From London to Paris: Kraftykid and OKADA's Grime Sensation 'You Got That'

Kraftykid is back with another electrifying track, this time teaming up with French-Japanese artist OKADA for the bouncy grime anthem "You Got That." This release marks a continuation of Kraftykid's #saveoursummers series, aiming to keep the season vibrant with energetic tunes.

Verse 1

The song opens with Kraftykid's clever wordplay, referencing video game duos like Ratchet and Clank, and Daxter and Jak, setting the tone for a track that's as sharp as it is playful. The hook is irresistibly catchy, repeating the phrase "you got this and you got that," mocking rappers who can only rap about their material possessions.

Verse 2

OKADA's verse adds an international flair, seamlessly blending French and Japanese influences. His lines about transitioning from hardship to success resonate with anyone striving for greatness. The unique collaboration between Kraftykid and OKADA showcases their ability to bridge cultures and create something fresh and exciting.

Artwork

Kraftykid and OKADA rented a gym to shoot some reels and the cover art. Also in the cover art is Kraftykid’s brother Nathan. Both OKADA and Nathan have a passion for boxing.

Moral

‘You Got That’ isn't just a song; it's a reminder of the power of collaboration and the importance of pushing the envelope sonically. As you groove to the infectious beat, let it inspire you to tackle your challenges head-on and celebrate your victories. Kraftykid and OKADA have crafted a summer anthem that encourages us all to embrace our strengths and keep pushing forward.

Kraftykid & Forest55's 'Step Way': Your Soundtrack to Removing Toxicity

Positive Vibes Only

Get ready to cleanse your musical palate and revitalise your spirit with "Step Way," the latest release from Kraftykid and Forest55. This UK drill anthem isn't just about beats and rhymes; it's a powerful message about shedding negativity and removing toxic energy from your surroundings.

The song's title, "Step Way," carries a deeper meaning - an invitation to stay away from negative influences and make room for positivity. As you delve into the track, you'll feel an instant surge of energy, thanks to the catchy hooks and dynamic beats that define UK drill. Kraftykid's first full Japanese verse adds a unique twist, further emphasising the importance of breaking free from the past. Forest55's verse complements the track with sharp lyrics and a flow that's both engaging and dynamic. Together, they create a musical synergy that's hard to resist.

The lyrics are a testament to resilience and self-empowerment. Kraftykid and Forest55 encourage listeners to clear their paths and banish negativity, reminding us that we have the power to control the energy around us. "Step Way" is a reminder that we can choose positivity, growth, and personal transformation, no matter the circumstances.

Artwork

The artwork features the two rappers’ bare feet on the sunny rocks. A perfect end to the #saveoursummers series. Forest has a cool Donald Duck tattoo on the right.

Moral

As you hit play on "Step Way," let it be your anthem for removing toxic influences and embracing a brighter, more positive future. Just as Kraftykid and Forest55 have done with their music, take a step away from negativity, and watch as your life becomes a canvas for positivity, growth, and self-discovery.

The Hilt's "Drill Joint": A Perfect Example of How Drill Music Transcends Borders

Chicago Drill meets UK Drill meets Japanese Drill

The Hilt's latest single "Drill Joint" is a perfect example of how drill music transcends borders. Produced by Monsieur Jovoni, the song blends the busy energy of Chicago drill with the dark pianos and heavy 808s of UK drill. J the Protagonist attacks it ferociously. Not to mention Kraftykid, The Hilt's resident Brit. Additionally, the song adds a Japanese twist with Neku, The Hilt's only Japanese rapper, bringing the flavour of Japanese drill.

The hook of the song, delivered by Monsieur Jovoni, is reminiscent of Chief Keef's vibe on 'Faneto' or 'Don't Like,' with its heavy synths, while the verse element of the beat is reminiscent of Zone 2 or 98s. The energy of the song is palpable, and it's easy to get lost in the catchy bars and head-bobbing beats.

