Konnichiwa (Skepta album)

Konnichiwa
Studio album by Skepta
Released	6 May 2016
Recorded	2013–16
Genre	Grime British hip hop
Length	43:11
Label	Boy Better Know
Producer	Skepta (also exec.) Blakie Footsie Jason Adenuga Pharrell Williams Ragz Originale
Skepta chronology
Doin' It Again (2011) Konnichiwa (2016)
Singles from Konnichiwa
"That's Not Me" Released: 8 June 2014 "Shutdown" Released: 26 April 2015 "Ladies Hit Squad" Released: 14 February 2016 "Man" Released: 14 April 2016

Konnichiwa is the fourth studio album by British grime artist Skepta. After numerous delays, it was released on 6 May 2016 by Boy Better Know.^[1][2] The album was launched with a party in Tokyo on 5 May 2016 arranged and broadcast globally by live streaming platform Boiler Room, featuring Skepta performing the whole album live with supporting performances from Japanese artists Kohh, Dutch Montana, Loota, and DJ Riki. ^{[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]}

The album was supported by four singles, including the top 40 entries "That's Not Me", "Shutdown" and "Man". Konnichiwa features guest appearances from Jme, Boy Better Know, D Double E, Novelist, Wiley, Chip, Pharrell Williams, ASAP Nast and Young Lord.^[13][14] The album has peaked at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart. The album has also charted in Australia, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and United States. The album won the 2016 Mercury Prize.^[15]

Background

In an interview with BBC Radio 1Xtra’s DJ Semtex, Skepta talked about the emotions behind recording his album to his relationship with Drake, he revealed that he didn't know how the rapper found out about him, "I can’t tell how he heard of me. I will never know, but I’ll put my money on him finding me online and searching for my music because that’s what he’s like – he’s a music lover. For me, it was a blessing that he was co-signing me and bigging me up, because I’m still gonna do what I’m gonna do anyway," he continued. "I’m just blessed to have them man supporting. My album came out on the 6th when I was in Toronto and it’s like home. The way they’ve got me out there is mad." He explained that he considered his album to be like "a movie", "Konnichiwa is a classic, The album [was] delayed for kick drums. To put it out was a definite happy point." He also talked about dealing with his critics in the grime scene, "I'm out for revenge, fam, I come into this ting pure-hearted and loving music, and people take me for an idiot, you get what I'm saying? So when I spit now people are gonna hear a madman, they're gonna hear a monster, they're gonna hear someone who's out for revenge - and I'm out for revenge".^[16]

Singles

• "That's Not Me" was released as the lead single from the album on 8 June 2014. The peaked to number 21 on the UK Singles Chart.
• "Shutdown" was released as the second single from the album on 26 April 2015. The peaked to number 39 on the UK Singles Chart.
• "Ladies Hit Squad" was released as the third single from the album on 14 February 2016. The peaked to number 89 on the UK Singles Chart.
• "Man" was released as the fourth single from the album on 14 April 2016. The peaked to number 34 on the UK Singles Chart.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	83/100[17]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[18]
Consequence of Sound	B[19]
Exclaim!	7/10[20]
GQ	Very positive[21]
The Guardian	[22]
The Independent	[23]
NME	5/5[24]
The Observer	[25]
Pitchfork	7.8/10[26]

Konnichiwa was met with critical acclaim. It received a normalized metascore of 83 out of 100 on the review aggregate website Metacritic based on 18 critics, which indicates "universal acclaim."^[17] Alex Petridis of The Guardian gave the album 4 out of 5 stars saying, "The architect of grime’s resurgence might have an eye on the US market, but he’s a distinctively, winningly English rapper."^[22] Louis Pattison of NME gave the album 5 out of 5 stars saying, "‘Konnichiwa’ is a landmark in British street music, a record good enough to take on the world without having to compromise one inch in the process."^[24]

Konnichiwa won the 2016 Mercury Music Prize, beating David Bowie, Radiohead and Kano.

Accolades

Commercial performance

On 9 May 2016, the album was at number 1 on the UK Official Chart Update and was only 2,000 copies ahead of Beyoncé's album Lemonade.^[31] The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 2, behind Radiohead's album A Moon Shaped Pool.^[32] The album entered the Swedish Albums Chart at number 54. The album entered the Dutch Albums Chart at number 31. The album entered the Swiss Albums Chart at number 38. The album entered the New Zealand Albums Chart at number 27. The album entered the Australian Albums Chart at number 13. The album entered the US Billboard 200 at number 160.

Track listing

Notes

• "Konnichiwa" features uncredited vocals by Fifi Rong.^[33]
• "Man" features a sample of "Regular John" by Queens of the Stone Age.
• "Detox" features guest verses by Boy Better Know members Shorty, Frisco and Jammer.
• "Text Me Back" features uncredited vocals by Cartae.
• "Text Me Back" is followed by a 53-second clip of "Sand Ocean", an instrumental production by Jason Adenuga.^[34]

Charts and certifications

Release history

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Skepta.

• Official website