Back from the dead with his killer comedy grime, the man they call Kanye Kent hosts the Christmas comeback gig of a lifetime this December at The Bodega. Who is the mysterious man? Let’s meet ’em…
Mr Kent, it’s been a long time since we’ve heard from you, if we’re honest we’re surprised we managed to bag this interview. What have you been working on for the past couple of years?
Init. You’re welcome. I just been cruising. Obviously Covid stopped the grime world in its tracks an dat. I watched Straight Outta Compton a couple times and also that One Fly Over Cuckoo’s Yard ting. Moving kinda Nicholson still.
Being Kanye it’s surprising that you’re not going for an arena tour. What made The Bodega your venue of choice? Do you value that grassroots attitude within the hip hop scene?
Basically, I asked that question a lot with my people. They was saying ‘yo fam, you gotta be hitting the big tings an dat’ but man, I was thinking ‘rah, what if I just did a lowkey ting?’ Like someone was saying that this Bodega place is where they do Indie Wednesdays so maybe there’s nuff gap in market for me, you get me?
We’re all dying to know, what’s gonna be on your rider for this gig? We’re prepping to dig deep into our pockets.
Yeah, how deep we saying bro? Cause obviously I’m gonna need my flights paid upfront for starters. Obviously I’ll be doing one of my old tings called ‘Have You Seen Chif?’ which was written about the movie starring Jon Favreau. Imma need some copies of that on DVD and some kind of propellor ting to shoot them out at the fans. I’ll require some Tommy Hilfinger tings and my Vossi. But anyway g, business is business. I’m speaking to the fans right here, right now. Low that journalism ting.
Whereabouts did the origins of your name come from? It’s incredibly original!
Origins of my name? Man’s moving kinda rude. I was born Kanye Kevin Kent on 13th September 1996, rudeboy. My sister is called Kenya and my brother is called Kelly, after the mandem that sings that Dakota ting. Man say origins of your name an dat…
It’s been a long time since you’ve been active on the scene, do you think the bars are gonna come back naturally or has there been some real grafting gone into this performance?
I’m speechless you’re even gonna ask me that question bruv. Man’s chatting to a goat and he don’t even know it, still. Rah cap.
The fans are really looking forward to hearing some of the old material from the EP but can we expect to hear any new tunes on the night?
Yo, listen. I will be doing all the old favourites. From Dreem Teem to Philler and all of those tings man. I ain’t gonna lie bro, I got some new tings to showcase. I got new songs. Even a Christmas ting perhaps. Moving kinda Kanye Kringle, fam.
Before you leave we’d like to ask what a Kanye Kent Christmas looks like as you’re taking the stage over the festive season?
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t see Kelly and Kenya. We go back to Belgium, we eat dinner, we spit bars, we watch Paddington an dat. Obviously, a knitted model of me sits at the top of the tree. The rest is private, ya get me? Peace out.
Kanye Kent’s comeback is at The Bodega on 19th December. Tickets are on sale here.
Interview by Fin Heighton-Jupp.