Kano

Concorde 2, Madeira Drive, Brighton, Wednesday, March 16

IT seems slightly perverse that someone who has only just celebrated his 30th birthday can be presented with a legacy award for his work in his industry.

But that is what happened to Kano, real name Kane Robinson, last year at the Rated Awards for his work as one of the UK’s godfathers of the grime scene.

His first album in six years, Made In The Manor which is released today, sees him look back at where he has come from.

“I thought I wanted to show people about me,” he says. “I didn’t want to keep talking about the same things – I wanted to go deeper within myself. The more I did the more these stories unfolded.

“You forget sometimes who you really are and what is unique to you. But in a weird way I’ve found people can identify more when you do that – it resonates with other people. They go through the same things or have the same family things.”

From the opening line of “69 Manor Road Sunday Morning” in T-Shirt Weather In The Manor, talking about his early years living with his family, he goes deep to even confess to the pressures of fame in Endz.

Kano admits making the record was hard at times, but many of the memories were good ones.

“A lot of the bad things were a part of the journey that brought me where I am today,” he says.

“I was analysing what has gone on and what has happened in my life from being that little kid that made beats.

“The last ten years have gone past so quickly – I have done so much. I’ve been around the world. I needed to take a moment to really talk about what has gone on.”

As such the latest record is characterised by a sparseness of guest appearances – with only his close friends and inspiration Giggs and Wiley contributing to the single 3 Wheel Ups.

“The songs were so personal to me it was hard for anyone else to convey the message I’m trying to get across,” he says.

“When I was coming up it was people like Wiley from the jungle days who were getting into this new cool grime thing that were inspirational to me.

“He was a big influence – he pushed me and made me believe it could be done. I have always taken that on.

“There are people that grew up to my music – I want to inspire them so they don’t have to compromise.

“At the time we didn’t know grime would last this long – but we were trying to push the music forward by doing our own thing.

“I’m excited about the future – this is the first generation that has grown up with grime. When I was growing up we were playing Snoop Dogg – people like myself, Dizzee Rascal and D Double E [of Newham Generals] were listening to US stars.”

He admits the US influence is still very strong – but there were an increasing number of UK MCs talking about the reality of life in Britain.

“It’s like a unique selling point,” he says. “People like to see artists that reflect them, that remind them of themselves and where they have come from. Seeing people like Dizzee or Plan B talking about the **** they go through.”

He is looking forward to working with new younger MCs on the road and his future projects.

“I remember my first tour was with The Streets,” says Kano.

“Mike Skinner helped me so much to see how everything worked and the whole professional aspect of it. Learning that aspect of performance was invaluable.

“I want to get back in the studio after the tour and make some more music after seeing the energy from the people.”

*Anyone who misses out on seeing Kano later this month can catch him at Wild Life, at Brighton City Airport in Shoreham on Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12. For more information visit www.wildlifefestival.com/

Doors 7.30pm, tickets £15. Call 01273 673311.