knucks A fine African man - album review
FOR OVERBLOWN MAGAZINE
Knucks’ beloved 2022 album Alpha Place established the North-West London rapper as a talented storyteller who conveyed the sounds and stories of the Kilburn estate he was raised on. Now returning with his follow-up, A Fine African Man focuses on his Nigerian identity and African heritage in both its sonic and lyrical content.
This project is a continuation of Alpha Place, further exploring themes of identity as well as cultural alienation and pride while expanding Knucks’ sonic palette; A Fine African Man intersects his London upbringing with his Nigerian heritage, bridging both continents and cultures.
‘MASQUERADE’ welcomes listeners into the bustling streets of his Nigerian hometown before moving into a tropical production which evokes a sense of homecoming. Like a chant, Knucks repeats, “I’ve been telling myself before anything else, I’m an African man,” grounding the track in unapologetic pride.
Returning to London on ‘MY NAME IS MY NAME’, Knucks takes us through prominent moments from his adolescence, particularly those where his African heritage came into question due to his British upbringing. Yet his redefined perspective reflects on those situations and embraces the generational stories of sharing his father’s name and being proud of his African ancestry.
On ‘GOLDTOOTH,’ Knucks explores the deeper meaning of gold being a symbol of wealth and pride while addressing the harsh realities of gold extraction in Africa. Disguised by the smooth verses paired with Blacqbonez’s soft vocals, Knucks considers the colonial lineage behind the dazzling highlife of wealth and remains conscious of its exploitative trading history.
Knucks’ sonic versatility is on full display, and the album is a modern take on the African sounds close to his heart. Phyno collaboration ‘NO SHAKING’ fuses the hard-hitting bass and high-hats of road rap with touches of Afrobeats. Knucks spotlights a variety of African talents throughout the album; staples like Tiwa Savage on ‘YAM PORRIDGE’ provide the melodies and harmonies which bind the stories together. The production is immaculate; it never outshines Knucks but rather elevates his message while demonstrating his artistic creativity. “Can’t break the generational curses if I don’t wake up and stand for peace” Knucks raps over a dance track on ‘NWANNE. Similarly, KCee collab ‘CONTAINER’ is an infectious Amapiano party anthem. Cultural pride is at the essence of the album and conveyed through the vibrant, powerful sounds paired with his insightful lyrics.
As an immersive storyteller, Knuck’ ability to share anecdotes and introspection through playful wordplay is what sets him apart. On ‘FRIENDS (ft. Tyler Daley)’ Knucks opens up about love and long-distance while cheerfully rapping “my mixtape brings all the girls to the yard.” ‘CUT KNUCKLES’ has Alpha Place all over it as Knucks uses the final track as a straight rap song to reflect on how his life has changed since his critically acclaimed predecessor.
While Alpha Place positioned the rapper as a captivating storyteller, A Fine African Man sees Knucks pushing his creative direction and find the deeper meanings of his African heritage and identity while staying true to rap style.
8/10 - Check out the review at Overblown Magazine: https://overblown.co.uk/reviews/album/knucks-a-fine-african-man-review/
