Krept and Konan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Krept and Konan
|
|
---|---|
Origin | South London,England |
Genres |
|
Occupation(s) |
|
Years active | 2009 | –Present
Labels |
|
Associated acts | Skepta, Stormzy, Headie One, Stefflondon,Ardee,Aitch,Jhene Aiko |
Members | Krept (Casyo Valentine Johnson) Konan (Karl Dominic Wilson) |
Krept and Konan is a British hip hop duo from London. It includes Casyo Valentine "Krept" Johnson (born 4 February 1990) and Karl Dominic "Konan" Wilson (born 3 September 1989). Konan's father was Delroy Wilson, a famous Jamaican singer.
Their first big music release was the mixtape Young Kingz in 2013. In the same year, Krept and Konan signed a record deal with Virgin EMI Records. Their first album, The Long Way Home, came out in 2015. It reached number 2 on the UK Albums Chart. Their song "Freak of the Week" with Jeremih was a big hit, reaching number 9 on the UK Singles Chart. Krept and Konan have also acted in films like The Intent (2016) and its sequel The Intent 2: The Come Up (2018).
Contents
Their Music Journey
Starting Out: 2005–2010
Krept and Konan first met in 2005 through playing football against each other's schools. They became good friends. They were already making music using their stage names. In 2009, they decided to become a music duo and focus seriously on their careers.
In 2010, they released their first mixtape, Redrum. It featured other London rappers. Later that year, they released their second mixtape, Tsunami. This one included well-known artists like Ghetts and Giggs.
Becoming Famous: 2011–2014
In 2011, Krept and Konan became much more well-known. They released their own version of Jay-Z and Kanye West's song "Otis". The video for their version got millions of views quickly on YouTube. However, it was later removed because of issues with Jay-Z's team.
This didn't stop them! They then covered Drake and Lil Wayne's "The Motto." They also started their own clothing brand called Play Dirty. In 2012, they joined British rapper Skepta on his UK tour.
In 2013, they released their third mixtape, Young Kingz. This mixtape featured many artists like Chip and Tinie Tempah. A song from the album, "Don't Waste My Time," became very popular in 2014. Many famous artists made their own versions of the song.
A big moment for the duo was winning 'Best UK Newcomer' at the 2013 MOBO Awards. Their song "Don't Waste My Time" also entered the UK Singles Chart.
Top Albums and Hits: 2014–2017
In 2014, Krept and Konan won the 'Best International Act: UK' award at the BET Awards in Los Angeles. This was a huge achievement for them.
In 2015, they released a video for their song "Certified" with Rick Ross. This song was a preview of their first album, The Long Way Home.
The Long Way Home was released in July 2015. Its main single, "Freak of the Week", featured American rapper Jeremih. This song became their first top ten hit in the UK, reaching number nine. The album itself reached number two on the UK charts. It included collaborations with big names like Ed Sheeran, Skepta, and Wiz Khalifa.
In 2017, they released two mixtapes at the same time: 7 Days and 7 Nights. 7 Days focused on rap music, while 7 Nights was more R&B. Both mixtapes did well, reaching numbers 6 and 8 on the UK charts.
New Music and Projects: 2017–Present
In 2018, Krept and Konan released "Crepes and Cones (Ya Dun Know)." This song helped promote their new restaurant.
Their album Revenge Is Sweet came out in November 2019. It was their first album in four years.
In June 2021, the duo appeared in a BBC Three TV show. It was called Krept and Konan: We Are England. In the show, they created a football song for the UEFA Euros Tournament. They also got to meet the England football team.
Other Exciting Projects
Krept and Konan are involved in more than just music.
In 2017, they started the Positive Direction foundation. This foundation helps young people by offering workshops. These workshops teach skills like music production and songwriting.
The duo also opened their own restaurant, Crepes & Cones, in 2018. It quickly became very popular. The restaurant also helps young people who have been in trouble. It gives them jobs and a chance to turn their lives around.
From 2019 to 2020, Krept and Konan hosted The Rap Game UK on BBC Three. This show was a competition where young rappers battled for a record deal.
Personal Life
Both Krept and Konan are big fans of the football club Manchester United.
Achievements and Awards
Krept and Konan have achieved many great things in their careers.
In 2013, their mixtape Young Kingz broke a record. It became the 'Highest-Charting UK album by an Unsigned Act'. This means it was the highest-ranking album by artists who didn't have a major record deal yet.
They have won several important awards, including:
- MOBO Awards: 'Best UK Newcomer' (2013), 'Best Hip-Hop Act' (2014, 2015), and 'Best Album' for The Long Way Home (2015).
- BET Awards: 'Best International Act: UK' (2014).
- Official Mixtape Awards: 'Best Mixtape 2010' for Tsunami (2011) and 'Best Video 2011' for "Otis remix" (2012).
In 2020, both Krept and Konan received the British Empire Medal (BEM). This award recognized their contributions to music and their community work in Croydon.
Discography
Krept and Konan have released several successful albums and mixtapes.
Studio Albums
- The Long Way Home (2015) - Reached number 2 in the UK.
- Revenge Is Sweet (2019) - Reached number 5 in the UK.
Mixtapes
- RedRum (2009)
- Tsunami (2010)
- Young Kingz (2013) - Reached number 19 in the UK.
- 7 Days (2017) - Reached number 6 in the UK.
- 7 Nights (2017) - Reached number 8 in the UK.
Popular Singles
Some of their well-known songs include:
- "Don't Waste My Time" (2014)
- "Freak of the Week" (featuring Jeremih) (2015) - Their highest-charting single.
- "Wo Wo Wo" (2017)
- "I Spy" (featuring Headie One and K-Trap) (2019)
- "G Love" (with Wizkid) (2019)
Film and TV Appearances
Krept and Konan have also appeared in films and television shows.
Films
- The Intent (2016) - Krept played Daniel, Konan played Leon.
- The Intent 2: The Come Up (2018) - They reprised their roles.
Television
- The Truth Behind Entertainment (2014) - Documentary series.
- Soccer AM (2017–2019) - Appeared as themselves.
- The Big Narstie Show (2018) - Appeared as guests.
- The Rap Game UK (2019–2020) - Co-presenters.
- Krept and Konan: We Are England (2021) - Documentary.