Knucks: The Story So Far...
Chronicling the career of the titular North London rhymer as he gears up to drop his new project, Alpha Place.
At age 27, Knucks is arguably one of the most complete emcees the UK rap scene has to offer. Hailing from South Kilburn, Knucks has garnered recognition from casual music fans, rap aficionados and industry veterans like Tiffany Calver, Kojey Radical and Ghetts.
Originally going under the schoolyard moniker “Knuckles”, the rapper shortened his stage name to Knucks as he honed his craft. Many were first introduced to Knucks with his 2016 self-produced, SBTV single, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. Looking back six years on, the track is a time capsule of jazz-licked, nonchalant flows and ‘best served cold’ bars.
In the current music landscape, it’s all too easy to get wrapped up in the oversaturated sounds we hear on the charts, funnelled out by out-of-touch execs. With each passing year, you could argue boundary-pushing artists have a harder time finding success without alienating the mainstream audiences. Melding new sounds into the mainstream music stew is not an easy task—but that’s exactly what Knucks does.
In 2016, continued his Knucks prolific streak with the laid-back “Turnover” and the soul-sampling “From Rome with Love” rapping:
“I bring a different sound gotta lick ‘em down like a brown letter /
Man this shits been wild ever since I blew out my last cake”
Knucks continued to drop loose cuts in 2017 and 2018. Notably, “24”, “Vows” and “The Jump” are standouts from this era, lodging much of the dry charisma Knucks would later be known for.
All of Knucks’ loosies and SoundCloud outings led to his full-length debut EP, NRG 105, which he released in 2019. NRG 105 takes Knucks’ culture, identity and inner thoughts and divides them into ten divergent tracks. The project consisted of minimal guest features—however, UK rap legend Wretch 32 and Oscar #Worldpeace acted as the sole supporting characters.
Songs like “Gwen Stefani” and “Diddy” sparked a lot of fanfare from listeners. However, no track ate up the spotlight like the self-produced ode to inner-city living, “Home”. “Home” is a song that sparked a lot of discourse because it explores the deeper issues of London knife crime and how minor disputes evolve into displays of toxic masculinity. In the last verse of the track, Knucks discusses the pride can result in them pulling out a weapon to assert power over the opposition. Since “Home” dropped, the song is often touted as a fan favourite.
After NRG 105, Knucks rose through the UK music scene at a break-neck pace. His 2020 “Daily Duppy” freestyle truly embodied his artistic progression. For British emcees, a “Daily Duppy” is a defining moment. The freestyle shows the viewers how much havoc you can wreak in three minutes. Many rappers stepping up to the lyrical arena ask themselves: am I able to deliver some quality, out-the-box rhymes, or do I sound like everyone else? Knucks’ “Daily Duppy” shows his talent and linguistic range, delivering solid punchlines and wordplay throughout.
In the aftermath of Knucks' "Daily Duppy", the love was evident from discussion and YouTube comments. Knucks’ name was making the rounds, and people wanted to hear more from him as they started discovering his talent.
The South Kilburn spitter’s sophomore EP, London Class, dropped in September of 2020, boasting guest spots from Loyle Carner, Venna, kadiata, Sam Wise and KXYZ. London Class built upon and reinforced Knucks’ style he developed over the prior 24 months.
From his jazzy, slowed down rhythms on “Duchess” to politically-charged monologues on “Under Class Skit”, you get a real sense of Knucks’ worldview and sensibilities. Additionally, “Your Worth” echoes with Dave Chappelle’s passage:
“I still don’t understand, all these fucking police had their hands in their pockets / Who are you talking to / What are you signifying”
After making the rounds with guest features—working with the likes of emil, Lancey Foux and Sam Wise—Knucks returned with (arguably) his best track to date in “Los Pollos Hermanos”. The Breaking Bad-inspired tune was a little over one minute in length but was living proof that less is sometimes more. With a beat co-produced by frequent collaborator Venna, Knucks flexes his wardrobe, rap steez and lyrical dexterity.
Fast-forward to this year, Knucks once again had all eyes on him when his A COLORS Show video went viral. Released on January 10, 2022, the rapper performed an exclusive medley of the then-previously unheard “Alpha House / Bando”. From the jade green aesthetics to the eerie beat and calculated flow, it was clear Knucks bought his A-game.
Knucks later released “Alpha House” on streaming services alongside a new track called “Hide & Seek” in February 2022. The latter of the two songs recounts the story of ‘little old Kevin’, a kid who gets wrapped up in street politics.
Knucks’ follow-up single “Leon the Professional” again showed his effortless flow and narration about the highs and lows of the streets involving a story about Leon. With the title referencing the 1994 cult classic French action-thriller, Léon: The Professional, Knucks channels his inner action hero and parallels the titular protagonist with a controlled, weathered delivery.
In the weeks since “Leon the Professional”, Knucks has blessed us with the SL-assisted drill romp “Nice & Good” as well as unveiling the full tracklist for his upcoming third project, Alpha Place. With guest spots from Stormzy, M1llionz, Shaé Universe, Lex Amor and Sainté, Alpha Place has found itself one of the most anticipated Brit-rap projects of 2022.
Throughout his journey, Knucks has also cultivated a loyal, growing fanbase. His upcoming sold-out tour this May fully encapsulates his wide-reaching audience and fandom. If you haven’t taken in Knucks yet, you know what to do.
Highlights: Los Pollos Hermanos, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Big Kahuna, Home, Beg to Differ, Alpha House, Nice & Good, Standard and 24.
Alpha Place is slated to drop on May 6. In the meantime, stream Knucks below.