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Your Essential Guide To Krept And Konan
They're the duo that achieved a Guinness World Record and had artists such as Pusha T, Big Sean and Wretch 32 featuring on their tracks... And that's before they were signed! Meet Krept And Konan...
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1. Meet Krept and Konan, an English hip-hop duo from South London.
The pair, real name Casyo "Krept" Johnson and Karl "Konan" Wilson, are both are 24-years-old. They met and became friends in 2008 but by 2009 realised their matching musical interests and became a musical duo .
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2. Where did their nicknames come from?
In a past interview Krept said: "I loved trainers, sneakers, Kreps so people called me Krep.. Konan was running around causing a madness like a wild child, so he was always Konan the Barbarian and our nicknames were born."
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3. Their second mixtape 'Tsunami' was released in 2010
It featured several mainstream artists including Ghetts, Giggs, Scorcher and Wretch 32. The mixtape was relatively well received with 2,000 copies sold and an estimate of a huge 60,000 illegal downloads.
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4. It was their cover of Kanye West and Jay Z's 'Otis' that really got them noticed.
In 2011, they posted a cover of Jay-Z's and Kanye West's 'Otis' on YouTube and it blew up. The video reached a staggering five million views in its first five days of being uploaded, however, after receiving pressure from Jay Z's legal team the video was removed from the duo's profile.
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5. Krept and Konan have their own clothing line called Play Dirty.
On their website iplaydirty.co.uk you'll find a mixture of hoodies, t-shirts and snapbacks all with the 'Play Dirty' logo on the front.
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6. In 2005 Krept and Konan joined Skepta on his UK tour.
They said in an interview with MTV: "That tour taught us so much about the power of being independent and making the music that you want to make, rather than music you think you should make... Skepta dropped us in front of people who didn't know who we were and told us to entertain them."
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7. They appeared on Tinie Tempah's 2011 mixtape 'Happy Birthday.'
Alongside Pusha T, Wretch 32, J Cole, Big Sean and more Krept and Konan were given a huge platform when they assisted Tinie on the track 100k with G Frsh and Tinchy Stryder.
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8. You should know the story behind their song 'My Story'.
Konan experienced a tragic loss when a masked gunman broke into his mothers home and shot his step father in the chest. Sadly, Konan's step-dad passed away. Shortly after the murderer was sentenced the pair released the eery track 'My Story', which gives a detailed description of the shooting.
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9. Last year Krept and Konan released their second mixtape Young Kingz.
The album, which had guest features from French Montana, Wretch 32, Chip, G FrSH, Sneakbo, MNEK and more entered the UK Albums Chart at number 19 and the UK R&B Chart at number three. "A top 50 would have been good" the pair said of the album, adding "It was our first proper release for three years, so we just wanted people to like it. We didn't expect it to go so … crazy."
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10. Krept and Konan hold a Guiness World Record for the highest charting UK album by an unsigned act.
Konan posted this image on to his Instagram account when the duo were awarded a Guinness World Record for 'Young Kingz' entering the UK Album Chart at number 19, as well as the UK R&B Chart at number three - the highest charting UK album for an unsigned act. Picture: Instagram
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11. In 2013 the pair won the Best UK Newcomer MOBO Award.
Krept And Konan were up against some tough competition including; Fuse ODG, Jacob Banks, Sam Smith, Stylo G and more, but managed to scoop the gong for themselves. Here they are holding it proudly.
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12. Due to the album's huge success Krept and Konan have now signed to Virgin EMI.
After entering the UK Top 20 Album Chart and winning their MOBO Award the boys announced via Instagram: "It's official, we just signed our first major record deal with @VirginEMI /Universal!! Big up everyone thats supported us from the start. This is only the beginning!! We will always be Krept & Konan we will not change what we do and i’m glad we have a major label willing support us for what WE do." Their first studio album is due this year!
