré, voire méprisé. Maintenant, pourquoi 4/5 et pas le sans-faute ? Parce que l'album, malgré sa cohérence, n'est pas parfait. Si des morceaux comme "That's Not Me", "Man" ou l'hymne "Shutdown" sont des classiques instantanés, des bombes d'une efficacité redoutable, d'autres titres peinent à maintenir ce niveau d'intensité. L'album est une déclaration d'indépendance, mais il cède parfois aux sirènes du marché global. Les featurings avec des pontes américains comme Pharrell Williams ou ASAP Nast sont prestigieux, c'est certain. Ça montre que Skepta est respecté, qu'il a "réussi". Mais musicalement, ça dilue un peu le propos. "Numbers" avec Pharrell, par exemple, sonne presque trop propre, trop lisse, comparé à la crasse magnifique du reste du disque. C'est un peu comme mettre une nappe en soie sur une table de pub poisseuse. Ça jure un peu. On sent une légère tension entre la volonté de rester fidèle à ses racines grime et la nécessité de produire des "tubes" pour le marché international. Mais ne boudons pas notre plaisir car ces quelques moments de flottement n'enlèvent rien à la puissance de l'ensemble. Konnichiwa est un album capital, pas seulement pour le Grime, mais pour la musique britannique en général. C'est un disque qui documente une époque, une culture, une colère. Il a fallu que le livre me force la main pour que je m'y penche, et je ne le regrette pas une seconde. Je n'en écouterai probablement pas tous les jours, ce n'est pas le genre de son que je mets pour lire le journal le dimanche matin. Mais c'est une claque, une putain de claque nécessaire et salutaire. Un rappel que la musique la plus pertinente vient souvent de la marge, du froid, du béton. Et rien que pour ça, il mérite amplement sa place dans ces 1001 albums. C'est un témoignage, un monument, un parpaing dans la gueule. Et parfois, ça fait un bien fou.
One and done. Nothing made me want to listen again.
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.
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.
Lyrics weren’t great production also meh
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 nothing meaningful to say about this record. (12 known/23 new)
Finally something not for old white men - Thoughts of an old white man
I don't hate this at all, and Skepta is obviously very talented, but I couldn't stop picturing Ali G when listening to this.
Artiste inconnu. 24 eme album de Hip Hop => 1/5
British rap, decent album
I have a real soft spot for grime.
Too tough for me. Not my cuppa innit mate guvna?
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.
First listen. Not the biggest fan of british hiphop/rap.
okay, rap is generally not my jam. Decent sound, but lyrics are not safe for work.
Skepta, takes us on a tour of North London Rap and a reflection of English society that’s not common. I actually kind of enjoyed this album. The song Crime Riddim was pretty hard hitting and gave inside into what his life is like in a way that actually felt credible. Usually British rap comes off fake. Skepta actually give it credibility. He’s kind of like the Tech N9ne of London. I could listen to this again.
Random thoughts: * Confession: I like British rapping. I think it sounds cool to have dudes sound posh on a genre that is supposed to sound hard, grimy, and tough. The dissonance is pleasing to my ears. * Go check out The Streets, my favorite British rapper. I'm going to be pissed if he isn't on 1001. Which is probably likely. But seriously, go check out "A Grand Don't Come for Free". * This was an enjoyable listen, I particularly liked "That's Not Me", "Shutdown", and "Numbers" * Pharrell shows up again!!! That dude is everywhere and everything he touches turns to gold. "Numbers" was my favorite song from this mainly because it had that fresh Pharrell sound. He's so fucking cool. * Never heard of Skepta before this. Nice discovery via 1001.
It was ok, lyrically it didnt stand out but some of the beats were really good
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.
2.6/5
Not anything I ever would have listened to without it being a part of this. That said, not bad, legit beats.
Grime just isn’t for me.
Not bad
British rappers are cool. Something about the accent makes it interesting, but - beyond that - this is a really good album. And he got some heavy hitters (Pharrell, ASAP), which lends him additional credibility. Good stuff. Almost a 4.
Honestly? Cringe. Couldn't escape hearing grime a few years ago and it is still just as grating to me.