Neku's verse adds a unique twist to the song, with lyrics in Japanese that add to the international feel of the track. The verse is followed by J the Protagonist, whose lyrics are delivered with confidence and swagger. Kraftykid's verse follows suit, showcasing his ability to weave words and create vivid imagery.

Kraftykid then delivers the catchy refrain before spraying a breathless onslaught, giving the track that UK stamp of approval. The refrain, adding to the overall catchiness of the song, is a call to action, encouraging listeners to stay strong and not fold under pressure. Because The Hilt certainly won't be. En garde!

Artwork

The cover, depicting Tutenkhamun represents our identity as the original people and gods among men. It symbolizes our deep connection to our ancestry and heritage, and our unwavering pride in who we are.

Moral

Overall, "Drill Joint" is an international drill anthem that blends the best of Chicago, UK, and Japanese drill. It's a perfect example of how music can transcend borders and bring people from all over the world together. While the artwork is a powerful representation of the black experience and what it means to be black in today's world. It serves as a reminder of the challenges we face, the strength of our community, and the importance of staying rooted in our identity and culture.

See the amazing music video below directed by Emma Ingeborg Sundin.

Take a Gamble with A.Valley and Novuhblu’s New Single ‘Fresh’

How did we get here?

In the vibrant citypop-rap track "Fresh," Kansas-native A.Valley collaborates with producer Novuhblu to create a unique fusion of musical genres. Born and raised in Kansas, A.Valley brings his distinct perspective and experiences to the song, infusing it with his individuality. A side-step from his usual sound with his Tokyo-based crew, The Hilt.

Novuhblu, hailing from Detroit, adds another layer to the collaboration by incorporating elements of R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop, and Techno, influenced by the rich musical history of his hometown. The lyrics of "Fresh" reflect the artist's resilience and determination, emphasizing the theme of taking risks and gambling with life ("人生と賭け合い").

A.Valley's verses effortlessly flow over Novuhblu's production, capturing the essence of their cross-cultural experiences and the vibrant energy of the city. "Fresh" stands as a testament to A.Valley's international artistry, bridging gaps between Kansas and Tokyo, and creating a sound that defies boundaries.

Artwork

The artwork portrays a simple golden hour view from A.Valley’s balcony near Tokyo Skytree, perfectly matching the laid-back vibe of the track itself. The serene beauty of the scenery adds an extra layer of immersion to the listener's journey, enhancing the overall experience of the song.

Moral

The song's moral lies in the message of embracing risks and pursuing dreams, no matter where one comes from. A.Valley's journey from Kansas to Tokyo, coupled with his foundation of the Hilt crew, exemplifies his fearless pursuit of artistic expression and exploration. "Fresh" encourages listeners to step out of their comfort zones, embrace their unique backgrounds, and take bold steps towards their passions. It serves as a reminder that cultural diversity and artistic fusion can result in extraordinary musical experiences and personal growth. Check out the music video below!

Love, Loyalty, and Selfishness: The Complicated Dynamics in Kraftykid and J the Protagonist’s 'Keep You For Myself'

#saveoursummers

The #saveoursummers playlist is Kraftykid’s response to all the mid hitting the airwaves. Bouncy tunes produced by himself featuring his friends. Constantly updating all summer, so follow the playlist to stay updated. The first installment, "Keep You For Myself" sees Kraftykid collaborate with J the Protagonist to deliver a raw and intense exploration of love, possessiveness, and selfishness. The chorus sets the tone, highlighting the unapologetic nature of the artists, confessing their inability to escape their self-centered desires.

J the Protagonist

J the Protagonist's verse delves into the complexities of a relationship, expressing a longing for a perfect partner while acknowledging the struggles and conflicts that arise. The lyrics paint a picture of a deep connection, a partnership reminiscent of Bonnie and Clyde, built on loyalty and shared experiences. The bond runs so deep that even after a breakup, there's an unwavering commitment to protect and support one another.

