Kano (British musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kano
Kano performing in 2017
Background information
Birth name	Kane Brett Robinson
Also known as	Kano KA
Born	(1985-05-21) 21 May 1985 (age 40) East Ham, London, England
Genres	British hip hop grime UK garage
Occupation(s)	Rapper songwriter actor
Years active	2000–present
Labels	679 (2005–2007) Bigger Picture (2008–present) Parlophone (2016–present)

Kane Brett Robinson, born on May 21, 1985, is a British rapper, songwriter, and actor known as Kano. He grew up in East Ham, London. His album Made in the Manor was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2016 and won Best Album at the MOBO Awards. Kano is also famous for playing Sully in the TV show Top Boy.

Kano's Music Journey

Early Life and Music Beginnings (1985–2003)

Kane Robinson was born in London and raised by his Jamaican parents. He lived in East Ham and went to Langdon Secondary School. When he was younger, he was a talented footballer. He played for big teams like Chelsea and West Ham United by age thirteen. However, he decided to focus on music instead of sports.

Kano started making music when he was fourteen. His older brother, Lee "Chopper" Robinson, was a DJ. They would record UK garage music together. Kano's school friend, Sharky Major, started a music group called Nasty Crew. Sharky invited Kano to join their radio show in 2001. By 2002, Kano officially became a member of Nasty Crew.

Kano's early songs helped him become known. He appeared on a remix of "Fit but You Know It" by The Streets. He also took part in a grime music battle called Lord of the Mics against Wiley. In 2004, on his nineteenth birthday, he signed a record deal with 679 Recordings.

Home Sweet Home Album (2004–2005)

In 2004, Kano released his first song with 679 Recordings, called "P's & Q's". It became a popular underground hit. In February 2005, he released "Typical Me", which reached No. 22 in the UK Singles Charts.

His first album, Home Sweet Home, came out on June 27, 2005. It quickly entered the UK top 40. The album later earned a "gold status" in the UK, meaning it sold many copies. Critics also gave it good reviews. One of the popular songs from the album was "Nite Nite", which featured The Streets.

During this time, Kano decided to leave Nasty Crew in 2005. This decision was made because his new manager had different plans for his career.

London Town Album (2006–2007)

In 2006, Kano announced that his next album would be called London Town. Before the album, he released a mixtape with new songs and his own versions of popular hip-hop tracks.

London Town was released on September 10, 2007. It included songs with famous artists like Craig David, Damon Albarn (from Blur and Gorillaz), Kate Nash, and Vybz Kartel. Kano went on a tour across the UK to support the album.

New Music and Mixtapes (2008–2013)

By 2008, Kano was no longer with 679 Recordings. He wanted to go back to his original grime music style. He released a mixtape called MC No. 1 and then his third album, 140 Grime Street. This album was released through his own independent label, Bigger Picture Music. It featured other rappers like Ghetto, Skepta, and Wiley.

Kano's fourth album, Method to the Maadness, was released on August 30, 2010. It also made it into the UK Albums Chart. In the same year, he sang on the Gorillaz album Plastic Beach. He also worked with fellow British rapper Bashy on a song called "White Flag".

In 2011, Kano announced a special project with producer Mikey J. They planned to release one new song each week for four weeks. He also released two mixtapes: Girls Over Guns in November 2011 and Jack Bauer 2.4 in January 2012.

Made in the Manor Album (2014–2018)

In 2014, Kano released a music video for "Flow of the Year" with JME. This was followed by his singles "Hail" and "New Banger" in 2015. These songs led up to his fifth album, Made in the Manor, which came out in 2016.

The album's first single was "3 Wheel-Ups", featuring Wiley and Giggs. Made in the Manor reached number 8 on the UK Albums Chart. This was Kano's highest-charting album since London Town in 2007.

Hoodies All Summer and Recent Work (2019–Present)

On August 30, 2019, Kano released his sixth album, Hoodies All Summer. This album was also nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2020. In 2020, he sang on another Gorillaz album, Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez. He also worked with producer Fraser T. Smith on Smith's debut album "12 Questions".

Kano's Acting Career

Kano started acting in October 2011 in the Channel 4 TV show Top Boy. He played the character Sully. The show's creators were very impressed with Kano's acting. Top Boy ran for two seasons before it was stopped in 2014.

In 2017, the streaming service Netflix decided to bring Top Boy back. Kano returned to play Sully. The show's return was partly thanks to Canadian rapper Drake, who was a big fan. The new seasons of Top Boy premiered on Netflix in September 2019 and March 2022. The fifth and final season aired in September 2023.

Kano also plays the main character, Izi, in the movie The Kitchen. This movie is a drama for Netflix and was directed by Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya. It was first shown at the London Film Festival in October 2023.

Awards and Recognition

Kano has won several awards for his music and acting. He won MOBO Awards for Best Newcomer in 2005, Best Album in 2016, and Best Performance in a TV Show/Film in 2022 for his role in Top Boy. He also won an award at the first Channel U "Best of British" Awards. In 2005, the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, named him one of "London's Heroes of 2005".

Personal Life

Kano is a fan of the Liverpool football team. He became a father for the first time in 2023.

Discography

• Home Sweet Home (2005)
• London Town (2007)
• 140 Grime Street (2008)
• Method to the Maadness (2010)
• Made in the Manor (2016)
• Hoodies All Summer (2019)

Filmography