Image via Complex Original
Around this time last year, Skepta's new album Konnichiwa was due to be released. The scheduled drop date came and went and not a huge amount happened. Still, he was hardly to blame. Kanye West had recruited him to turn his Brits performance into the talked-about moment it was, New York wanted a taste of Joseph Jr., the fashion world was becoming more than a little enamored with him, and a slew of international live shows beckoned.
Sure we've had a few tunes; it's not totally clear if "That's Not Me" will be on there, but "Shutdown," "It Ain't Safe," "Top Boy," "Ladies Hit Squad," and a brief video of a track called "Man" being performed could all make the album. Besides that, and some tweets and Instagram posts, there hasn't been much info.
Can't believe I can see the checkpoint. 🍾
— SKEPTA (@Skepta) March 16, 2016
As the release of Konnichiwa draws ever closer, we pulled together every concrete bit of information we know about the album so that you can reacquaint yourself before it actually comes out—which is soon, by the way.
The Road to 'Konnichiwa'
Oct. '14: Skepta drops "It Ain't Safe" featuring A$AP Mob's Young Lord, a.k.a. A$AP Bari. A video soon follows.
Mar. '15: "Shutdown" is released.
Despite the promise of Konnichiwa's release, it's reported that Skepta and Kanye are in the studio, and that Skeppy's been working with Earl Sweatshirt and Playboi Carti. Our dreams are later dashed when Skepta later implies the material won't be used on either Konnichiwa or The Life Of Pablo.
May '15: Skepta performs "Shutdown" on Later... With Jools Holland.
Sep. '15: The Tim Westwood Mixtape drops. It's really a collection of most of his recent collabs, including Flatbush Zombies ("Red Eye To Paris"), Chip ("My Crew"), Fekky, ("Way Too Much"), Plastician ("Back Then"), Ace Hood ("Supposed To Do"), and a few cuts from Blacklisted ("Simple Life," "Same Shit Different Day," and "Castles"). It does feature one new track: "Top Boy."
Skepta and Frisco remix Jamie xx's "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)."
Oct. '15: The video for "Top Boy" is released.
Skepta drops his Halloween mix for OVO Sound Radio, featuring his remix of Drake and Future's "Jumpman."
Feb. '16: A tracklist of unconfirmed authenticity is shared on Instagram by Rinse FM presenter and close friend of BBK, SK Vibemaker. It lists off collaborations with Drake, A$AP Bari, A$AP Nast, D Double E, JME, Wiley, Frisco, and Shorty.
"Ladies Hit Squad" is released featuring A$AP Nast and D Double E. A Skepta-styled video quickly follows.
Mar. '16: In an interview with i-D, Skepta says he is finishing the album "this week." He also explains the reason for the burst of Konnichiwa activity was that he wanted the album finished before he toured Japan. "Japan's been trying to get me out there to do shows, but I didn't want to go there without my album. I want my whole Konnichiwa setting to be correct when I go there."
Apr. '16: Skepta performs at legendary Berlin club Berghain.
Skepta debuts a new track called "Man" at Snowbombing.
Potential Tracks
So far, we've had two tracklists shared. The one on the left—shared on Instagram by SK Vibemaker—was leaked in February but was never confirmed by Skepta. Many think it's fake. The one on the right, shared by Skeppy himself, is barely legible but you can make out a few tracks.
Below is a list of everything that's been released during the Konnichiwa era as we know it, with a good chance to make the final cut when the album officially drops.