Kane Robinson emerged not long after Dizzee Rascal and has rapped for Gorillaz, but though the east Londoner has respect, he hasn’t yet reached household name status.
His fifth album, his first for six years, stomps around demanding attention in places – the opener, Hail, is a rap-metal revival we could do without, while New Banger and 3 Wheel-ups summon the urgency of the most aggressive grime – but mostly he sounds surprisingly laid-back, even vulnerable.
On Deep Blues, a smouldering piano piece made with Damon Albarn, he castigates himself for being “online looking at Rolexes” while a friend’s mum was ill. Strangers is a soulful tune about the mates he’s lost along the way.
Best of all, on My Sound he unites horn blasts, a deep bass rumble and a relaxed melodicism to confirm that his sound puts him out on his own in UK rap.
(Parlophone)