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
British rap is truly terrible and this does not help their cause. Can't believe this album took a spot over something else more deserving. Here's something to keep in mind: This dopey album is on the list but Mobb Deep's "The Infamous" isn't. Aries Spears was so right when talking about British rap: "That shit sounds ridiculous!" 3/10.
One of the things I love about this project is I've listened to more hip hop than ever before, and I've really enjoyed a lot of it. I was excited to get an album from a non-US artist thinking the different accent and terminology would offer something new, but I just found the lyrics to be pretty cringe worthy to be honest. And why in 2016 were artists persevering with the awful "skits" between tracks - I don't think I've heard one that adds anything to an album after about 1988. Ya get me, fam?!
Lyrically this is good but the beats really don't do it for me. Deducting a star for still having stupid skits in 2016.
Some british chap tryna spit lines.
Pretty cool, some songs sounded good but some sounded very similar. To an extent I really liked the talking and voice recordings but some of them went on a bit too long. Mught have to listen again to decide for sure how I feel
Very cool
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.
Didn't mind this, and good to hear some lyrics from a UK perspective, but it did feel a little repetitive after a while.
A little dark in places. I enjoyed the music more than the message. Shutdown is still strong, but with silly lyrics.
Favorite Track: It Ain't Safe
Why is there so much of this on the list? This was crap.
British rappers have really yet to impress me throughout this project. I saw that Pharrell was attached to this album and I had hope. It was misplaced. This is just another rapper rapping about how great he is, his own personal, non-specific struggles ("I just feel a lot pressure from all side, fam"), and about all the women he can get to twerk in his face. Is there something deeper here? Maybe. But I didn't hear it in the lyrics and I can't find anything online saying otherwise. Why is this called "Konnichiwa"? Is Skepta part Japanese? Even if he is, why is this called "Konnichiwa"? Feels very "white girl gets tattoo of Chinese symbol for water" of him. Call it "hello" in a different language and it'll seem exotic. It's all for show. Lastly, there were moments where I just genuinely couldn't understand what he was saying. Not because of speed, but because of his accent. I just can't get over how grating the British rapping voice the rappers there seem to share can truly be. Gave me flashbacks (not the good kind) to Dizzee Rascal at times. This wasn't nearly as bad as that, though they do apparently share the same sub-genre of grime. Ah yes, what an appealing sounding genre! Right up there with grunge and shoegaze. I swear who the hell comes up with genre names. Anyway. The production on this was awesome. The hooks were great. I just would've loved for another rapper to take them on. Two stars. NEXT. Standout Tracks: Konnichiwa, Man
Not my vive
Pretty good overall, with some classic songs that really bring me back to the 10s like Shutdown and That's Not Me. It drags a bit in the middle - I wasn't a fan of It Ain't Safe or Numbers. God I hate Pharrell Williams, mainly for the crime that was Happy, though I didn't mind his production on this album too much. Apparently this beat Blackstar for the 2016 Mercury Prize. That's criminal. I enjoyed reading all the upset Yanks complaining about the "Bri'ish" in their reviews. Vine, Charlie Sheen Winning, Usain Bolt, X Factor. RETVRN.
I was Skepta-cal but it wasn't actually all that bad. Solid flow, grimey beats, Norf London rudeboy swagger.... until Pharrell Williams turns up?!?!
Grime isn't my favourite genre, but this wasn't bad at all.
Favourite song - Konnichiwa
I'm learning that I'm not the biggest fan of Grime and British rap, which is unfortunate, cause I can see the talent there, and enjoy the sound, it just hasn't clicked for me expect for Little SIMZ, and even then, I gave it a 2 (regretfully) and only came around to it after the 2nd or 3rd listen. I could see the same happening with this album, but it feels repetitive in the blueprint for the songs.
Nothing like skits baked into the songs completely ruining them. Great album but skits need to be their own tracks
Decent rap album. Cool accent, got some decent songs 1001 album worthy: Yes - 24/42
pretty good
Not my vibe
I don’t know much about hip hop but this is stupid.
Oh look a British rapper
The flow didn’t quite grab me but I know what he was going for. Great piece of grime.
I don’t really get grime, fam. But then it’s not targeted at me. Some of the beats are good and I really like the sub-bass. If it comes up randomly I won’t skip but unlikely to seek this out.