Kraftykid

Kraftykid's verse brings a different perspective, expressing a sense of entitlement and control over the relationship. He acknowledges his financial contributions while highlighting the risks and dangers he's willing to face for the one he loves. The lyrics portray a possessive nature, emphasizing his dominance and unwavering commitment. The song's gritty beat and unfiltered lyrics create a captivating atmosphere, drawing listeners into the intense emotions and conflicts presented in the track.

Artwork

The artwork adds another layer of depth to the emotional narrative. Kraftykid and J the Protagonist's lyrics paint a vivid picture of a complex relationship, and the artwork perfectly captures the essence of solitude and longing. The image showcases a lonely car parked near the Enoshima sea, bathed in the warm hues of golden hour. As the sun sets and casts its glow over the tranquil scene, it evokes a sense of introspection and contemplation. The artwork encapsulates the bittersweet emotions and the desire to keep someone close, hinting at the complexities and conflicts explored within the song.

Moral

In this gritty anthem, "Keep You For Myself" serves as a reminder of the complexities of love and relationships. It raises questions about possessiveness, loyalty, and the boundaries between self-interest and genuine connection. The moral of the song lies in the exploration of self-awareness and understanding. It prompts listeners to reflect on the balance between personal desires and the well-being of others. While the song delves into selfishness, it also offers an opportunity for introspection, challenging individuals to find a healthy equilibrium between their own needs and the needs of their loved ones.

Check back in the #saveoursummers playlist every two weeks for a new song.

‘Creepypasta’: The Haunting Collaboration between Kraftykid and LEEYVNG

How the collab came about

Are you ready for the best UK x JPN drill collab, Kraftykid & LEEYVNG? These two stars are bringing Creepypasta straight to your table! LEEYVNG is also known as Jinmenusagi when on the mic, but here he flexes his ability to produce gritty UK Drill beats.
Jinmenusagi & Kraftykid have collabed on the Tsumetai Sekai EP, produced by ghostpops. They’ve also got music on Kraftykid’s highly anticipated Away Games II set to release later this year.

Maurice

This song, equipped with a music video below, explores the three wise monkeys, also known as the "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" monkeys—a cultural icon originating from Japan. The concept features three monkeys, each covering one of their senses (eyes, ears, and mouth) to symbolize the idea of "not seeing evil, not hearing evil, and not speaking evil", as heard in the chorus of Maurice.

This symbol represents the ancient Japanese Buddhist principle of "shin-zen-bi," which encourages people to focus on the positive and avoid negativity by not engaging with or spreading evil thoughts. "Don't touch my soul with dirty hands", Kraftykid raps. The three monkeys serve as a reminder to practice this philosophy in daily life, promoting ethical behaviour and encouraging people to maintain a pure heart.

In modern times, the three wise monkeys have become a popular cultural symbol, appearing in a wide range of media, from art to advertising. The image is often used to express the idea of turning a blind eye to negative events or avoiding conflict, and it remains a powerful symbol of virtuous behaviour.

On the flip side, it also represents the no-snitch culture that is so highly regarded in rap yet seldom upheld in practice.

Wrong Team Freestyle

In this soliloquy, Hackney-born, Tokyo-based artist Kraftykid reflects on the experiences that have shaped him into the person he is today, all over LEEYVNG's aggressive drill beat. These 80 bars are a deep dive into the mind of K—his thoughts on everything from the changes in his hometown to the challenges he's faced along the way as a rapper.

Kraftykid opens the verse by reflecting on his 20-something years of living in East London, which served as the source of his inspiration. He goes on to describe himself as a “caped crusader without no Batgun,” a metaphor for his self-reliance and D.I.Y approach to life.

He takes a light-hearted jab at the state of the American Dream, and the impact of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel “The Great Gatsby.” He also touches on the dark side of the entertainment industry, where even the death of a pornstar is met with a perverted form of celebration. Damn.

In the verse, Kraftykid also acknowledges the challenges he's faced in his career, including the pressure to be constantly creative and the difficulties he's experienced with his writing, which caused him to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome at one point in time. He laments the loss of the black community in his area due to gentrification. “I can't afford me a yard in my hometown, that's unfair,” he raps.

