Krept & Konan have released their new album, ‘Young Kingz II’. A spiritual successor to their breakout mixtape, ‘Young Kingz’, the south London duo have treated listeners to an 18-song tracklist that includes previous singles like ‘Low Vibrations’ and ‘Smooth Lovin’. After months of building hype and rolling out tracks, the full album is now available on streaming platforms.
WE ARE BACK!!!!
YOUNG KINGZ 2 (pre order link in bio) 07-02-25
Young Kingz dropped independently 11 years ago, so Young Kingz 2 had to drop independently too. Full circle moment.
Its been 5 years, sorry for the wait
Lets get this show on the road, New music coming in 3…2… pic.twitter.com/nOFqDsEgco
— Krept & Konan (@KreptandKonan) September 11, 2024
‘Young Kingz II’, mainly recorded in Jamaica, sees no dulling to their dynamic, razor-sharp lyricism. As soon as the first two tracks are underway, we’re met with a barrage of clever punchlines, with bars like “I had to Offset my account so that the grind could Takeoff” referencing Migos, or “The south of France is the only way I’m going to the can (Cannes) again”.
It also taps into more tender moods, like in the two-track run of ‘Nala’s Song’ and ‘Delroy’s Song’, the first dedicated to Krept’s daughter, and the latter in remembrance of Konan’s father. There’s a broad range of style on this record, hitting ambient mood-music on ‘100 Mistakes’, bouncy dancehall on ‘Smooth Lovin’, lightning-fast grime flows on ‘Rage’ and even a drumless, strings/piano-centred backing on ‘Situations’. The new album plays host to an exciting range of features, including fellow UK rappers Ghetts, Chip, Potter Payper and Youngs Teflon, dancehall and reggae royalty Sizzla and Popcaan, and even actors Damson Idris and Michael Ward.
Speaking to Music Week about the impressive list of contributors, Konan said: “They’re very talented individuals, man. They all bring themselves and that’s what we wanted. Popcaan came to the studio to do ‘Smooth Lovin’, that song originally was a bit more greazy and we wanted that tropical element. Same with Sizzla, he just popped into my brain and that was very smooth. Krept reached out to Potter and he delivered his verse. With Youngs Teflon, I had a hook and verse and thought who could do this with us and I was randomly listening to one of his tunes. He delivered mad quickly, so it was all literally a puzzle.”
Now, after recently parting ways from a decade-long partnership with Virgin EMI, Krept & Konan are independent again. Konan said their new freedom inspired them to name this album as a sequel: “Young Kingz was the last time we were independent, 10 years ago. Everything just aligned so we decided on Young Kingz II. It made sense.”
@reneeeats BIG NEWS! @Krept & @Konan very own @Savewayssupermarket is officially OPEN! Saveways Supermarket, 102 Beddington Ln, Croydon, CR0 4YX 8 AM to 10 PM everyday From household essentials to halal meat, world foods, wholesale deals, and more—they’ve got EVERYTHING you need under one roof! This is more than just a supermarket—it’s a Black-Owned business that deserves all the love and support. So, pull up, shop smart, and spread the word! And don’t forget to hit that follow button – I’m your go-to for all things Black-Owned! @flakebakepatties @Nala’s Baby #kreptandkonan #savewayssupermarket #saveways #supermarket #wholesalers #blackownedbusiness #blackowned #supportyourown #croydon #southlondon #blacktiktok #caribbeantiktok #fyp #fypシ゚ #lookpondimenu #reneeeats ♬ Smooth Lovin – Popcaan – Krept & Konan
Besides the music, they’ve been keeping themselves busy with their business ventures. Lately, Krept has won awards for his baby skincare brand Nala’s Baby, and both Krept & Konan recently opened Saveways, an inclusive supermarket in Croydon that caters to its diverse population.
Reviews for ‘Young Kingz II’ have been positive so far, with The Skinny saying it “delivers on all fronts, drawing from a wide range of influences, full of personal touches and boasting accomplished features. The result is, for once, a sequel that lives up to the original.”
