Knucks - NRG 105 Review

Knucks’ debut EP ‘NRG 105’ was one of my favourite releases of 2019 and with a new EP (titled ‘Thames’) releasing next month there seems no better time to look back at his entrance into the music industry. ‘NRG 105’ creates an immersive experience for the listener from the skits to the songs. Knucks himself has said that when making this album he had taken inspiration from GTA: Vice City radio station Fever 105 which resulted in the choice of the hilarious radio DJ and the cover art for the album. However, it’s relevance can also be seen in the story of the album as Knucks reflects on life, women and crime, which are also key themes in the GTA series.

Opening the album is the radio host Reggie Black (no points for guessing who he’s meant to be) with the first of four skits. Skits can be very hit and miss but the ones on this album are enjoyable, they’re humorous and offer a comedic insight to some common characters you’d find in inner-city London. The skits fit well with the overall album and don’t feel like they’re unnecessary, which is quite often the case.

‘Blessings’ with Oscar #Worldpeace is the first song on the album and goes through the key themes that we’d see come up throughout the album – Girls, growing up and crime. The chilled vibe of the song lends well to its retrospective style. Knucks and Oscar #Worldpeace are both reflecting on how they grew up and the people they’ve become realising that nothing was going to stop them from reaching greatness. This song is a great way to kick off the album and the connection between Knucks and Oscar #Worldpeace on this song is great, the way they flow back and forth from each other is seamless and effortless.

‘Rice and Stew’ is the next song and is one of my favourites on the album. Knucks raps about how people are able to portray themselves as something they’re not through social media and other means. Similar to how when you see an ice cream tub in the fridge, and it turns out to be rice and stew (probably the reason I have trust issues now to be fair). The beat is a mix of 80s disco funk and a modern UK sound being tied together by some amazing strings. This song is so easy to listen to and puts Knucks’ incredible flow on full display.

After another skit, Knucks picks up with ‘Wedding Rings’ and dives into his love life. Taking inspiration from Tu Pac’s ‘Do for Love’ on the chorus is a great touch. Knucks talks about his current love interest (Anna) and in the first half of the song portrays their relationship as successful, however, halfway through the beat switches and the rose-tinted glasses are removed and the cracks in their relationship are revealed. The heavy-hitting bass and strong delivery continue after ‘Wedding Rings’ and into the next song ‘Gwen Stefani’, where Knucks delivers a braggadocio lyrical performance where he talks about a life of crime. This seems to be a point where Knucks is revealing his true colours and being his unapologetic self.

‘Diddy’ featuring Wretch 32 continues the braggadocios feel as both rappers flex their success with women and in life. I enjoy this song, but I feel like Wretch 32 would have been a better feature on a more introspective song or one with a more serious subject matter. That’s not to say that Wretch 32 was bad on this song I just prefer that style from him. I do think this song does great as a lead up to ‘Home’ the last song on the album. It allows for the reality of Knucks’ situation to really hit home (no pun intended) when the song finishes and the ‘Breaking News’ skit starts which leads into ‘Home’.

‘Home’ is the stand-out song on the album and was one of my favourite songs of 2019. It perfectly encapsulates the risks for young black men growing up in inner-city areas which have high rates of crime and poverty. It also touches on issues surrounding masculinity in young men and the struggles for them to be open about their feelings. The stripped-back instrumentals allow Knucks’ lyricism and flow to take centre stage. The song is exceptional from beginning to end and conveys its story perfectly. Not only is this a great song but the context it’s situated in gives it so much more social relevance, it’s truly a piece of art.

‘NRG 105’ is an exceptional debut from Knucks and one that builds anticipation for what he will do next. There is no doubt he has proven his artistry and ability as a rapper. His lyricism and storytelling ability really shine through on this album as well as great creativity. This album is unique and an example of some of the great talent coming out of the UK at the moment. With his new EP ‘Thames’ round the corner there is a lot of promise to be found in this album and it will be interesting to see where Knucks chooses to take his next project in terms of content and production, whether it follows the style set out in ‘NRG 105’ or not it will be an interesting listen either way.