The verse ends with Kraftykid sharing his thoughts on relationships and the importance of respect over love. He concludes by paying homage to Kyushu where he lived when he first moved to Japan.

Overall, this rap verse by Kraftykid is a powerful testament to the artist's life and experiences, showcasing his resilience, determination, and creativity.

Artwork

As a visual artist, I have always been drawn to the strange and unusual. So when it comes to artwork reflecting dark music such as UK drill, I knew exactly what direction I wanted to take. I was inspired by the eerie elements of creepypasta lore, specifically Slenderman and Siren Head, and the unsettling nature of weirdcore aesthetic. The end result is a haunting representation of an abandoned cabin with a beat-up couch out front, all set against a twisted inverted colour palette that speaks to the controversial themes explored on this project. I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to bring my unique vision to life for this tape, and I hope it will leave a lasting impression on those who see it.

Moral

If Citytrap was the yang to Kraftykid’s mind, Creepypasta is definitely the yin. Both sonic palettes exist within the artist who’s not afraid to dabble in different genres. An advocate for the mood-based music model that the industry is finally moving towards, as opposed to the dated genre-based. Humans are multi-faceted and musicians should not be exempt from that.

Citypop. Trap. And They Say The Marriage Was Beautiful. Citytrap EP By Kraftykid And J.Rovia Out Now

How the collab came about

Kraftykid and J.Rovia are to The Hilt what EarlWolf was to Odd Future, what Method Man & Redman was to Wu-Tang, what Headie One & RV was to OFB. A subset within a group, with their own sound.

The rapper-producer-songwriter Kraftykid produced and executive produced the EP to flex his metal fingers. J.Rovia assisted with introspective raps and melodies.

The two MCs happen to live together, so an EP was a no-brainer. Now you have a 3-pack! Early Christmas present, I guess.

Citytrap

As the title suggests, this song has elements of citypop as well as trap. The filters and percussion are citypop-esque, and the 808s speak for themselves. The melody in the beat is where the two genres meet in the middle. The lyrics talk about using the talents you were blessed with, and not letting them fade in place of a job you can’t stand. Get loose!

Croozin

No apostrophe for these daredevils! Reminiscent of a time when rappers used Z’s instead of S’s at the end of wordz.

“Keep the family close, lessons I had to learn from within”, J.Rovia raps as the homesickness kicks in. Absence makes the heart grow fonder as they say.

Kraftykid adds on, “I need plaques though. Make up for all the times I spat through these plaques though.” Yes, they’ve left home, so it better have been worth it! Let’s manifest a platinum plaque for each 10,000 hours logged!

Pip

Top Gun sample ftw!

Followed by J.Rovia with a message I can get behind, “Time wasted stick to the point and drive, better done than only said.” Don’t talk about it, be about it. Even if you’re scared, you have to chase your dreams or you’ll regret it later.

Kraftykid follows, “Even if I die I won’t even die. Left behind a legacy for each to try.” Sentiments echoed from one of his previous singles ‘i don’t even mind’ where he croons about his legacy being his music, not kids.

Artwork

I was inspired by Citypop artists like Hiroshi Nagai, and some 1984 album artwork like Magical and After 5 Clash! That blend of warm and cool colours makes me sleepy, in a good way. I wanted to make something similar, but challenge myself with 3D models. Challenge accepted.

Moral

“Now I want tunes I can show family”, Kraftykid raps. And true to word, the EP, clocking in at only 7 minutes has not a single swear word by either of the rappers. The interesting part is, this was all subconsciously done.

Check out the EP for yourself and let us know in the comments which track you were feeling the most.

Kraftykid & Vangs Music’s “i don’t even mind” is Great Gatsby vs The American Dream in A Nutshell

Verse 1

First, let’s talk about how melodic the beat sounds. Props to Vangs Music. It just compelled Kraftykid to sing away whether he was hitting the note or not. “They’re like, K she was bad why’d you let her get away?” he raps. One might call it self-sabotage, but there are many types of people out there. Some prefer to be single, some can’t do without a partner, some are poly, and some are even asexual.