Το καλυτερο που μπορει να δωσει η uk grime σκηνη
Hits hard, I liked it.
Ugh. Not digging it.
Skibidi Toilet Ohio as the youngsters say
Didn't like Dizzee Rascal, don't like this. Not convinced I'd like anything else that's considered grime... Honestly, this dude has good flow, but his lyrics are so cringe.
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.
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
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.
Well honestly, the first couple songs I was totally vibing long, and thought hey, this isn't too bad. But then it got old real fast... I think with maybe two or three of these it was nice but after awhile I was like alright now. It's something, but gets repetitive and sounds all the same.
a.k.a. that feeling when some shitforbrains in a obscene overly-huge tricked out 7mpg Range Rover with 4ft high tires pulls up next to you at a stoplight in the city blasting this at 120dB and *your* rearview mirror is literally vibrating... Thanks, I legitimately hated every minute and every aspect of this. I did learn that "grime" is a thing and now I can safely tag it with both "Worst Music Genres" and "Embarrassed for Humanity" Headache-inducing overly-huge bass synths + trap beats + childish gangster cosplay + skits = 1 dead star 1/10 1 pile. 🪠
>2016 >"Swag" mentioned Fuera de chiste, este trabajo de Skepta es bastante sólido y entiendo por qué en una lista tan eminentemente británica se destacaría un LP como este. Leí en algunas de las otras críticas que este disco fue importante para la explosión del género del Grime. ¿Lo recomendaría? No, la producción se siente tremendamente amateur. No sé cuáles fueron los recursos de Skepta al momento de terminar este trabajo; sin embargo, la presencia de Pharell Williams, me adelanta que quizá fue bastante más de lo que se escucha.
Ok but monotonous as an album.
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.
Classic grime I'm told. I'm too old for this, my son says. Uninteresting and repetitive.
Non exceptional British rap
Kon'nichiwa, mō ikanakya 1/5 7/12/24
I was not expecting to enjoy this at all. But actually, it's pretty decent. It's got quite a laidback instrumentation behind it, and his vocal delivery is really crisp without being too aggressive. There are too many little skits for me, and maybe about a third of the songs are just annoying, but having dismissed grime fairly heavily, this was a pleasant surprise.
grime gospel
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
Another British rapper I’ve never heard of but was really into.
I really don't consider rap to be good music from the start so skipped most track and soon realize that it's about all the same annoying sound. Not for me.
I didn't mind the music/rapping but the interludes got tiresome fairly quickly, and it went on too long.
i don’t normally like guys that rap with an accent that is gratuitously bri ish, but this one wasn’t terrible.
Not for me. The British Bias Be Blatantly Bad
Not my kind of thing
Is this my introduction to Brit-Hop? Not bad all things told. At times they sounds like three-six mafia, at others more Neptunes-ish. I can’t help but hear the gorillaz when a British dude is rapping. Some pretty good beats, but nothing super compelling in the mix.
Okay you could get back 5 minutes with the awful interludes that seem to end most songs, but Shut Down is a bop.
Didn’t get on with it
terug een onbekend album door een voor mij onbekende artiest... ik had het graag zo gehouden
I hate this. Couldn't wait for it to be over.
The first track is not terrible. In the battle for best grime MC, I'm comfortable saying Skepta is superior to Dizzee Rascal after only one song. A recorded phone call...the hallmark of a truly terrible album. They use the word fam a lot. 50 years of hip hop, a limited number of albums which made this list and this gets selected? Now a recorded video game chat session. And an angry recorded message now. The Pharrell track is an improvement over what has been a steady decline from the first song on.
Verrassend leuk, britt hop met het juiste accent.
was okay, don’t see why it’s here
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!
Grime rap... dat is geen lichte kost. Goed gevarieerd album, zeker voor een genre waar ik normaal niet naar zou luisteren. Skepta heeft miljoenen luisteraars per maand, dat laat maar weer eens zien hoeveel populaire muziek mij niet bereikt. Sample van QOTSA in Man (Regular John) kwam wel onverwacht. Werkt goed op je zenuwen in elk geval.
