Kano’s position in grime’s pantheon is a curious one. As the genre’s renaissance got underway last year, he was not to be found in the background of other people’s videos or on stage with Kanye West at the Brits. Instead he bided his time and staged a comeback on his own terms. Made in the Manor is a reflection on days gone by in east London: lyrics namecheck roads, postcodes and hairdressers, while musically the production ranges from stabby, Pendulum-style synths (Hail) to pulsating bass and a more minimal sound (New Banger). Kano still has the rapid-fire delivery that he honed in countless grime battles, but he clearly has an eye on a bigger prize now. While the likes of Stormzy and Novelist have concentrated on harder, myopic tracks that reference their world and little else, here Kano offers more accessibility. Some of that jars, including a slow, trudging ode to his sibling (Little Sis), but others – such as standout A Roadman’s Hymn – show an MC who has become an artist. As grime continues its ascent, Kano’s new approach might be catnip for those who want something more mature.
