Kano doesn’t like being pigeonholed as a grime artist.
The 30-year-old rapper doesn’t want to be completely removed from the genre because he is inspired by the style of music, but he feels he has developed a sound that is more than the stereotypical British type.
He explained: "It’s not that I don’t want to be associated with grime; It’s just I don’t think it is accurate any more. It’s lazy to call it grime. Because that is not what it is. I don’t know what to call it.
"I think my music is just uniquely British. It’s influenced by grime and hip-hop but it’s not easy to define now."
One artist that has inspired the ‘Endz’ hitmaker is that of northern rapper Mike Skinner, who he hears in himself.
Kano – who released his new LP ‘Made in the Manor’ today (22.04.16) – told Britain’s i newspaper: "At the beginning of this album I didn’t think to myself, I’m going to make an album like ‘Original Pirate Material’ or ‘A Grand Don’t Come For Free’. But those are two of my favourite albums and Mike Skinner’s one of my favourite artists – he inspired me in so many ways.
"On the new album ‘Drinking in the West End’ there are bits in my flow where I hear Skinner in myself."
Kano: It’s lazy to call my music grime