“Guilty.” — Varys, 129 AC

Verse 2

Kraftykid half-jokingly credits his luck with women to his barber. But wait. To a black man, a barber is so important that we stay with the same one our whole life if we can help it. So important that Big Tobz & Blittz had to make an anthem about it. So important that Krafty had to pay homage to that song. “Gotta thank my barber for the puss that I’ve been getting.” Then in the same breath he shamelessly talk about his mum’s life lessons. You know the one. “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”, and I hear he’s quiet in person…

Artwork

Others perceive single people to be lonely, and some are, but Krafty claims to be happier alone. So for the artwork I wanted to capture that desolate feeling and I referenced the Blade Runner 2049 poster but added the man turning into sand.

I’m convinced Ryan Gosling can do no wrong. What’s his best movie?

Moral

Kraftykid self-reflects on his perception of happiness as the Great Gatsby type versus the American Dream type which has permeated cultures all across the world. You know, starting a family, getting a dog, picket fence, etc. The moral of the story is don’t yuck someone’s yum, especially if you don’t understand it. Give the song a listen below and tell me what you think.

Kraftykid & Vangs Music Say It’s A Virtue to Know “Your Place”

Verse 1

As usual, Kraftykid squeezes many concepts into one song. This can be a lot to take in, so multiple listens are usually recommended. However, in today’s microwave music era that’s a big ask. Verse 1 covers topics from incels and the Black Lives Matter movement, to the importance of conserving time and energy. “Can’t politic with a racist, that’d take too much time”, he raps. Vangs Music delivers on the dark beat with a melody fit for the grim reaper himself.

Verse 2

Verse 2 sees Krafty address the close call his friend had when meeting a stranger from Craigslist which turned out to be a honey trap. He’s lucky he only got robbed. He also discusses violent acts by boys not even old enough to vote. It seems like going to jail is a rollout for some rappers. Then some that go mainstream do it out of pressure online by people with no avatars, in my opinion. Others do things out of necessity. I wish more youth clubs were available. “Ain’t even lived life, he a lifer.”, Kraftykid raps.

Artwork

Finally, let’s talk about the artwork. That is a picture I took in 2015 in Higashi-Nakano with my Airbnb host, I believe. Back when Airbnb was still a thing in Japan. I recall this was round Christmas time. I wonder where the decorations are? Maybe I should’ve Photoshopped some in. I wanted to use a simple picture that looks busy to portray that sense of many people being the main characters of their own stories but an NPC in yours.

Moral

The core message of the song, as heard in the chorus, is to know yourself and draw a line in the sand somewhere. “The streets, huh? You know that’s not your place.” Take a listen for yourself below and see if you can catch all these references.

Kraftykid & Vangs Music Want You to Take Notes on “Homework Edit”

Verse 1

The first verse sees Kraftykid discuss everything from gang culture, to braggadocio, to politics, to fears of losing loved ones in a slew of one-liners. With only two 8-bar verses this song went over well with its listeners, clocking in at over 14,000 streams. People want short and sweet these days.

Verse 2

Verse 2 sees Krafty switch up the flow to talk more braggadocio before leaving people with a confidence boost. “How you know your league if you just stay dribbling?” We also hear an interesting reverse melody in the last third of the song. Listen out for when the reverse 808s kick in.

Artwork

In summer 2018 I took a solo trip to Hiroshima. On that trip I also took the liberty of visiting Rabbit Island and Miyajima. I like solo trips. This picture was taken in Miyajima after most of the tourists had gone home or back to their hotels. But on its own it was missing something, so I added my special touch, iridescence. I chose this vibe because it reminded me of art associated with Chillhop, and Chillhop music usually have “homework edits” which are hour-long versions of the songs for students to study to. Well played, Krafty.

Moral

If there’s one takeaway from this song, it’s simple. People always talk about dating leagues but in my opinion if you’re funny, well-presented and honest you’d be surprised what you can achieve.