Quanto British è sto album
A good trip through London angst
This is the most fun I had since starting this project
The spoken interlude parts are annoying. They aren’t clever and don’t add anything positive to the experience. The songs are ok but too repetitive for my likes. Nothing here that makes me want to listen again.
Not a grime fan. This is the second grime album I've ever listened to, and both because of this list. This is better than Dizzee Rascal at least. I'd give it a two but I'm gonna bump that up to three because of Americans. Do better Americans. The WHOLE world has to put up with your accents. Three Bri'ish stars.
Blown away easy 10/10 album no skip. and epic qotsa sample in Man.
Better than expected
Just not my style in any way.
along with dizzee rascal, this álbum helped me realise that i actually quite enjoy grime. was very impressed on my first listen.
I listened to a little bit, not my type of music. Kind of rap
A surprisingly deep, distinctly British rap album from a man who has been through a lot. Really cool to see someone earn the art they've fought for, especially as their own executive producer
This might only be the second or third grime album I've heard, and I found Skepta's Konnichiwa to be better than the others. These songs were catchy, so much so that the electronic noises were captivating. The combination of electronic and hip hop is unusual and engaging. I couldn't help but be excited for the next song. And of course, the social themes were aces. Not much else on this list sounds like Konnichiwa; while I genuinely enjoyed it, I appreciate its unique sound more. 3.5
My first thought: wow, this is really some interesting hip-hop that is different than what I'm used to! My second thought: oh, it was produced by Pharrell Williams, that makes sense! But in all seriousness, Pharrell is great at touching innovative projects! Between the Japanese album title of "Konnichiwa" and the grime hip-hop aspect of the album, this album really gives me cyberpunk vibes. Also the British accent of Skepta somehow just makes it more badass, don't even ask me how. I am just generally not a huge rap and hip-hop fan, but this album felt fresh and different and was really fun to listen to.
5 stars except for Ladies Hit Squad which is just completely not my sound. Skepta (+Wiley and JME who were here too!) was one of my ipod shuffle artists back in the day, so if there's any rap music I speak the language of, this has to be the closest. I don't even mind about the lack of variation in topics because his lyrics are consistently fun and catchy anyway. Fireman Sam reference!? Shutting down the Shoreditch car park straight out of PE!? Fire.
I’m not the biggest fan of hip hop. I like Tyler, The Creator, Public Enemy, and A Tribe Caller Quest. That’s really it.
At first I thought this wasn't too bad. Rapping with that accent I thought was pretty cool, but then it quickly started to annoy. Not a big rap fan to start with and this album did not change my view. It did make me think of Police On My Back by Lethal Bizzle. Now that is a great tune. Intrigued at first and gradually worked itself into, let's get this over with. 2
2.5 Not sure if this is inappropriate to say, but there’s something I find so amusing about British rap. I didn’t realize there was much of a scene over there, and I don’t think much of it, if any, really found its way over to us Yanks. This may just be my own ignorance of the genre showing, but there’s something about the accent that feels so prominent and so goofy in their rap music that I almost find it distracting just trying to listen. Anyway, that novelty is probably the most positive thing I have to say about this album. Not that this was bad by any means, but for the most part, I found it to be a pretty generic rap album, accent notwithstanding. Most of this blends together, and while some tracks border on enjoyable, just as much borders on annoying. There’s not really a ton interesting going on in the lyrical department either, though the bar “Real talk, you ain't best MC in the country/And if you don't like it then fuck me/Not literally, but fuck me” on the title track stood out to me across my listens. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be humorous, but I enjoyed it. As for the interstitials/skits, I really don’t think they did anything to add to the album in any meaningful way, and for the most part, I found them more of a flowbreaker than anything - granted, maybe that’s just because I couldn’t tell what they were saying half the time. If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be That’s Not Me, which admittedly has a pretty cool beat to it, but I’m not sure it’s the kind of thing I see myself revisiting. The only other song that stood out to me was Man, but that’s just because the backing instrumental loop on the track sounded incredibly familiar to me - and as it turns out, it comes from Regular John by Queens of the Stone Age off their self-titled debut, an album previously on this list. I really enjoy the original QOTSA song, but unfortunately, I don’t really love what Skepta did with it here - I found the sample more annoying than anything. Overall, just okay. Feel like this is one I’m going to quickly forget about.
