As a rapper, farmer, carpenter and basketball coach, KNLO lives his life with versatility and instinct; as well as 438his new project, released on Friday.
From more drill rap, like on the track “Glace,” to much more exotic sounds, like on “Bidibum,” KNLO demonstrates the full extent of his creativity on this fifth solo project.
“The thing is, there’s no trick, you know what I mean?” claims the Quebec rapper, laughing at the irony of this advice. “Just trust yourself,” he adds.
This recommendation that he gives to everyone he works with, Akena Lohamba Okoko, aka KNLO, has implemented it for his new project.
“There is not enough business to do [dans le rap] Making sacrifices to protect a style or an image,” explains the 39-year-old artist. “I don’t fight against my way of thinking; When I celebrate, I make a track that celebrates. When I’m more in my thoughts, a deeper track emerges.
Always with surgical precision, both in terms of his rhymes – especially on the single “Until the end” – and in his way of riding every note like on Nintendo, the member of the Alaclair Ensemble collective is in Olympic form his latest project, which spans 14 tracks.
In collaboration with his wife
KNLO’s most loyal pal, his wife Caro Dupont, returns for two tracks on this new work. On “Bonsoir”, the song that closes album 438, the melodic voice of the mother of the MC’s children beautifully complements the cadence of the MC, who takes on the appearance of Warren G in this rhythm with flavors of the American West Coast.
“It’s a blessing to be able to work with my wife,” says the rapper from Sainte-Foy. “Not only does she make music, but she is often the first ear to hear what I do.”
And not just any ear. His wife is a music therapist by profession and KNLO draws inspiration from the concepts she taught him on the subject when he is in the studio.
“Each song represents a state of mind I’ve been going through, so there’s no exact image or direction for my albums; For me it is very therapeutic,” notes the artist, signed to Disques 7ième Ciel.
KNLO’s album 438 is available on all platforms.