June 6, 2024 |
Born and bred in South London, K-Trap has established himself as a UK drill heavyweight. Winner of the Best Drill Act at the MOBO awards in 2022 and again in 2024, the rapper has collaborated with the likes of Krept & Konan, Potter Payper and Blade Brown over the course of his buzzy career. K-Trap’s breakthrough, gold-certified single ‘Warm‘ was released in 2021 and would eventually go viral on TikTok and climb to number 17 on the Official UK Charts, catapulting the artist to global heights. Following its success, he recruited British rap legend Skepta to feature on a remix which earned him a solidified spot in the UK music scene’s hall of fame.
After celebrating his nomination for Group of the Year at the 2024 Brit Awards, which he was up for alongside fellow drill artist Headie One, the artist claims to have found “purpose” in his life again. His musical and spiritual evolution is evident in his debut album Smile?. At the start of his career, K-Trap wore a balaclava to conceal his identity, but this charade came to an end after the release of his music video for the single ‘Big Mood’ in order to promote his mixtape No Magic. With Smile? K-Trap introduces us to a whole new side of the trailblazing rapper.
Soulful and emotional, K-Trap bears all in each track. The songs provide insight into the artist’s upbringing and the struggles he’s endured. From slower more melodic tunes like ‘Next To You’ featuring Sharna Bass, to more hard-hitting beats like ‘Whoosh‘, the album touches on themes of hope and growth. Exploring his history with drug dealing and survivor’s guilt, the album emerges as an ode to overcoming challenges and an honest reflection of who the rhymer is. Here, we sit down with K-Trap to discuss what the album means to him, his dream collaborator and his biggest inspirations.
1. Introduce yourself – who is K-Trap?
I’m K-Trap, a young musician/artist from South East London with a distinctive, raw flow.
2. Smile? is your debut album – what do you think it says about you as an artist?
My debut album is about me being in control of where I’m heading in life.
3. What three words would you use to describe the album?
My truth, real, inspiring.
4. Who are your biggest inspirations?
My peers and my family.
5. You’ve previously collaborated with artists like Headie One and Blade Brown – if you could collaborate with one major artist alive or dead, who would it be?
6. Who do you think of when you think of the people who will be listening to this album? Who did you create it for?
People who have been with us and are heading towards the finish line. It’s for us and for people that want to grow.
7. You’ve mentioned that the album Smile? is supposed to resemble the person you want to be –what advice would you give to anyone struggling to discover who they are?
Take some time out and away from the noise to try to discover more about yourself.
8. What was the hardest thing about creating this album?
Having the patience to see it through.
9. What’s on your rider?
Peppermint tea, Highland spring water, tequila, orange juice [and] spearmints.
10. What’s coming up for you in the next year that fans can get excited about?
More music, more content and my tour.
Photography by Filmawi Efrem.