British hip hop. And it's not Pete & Bas. So you just know it ain't gonna be good. And I was right, production is fine, everything else is bad. Can't get into it at all. There were a few okay parts but that was it. At least this was only 44 minutes I guess but should have cut out all those dumbass phone calls
i like grime music. this is a good grime album. bass goes brrrrrr, keyboards like soft death bells, somethininnit, etc. listen dingus!
Can't say I'm a fan of this, but it's OK for rap. The British accent gave it a bit of charm that I liked, but still not something I'll probably ever listen to again. 2/5
Great start to Konnichiwa, and strong finish! I was skeptical of Skepta before listening because I don’t really enjoy rap. It’s more tolerable with a Brit accent and xylophone or accordion. (2.8*s)
At first I was a tiny bit intrigued, but as it went on I just disliked it more and more. I don't think I liked a single track on here, although I could instantly tell "Numbers" featured Pharrell before even checking the list. Low 1.25.
Not sure what we got going here.There was potential for something better but long ending skits on some tracks and weak production brought the whole thing down. Skepta is not terrible but he must have collabed with so many other shitty rappers on this album to make himself seem better, especially with Pharrell Williams, cause "Numbers" was the worst. I like "Corn on the Curb" and "That's Not Me" a bit. Some ok grimey limey rap...1.85.
This British rap is somewhat endearing for a couple of songs, but I'm not sure it holds up over an entire album. It's kinda cheesy but not too bad. Not sure about the post-song conversations/sketches needed to be left in though. This was kinda like the best version of when a random rapper on the streets of Las Vegas hands you his album. It's kinda stupid, but a little bit fun every now and then but not something I would recommend or plan to revisit. 1.98 stars
I can respect grime but it just isn't my thing. God it's so intense! So serious. Just find it a bit much.
Quite simply just not for me and that's fine. I think I've heard enough grime to know it's just not my thing and I've tried enough. All good.
In the skit at the end of “Crime Riddim”, an American threatens to use a bazooka to blast Skepta in the ass, and then the face. Except, surprise: they’re playing a video game, and the macho bravado is masked by anonymity! It’s a smart 21st-century spin on gangsta rap culture, highlighting the UK-US cultural differences in 2016. Skepta’s uniquely British sign-off (a frank and weary “dickhead”) raises a smile, and places this album firmly in its own contemporary pocket of time and place. All that said, as an anonymous online reviewer, I can also hide behind these measly two stars without having to share my location or worry about slagging Skepta off to his face. “Konnichiwa” arrived after a lengthy development period, two botched lead singles, multiple delays and several pivots and missteps in its release campaign. When it released in May 2016, I was far too busy mourning Prince, becoming obsessed with Talking Heads, and failing to get a girlfriend. Still, I was somehow aware of “That’s Not Me”, presumably by osmosis from being a young person at the time. Reviewing the full album here, I can appreciate it as a cultural statement, as an insight into music’s evolution in my home country, and even as a satisfying conceptual piece. I also enjoyed it slightly more than the previous grime album I had on the list, Dizzee Rascal’s OG “Boy in Da Corner”. It’s darker and denser than this, with a shade more depth (Skepta’s self-doubt creeping in, and his awareness of his own vices in tracks like “Detox”). My problem is not with its context, or Skepta’s vocals, but the music itself. I can only listen through so many bass-driven trap beat loops before they begin to feel really repetitive, starved of any warmth or soul. The exceptions proving the rule were “That’s Not Me”, which I must admit proves itself as a catchy, well-produced mission statement, and “Shotgun”, another single capping off a good run. “Text Me Back” is a surprisingly tender note to end on, as Skepta addresses his girlfriend and mother (different people) with love, affection and apology. It’s a great progression from the likes of “Bitches Ain’t Shit but Hoes and Tricks” or “Just Playing (Dreams)”… so more of this in future, my dear rappers.
++: Lyrics, Shutdown +: Corn on the Curb, Numbers, That's Not Me, Detox +-: Konnichiwa, Crime Riddim, Man, Text Me Back -: It Ain't Safe, Ladies Hit Squad 5,8/10
Feel bad for people giving this album bad reviews because this is great
That was definitely better than the last grime album I got. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean it’s good.
