Skepta - Konnichiwa
Critic Score
Based on 22 reviews
2016 Ratings: #80 / 1004
Year End Rank: #23
User Score
Based on 907 ratings
2016 Rank: #238
Liked by 71 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
Gigwise

Overall Konnichiwa is the album Skepta fans hoped he’d make. It’s got everything: street anthems, club bangers, braggadocios lyrical content, tracks that touch upon social issues, and odes to the architects of grime. With an obvious international appeal that Skepta plays on with the album's title, it sets the bar very high for not only grime and hip-hop music but UK music period.

100
NME
β€˜Konnichiwa’ is a landmark in British street music, a record good enough to take on the world without having to compromise one inch in the process.
90
The Line of Best Fit

Whether or not grime loses its threat in the near future, Konnichiwa will still stand tall as a hard-hitting soundtrack to unfulfilling life in cruel Britain that's achieved by giving a microphone to voices that otherwise wouldn't have been heard.

80
The Arts Desk

On Konnichiwa, Skepta finally delivers the album that his fans always hoped he was capable of.

80
Spectrum Culture

The 12 tracks may be a bit much to take in at once for grime newcomers – the genre isn’t really known for sonic diversity. But there’s nary a wasted moment on Konnichiwa, and Skepta’s decision not to tone down his brash personality for mainstream appeal is commendable.

80
The Independent

With Konnichiwa, Skepta hoists grime to another level.

80
The Guardian
It’s not just that the lyrics throughout are dextrous and sharp and funny, although they are. It’s that even his most virulent braggadocio is underscored by a very winning, very British kind of bathos.
80
AllMusic
Lines aimed at authority, competition, and bottom feeders all shoot clean through.
80
PopMatters

A strong album and potential watermark moment in both Skepta career and grime’s history.

80
musicOMH

Skepta and UK grime’s resurrection has been one of the most exciting musical sounds of the past few years, and rather than being the climax, you get the feeling that Konnichiwa is just the start of something special.

78
Resident Advisor

Konnichiwa isn't perfect, but it mostly accomplishes the goals Skepta set for himself, and is certainly one of the best grime has seen so far.

78
Pitchfork

Konnichiwa is as nakedly vulnerable Skepta has ever been, and it represents a tantalizingly wide-open door for grime.

75
The 405
Throughout the sonic version of his mental journey around the matrix of fame, Skepta has learned to remain steadily himself in the face of hurdling success, while delivering one of the most vital albums in the history (and for the future) of globally accepted grime.
75
Consequence of Sound
Grime never belonged in the mansions occupied by the likes of P. Diddy. Reclaiming his own identity, Skepta is now properly equipped to amplify the sound just above its dank, underground incubator.
72
HipHopDX

Skepta manages to craft his best yet with Konnichiwa. A concise project that focuses on taking him past his south London ends and into Hip Hop’s mainstream.

70
Exclaim!

Moments like this don't just posit Konnichiwa as a triumph for the genre, but put Skepta firmly in the driver's seat of its recent resurgence, fuelled by a hunger and post-fame humility we can only hope won't waver or disappear.

70
The Needle Drop
UK rapper Skepta comes through with an album that's sure to spread the grime gospel.
70
Crack Magazine

Konnichiwa is the sound of an artist winning after his genre has been ditched by the industry and stigmatised by the media.

70
Tiny Mix Tapes

Konnichiwa ... acts as both a love letter to OG grime and an introduction to higher marketability potential for the genre.

Tielur
83

Skepta >>>> Stormzy

RichardsH
71

Decent little album

HotelRestaurant
80

You know how there are some species of animals called "keystone species" that are pivotal for the development and safekeeping of nature ecosystems (fauna, flora, even river flows). I think wolves are a keystone species.

Well, here in music, we have keystone albums, which are defined by their large and incomensurable legacy and effect on the industry. Take, for instance, 808's and Heartbreak for its melodies, or Culture for the quintessentiality of the trap anthems, or ... St. Anger ... read more

bighoopy
60

AN ALBUM EVERYDAY #35
15 mar 2024
Skepta, Konnichiwa

Skepta is my favourite british rapper, because I love his intimidating energy and voice. On 'Konnichiwa' he's great as well, but his beat selection needs some work. Sure, there are some truly incredible grime classics on here like 'Man', 'Shutdown', or 'That's Not Me' (one of the greatest rap songs I've ever heard btw), but many songs on here miss the mark as well. Basically no mid songs on here, just very hit or miss.

Favourite ... read more

85

Not the Minecraft villager ahh sounds on the opening track πŸ’€
Bro the bass is so good bloody hell. MMMMMM MY BRAIN NICE MMMMMMMMM.
Vocals are a bit quiet on songs such as Crime Rhythm, but that might be my airpods...
Some funny lyrics too, ugghhh this is really good. Why aren't the skits separate :( they ruin the songs :(
But 'That's Not Me' may be top 50 best songs of all time ngl

Since almost every song is amazing, here are my least favourite songs: Corn on the Curb (skit at the end is too ... read more

imrightright2
76

some of the british rap i like.

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Track List

1Konnichiwa
3:16
81
2Lyrics
2:36
feat. Novelist
78
3Corn on the Curb
5:01
feat. Wiley
73
4Crime Riddim
4:36
77
5It Ain't Safe
3:43
78
6Ladies Hit Squad
4:39
61
7Numbers
3:18
76
8Man
3:34
81
9Shutdown
3:08
89
10That's Not Me
3:05
feat. Jme
89
11Detox
2:47
feat. BBK
72
12Text Me Back
4:24
76
Total Length: 44 minutes
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Added on: April 15, 2016