I finally listened to this, and I've gotta say, Gumdrop's pessimism pulled through - this album is a stinking pile of shit.
I really wanted to like this, I really did. When I got into grime, Kano was immediately one of my favourites, and this album really bothers me because I know that beneath all of the shitty work he has done there are three truths about him that still remain:
1) His flow is fucked
2) He has an wicked ability to write lyrics
3) He is really into hip hop - and draws from this for inspiration for his tracks
I have no problem with the third point. You can't fight artists making music based on what they are inspired by. Hip-hop inspired music is a-OK by me. Hell, I like hip hop - I love it in fact. For that reason I didn't even think Home Sweet Home was the failure everyone else made it out to be. This one though - total failure.
Here is why: Kano needs to stop riding America's dick and thinking that his music is only good if it gets respect from Americans.
His mixtape: mostly American beats, packed full of American references (most notably "I Feel Like"... in the words of Wiley: how do you feel like Nas, you are from england you batty).
And on the album he has a least three quotes from American hip hop songs ("It was all a dream, I used to read RWD magazine" ugh), and that one line that really gets me that is something like "even Jigga Man said keep doing what you're doing". He said "keep doing what you're doing" instead of "here's a record contract" because he doesn't give a fuck about you, Kane! Why do you need his validation so badly? He's all washed up anyway.
The best track is Buss It Up, a dancehall track. Why is Britain not good enough for this geezer? To me, trying to be American is a far greater offence in the grime scene than using the odd hip-hop sounding track here and there, or god forbid, being influenced by hip hop music. Inspiration is one thing but this Yankee Doodle dick riding has to end. It is embarassing, pathetic and is not a good look. Hip hop has been a healthy genre of music in part because its artists haven't spent half their time pursuing an obsession of strutting with their pinkies out drinking tea, and eating battered sausages and pies.
And let's be honest: the only reason Damon Albarn, Kate Nash and Craig David are on his album is because he couldn't get Jack White, Gwen Stefani and R Kelly.
Also, he should sack Mikey J or whatever his name is because he is the deadest of dead out producers.
Vent OVER. phew.