I only know the most popular tracks from the big hitters of grime so I wouldn't say I'm an expert by any means. I don't know enough to comment intelligently, but I thought that this was decent enough. I do feel like the lyrics and flow has to do a lot of the heavy lifting with grime. The beat can only do so much considering it just repeats throughout the song. Having said that, I do think that British rappers just sound cooler. I prefer the rhythm of the words and - being British myself - the dialect. I also think grime is best when its loud, aggressive and in your face. 'Man', 'Shutdown' and 'That's Not Me' all come in quick succession and are easily the best tracks on the album because of the reasons I stated. I would have preferred if the album was made up of tracks similar to these. Overall though, I'm just not that into grime as a whole. After 45 minutes I was getting a little bored. There isn't much variety in it in terms of musicality and no melodies or catchiness to speak of.
ok je bio
Brilliant album, great lyrics, and great music. 4/5. I shall delve into the back catalogue. Favourite song: Lyrics and shutdown Least favourite: Numbers Album artwork: Average cover
I have to say that I like this more than most of the American rap offerings on here. Forgot he won the Mercury with this. It’s a 4 from me
I listened to this and I'm not sure why this is on here. I'm not a big fan of rap but this just sounds like most other recent rap stuff. Nothing made this stand out to me.
This shit is so good
Grime really isn’t for me but I can respect that this is a pretty good example of it. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to read stunningly racist 1001 Album Generator user reviews, which is one of my favorite ways to while away an afternoon. Three stars.
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
pre: Oooh, genuinely excited, I have no idea what this is going to be is the sample under "Man" from Queens of the Stone Age? (I found it, Regular John from s/t) I don't know enough to comment intelligently but I liked this, would listen again
This one started out strong. I liked the first couple tracks, but it starts to drag a bit. Lyrically it’s not the most amazing thing I’ve ever heard, in fact some of it gets a little too close to mumble rap for me.
Better than expected - probably give it another listen when I'm in the mood for hip hop.
I had heard of Skepta and had heard good things, but I hadn't really heard much Skepta music. There are a few good songs on here, a few just ok, and then a few just bleh songs for my taste.
Probably more relevant across the pond, but honestly pretty good. Not something I'd put on regularly though.
Even when I didn’t quite understand the lyrics, I loved the beats and the general attitude. Maybe I should listen to more grime!
Bopping
surprisingly low on the typical grime sound, but it is quite a brash and confident album about Skepta's capabilities.
Americans, skip this, this is for UK people only. Skepta is probably the king of Grime, not necessarily the best Grime artist to ever do it be definitely the most successful and the face of the genre. The album is really solid, not all tracks are amazing, but it's a cornerstone for British music after the 20th century.
I honestly enjoyed it. Nothing amazing but still. Interesting and different.
I really wonder what this album will sound like in 20+ years. It’s still young enough that it’s cool, but also starting to get old enough to be considered for the seminal work it is. Pharrell kills it on Numbers, and of course Shutdown is quintessential UK grime listening - this whole album is, really.
that one line on that one song
3.5
It was fine I prob wouldn’t put in my top 1001?
Bitta fun with a couple of bangers
I suppose it's well-executed for what it is. Can't really judge, but I do know I prefer my life without any grime music in it. It wasn't as unlistenable as most other albums I give 1 star to, but I skipped most songs half-way through. The tracks were incredibly repetitive and monotonous.
Interesting in that it made me consider rap in other countries, which I hadn't thought of before. As an album it wasn't really for me, but it wasn't painful to get through.
Didn't enjoy it.
fun but got repetitive. great production
Has some cool beats, but some of the lyrical content was cheesy and felt inauthentic, maybe because it felt like London gangsta rap.
Not really vibing with this one. It’s okay, but just not my thing.
In general it was ok but there were so many tracks where it was just talking. 🫠
This album is not bad per se but it is nothing that needs to be on this list. I have a hard time seeing the appeal when hip hop already had so much more to offer that didn't make it to this list. What we have here is a British rapper who tries to imitate every fashion in US hip hop over the last 15 years or so - including skits. British hip hop was already way better with Roots Manuva for example. So... no. Two stars is enough for an album that definitely nothing I need to listen to before I die.
Kinda sounds like a UK version of Run the Jewels. Or at least the best moment of the album are like that. But that's like 1/3 of the album, the rest is rather boring, sadly
Nothing really bad, but so outdated it hurts.
I don't know. Starts off as a pretty cool gangsta rap album, but the overall album becomes samey and falls of off interest.
Måske det bedste grime-album der findes
I'm sorry I just cannot get myself to take grime seriously
For UK rap this isn't too bad.
It's been a hot minute since I've listened to Skepta but this album pleasantly reminded me that I've always enjoyed his music. The album as a whole was well executed. I think it's one of those albums where you can choose to listen to it in it's entirety, or pick and choose your bangers (being Shutdown and That's Not Me). I don't think it's a 5 for me though but to be fair it's 7am so maybe I'm just not hyped enough for it to be a 5.
My only frame of reference for this is Dizzee Rascal’s Boy in Da Corner, which gets referenced here. I love that album, this isn’t quite as good.
Not terrible, but not the biggest fan of rap so I can't really get through it. Not for me.
This is an album of its time I feel. Couple of huge tunes on it, but it’s nothing really exceptional! Grime is defo not going to be an all encompassing genre on this list, but as far as grime goes, this is good I guess?
3/5
I think this album has some very funny lines, but would've been better as an EP to negate the duff tracks on here. Can smell the sweat of the basement gigs Skepta would've played on his way up. 'Man' was the standout track that I hadn't heard before (That's Not Me and Shutdown obviously being grime classics), but I don't think it's enough to ever want to listen to the album again. Boy Better Know #grime4corbyn
Not my type of music
Spectacular! Really a tour de force. Totally caught me by surprise, because I had not even heard of Skepta before today. How'd I miss?!
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.
I wish British people were easier to take seriously but sometimes they say wanker and I chuckle
Not bad
Excellent, a well-done album overall. Several bangers that stay in your ear with only a few misses here and there.
Grime. Japanese language. British rap. Cool beats. 4
Strong start, I was UP from the first set of sounds, amazing repertoire and just strong energy. Loved it
I’m not saying that this album contributed to the mild panic attack I had today, but it certainly didn’t help.
Good quality grime but lags in places
Decent grimey heaters. Liked it
græm. skemmtilegt. 4
I canNOT with the skits. I'm already not a grime fan, and the skits weren't even separate tracks; they were part of the tracks with the songs. Not for me.
Oh, the skits on this one. Has there ever been someone who listened to an album and was like, "I enjoyed it, but I really could have used more skits"? Like most skits, those that are on this album and not even separated out as a separate track remove the flow. I did not expect to like this album, mostly because I had heard Dizzee Rascal's version of Grime and dumbly assumed it would be similar to what Skepta's style is. I also don't love the name of the album. Overall, there are a lot of good songs here. I like angry rap and there are several diss tracks on here and none of the songs go too long (minus the skits at the end). I would recommend this album to those who have not ever heard Grime as a genre. Standout tracks are Lyrics, Numbers, Man, Shutdown, That's not Me and Text Me Back.
Not too bad, not too great either
I dug it. I don't listen to a lot of rap music, but Grime has always been an interesting genre, and I think the UK perspective is interesting. Don't know if I'll give it a relisten, but it was a fun learning experience.
One or two good moments but even for 2016 felt basic.
I've never heard of Skepta or this album before, and based on the reviews for this album, I have no idea how I'm going to feel about this. I reviewed Drive-By Truckers yesterday, so this is probably going to be a pretty hard left turn today. Let's get into it. Well, this album was definitely not my taste. I think the positive things that I can say about it are that it's very unique from the things I typically listen to, and the flow of the rapping was pretty good. As for the negatives, well, there's quite a few of them. I really didn't enjoy this album musically. Most of the production work (beats? samples? I'm not really sure what the proper terminology is for elements of Grime music) just wasn't very interesting to listen to. It didn't feel very melodic, and it was honestly pretty grating at times. It didn't feel like there was a lot of variation from song to song, both in sound or in structure and composition. Lyrically, the songs felt pretty muddled. Skepta would often sing about social issues and brag about his own skills in the same breath, and it was hard to choose what to focus on. I did like some of the social commentary though. Left-leaning Americans (such as myself) tend to look at Europe and say "ah, those guys know how to do it" when we're examining our own political landscape, but I think we often forget that every society has their own ills to contend with, and Skepta's lyrics provided a good reminder of that. I hate to be so negative about this album, but I really didn't like listening to it, and it definitely doesn't inspire me to seek out more Grime music. TLDR: This sounds like Isaac from Ted Lasso gave up on football, and pursued a career in music instead.
not really my style of rap, more attitude than substance .
Finally some newer hip-hop. Amazes me how much representation ancient, elementary hip-hop gets on this list, but there's so much more variety in modern stuff like this Skepta record. Definitely some misses on here, but mostly enjoyed this. Not totally familiar with this genre of rap but as I say, a welcomed change.
So decent songs, but overall a miss.
Wrong time for this. This rap style is just irritating to me. It did have some interesting accompanying music at times, but the vocal delivery was a strong turn off. Pass on this.
Interesting
I'm not a fan of modern rap/hip-hop, but actually it wasn't that bad at all. It was at least listenable and not too long. I can't give it more than 2 stars, though.
I'unno who I heard say that UK rap sucks, because, honestly, I thought this "banged"—as the kids say. "Ladies Hit Club" or whatever it's called kinda sucks, but otherwise, yeah, I'm happy I heard this.
While not really familiar with the grime genre, this is a pretty good rap album (better than A Grand Don't Come For Free, at least). Straight 4 stars for me.
Hm. I’m at a 3.5 that I think I’ll just barely bump down to a 3, even though I did like this. Really, the only reason I can’t bump it up to a 4 is because I just don’t think it’s a particularly cohesive album experience. It’s a really strong playlist album, and what’s here brought back those mythical “summer of 2016” vibes that people are still desperately trying to catch, and in that sense, I really liked it. However, as a cohesive album with a vision from start to finish, I think it sort of loses itself by the 8th track and just goes into “here’s the ones with the banger beats” mode, and while it does work extremely well, it gets kinda grating after a bit. It’s a good album, don’t get me wrong – there are great beats here, some good lyricism (though very slang-heavy for my Kansas brain), and some pretty strong flow (if a bit laggy or too disconnected from the beat at times). There’s a dud or two early on in the album, but after that, it goes into a really strong flow state, and there’s some good highlights here. It’s just not glued together enough as a 12-track album for me to be able to bump it up to a 4, but I do think it’s enjoyable as hell. A really strong 3. I had to deeply resist writing a Big Shaq joke, so here’s the obligatory mention. Sue me.
Not for me, but I can appreciate the skill involved
It's just so unoriginal. The 'British-Rapper-social-commentator' vibe has literally been done to death. I can't hear a single thing on this that hasn't been done by someone else before him. Awful.
This feels like it's trying too hard to be the British "good kid maad city".
This was so formulaic it even includes the obligatory recorded phone call that ends in an argument.
Not something I would enjoy repeatedly but definitely see the appeal 3.5*
Pussyhoe fam
Album bangs. The second half is better than the first. My introduction to UK Grime back in the day. The first half has too much “proving myself” energy and is kinda juvenile with the cod chat, but “It Ain’t Safe” and “Shut Down” are timeless
Never really liked Skepta before I listened to this album , and I thought I was going to continue to not really like his music , but this album changed my opinion. Pretty good overall, the energy of the album really picked up after “It Ain’t Safe”. Can see myself putting this album on again the future. IT AIN’T SAFE FOR THE BLOCK, NOT EVEN FOR THE COPS
1.5 British rap is so unserious lol “I’m so rude, he’s the ting/ The guvment is rude, ring-a-ling-ding” It just comes off so insincere. And how is this Grime-y? I get that that’s what they call the genre, but it doesn’t particularly sound dirty or gross or intense. It sounds like mediocre pop rap, because that’s what it is!!! Sorry, I’m getting mad thinking about how many classic rap albums are NOT on this list! And this is!
I was totally unfamiliar with the whole genre of "grimes" music. I don't really know much about British rap except The Streets, which I like. By comparison this album didn't hook me as much.
When the songs land on this album, they are pretty great. But, only about half of them do, and the early part of the album feels lurchy with overlong skits.