Kano

Kano is the name of several different musical acts, including a UK grime and hip-hop rapper and an Italian post-disco project associated with the early development of Italo-disco. The name is also used by a Japanese singer who covers Vocaloid songs, and as an alias for Don Campbell’s 1986 New Age cassette release Runes.

UK rapper and grime artist

The UK artist Kano comes from East London and attends Langdon Comprehensive School in East Ham, Newham in his early teens, where his mother works. Before focusing on music, he is a promising footballer and represents Chelsea F.C., Junior Hammers and Norwich City by the age of thirteen. He later leaves football behind for a music career.

He first becomes known on the UK grime scene through N.A.S.T.Y Crew, short for Natural Artistic Sounds Touching You, where he is a key member alongside Demon and Ghetto. His first track is “Boys Love Girls”. After gaining attention through the crew, he signs as a solo artist to 679 Recordings, the label also associated with The Streets, and later leaves N.A.S.T.Y Crew, taking Demon and Ghetto with him.

His debut album Home Sweet Home receives strong critical attention in the British press, including from The Independent and The Observer. The album also draws praise from a number of major UK and US artists, including Busta Rhymes, Nas, RZA, Jay-Z, André 3000 and Chuck D of Public Enemy. Toward the end of 2005, he releases the mixtape Beats & Bars, which is only available at his concerts.

He later releases London Town, which includes the single “This Is The Girl” featuring Craig David. The album also features Damon Albarn, Kate Nash, Vybz Kartel and Leo The Lion.

Italian post-disco project

The Italian Kano project is formed in 1979 by Luciano Ninzatti, Stefano Pulga and Matteo Bonsanto. It is part of the early wave of Italo-disco, combining 1970s disco and funk with synthesizers. The project first reaches a wide audience with the 1980 single “I’m Ready”, from the self-titled debut album. That release also includes “It’s a War” and the instrumental “Cosmic Voyager”. The B-side “Holly Dolly” uses the same basic production style.

“I’m Ready” reaches number 21 on the Black Singles chart, while “It’s a War” becomes a major hit on the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, reaching number 2 for five weeks. The project records two further albums, New York Cake in 1981 and Another Life in 1983. New York Cake includes the minor hits “Don’t Try to Stop Me” and “Can’t Hold Back”. Another Life introduces West Indian-born singer Glen White and includes the title track and “I Need Love”. The final Kano song is “This Is the Night” in 1985.

Several Kano recordings are later sampled or remixed. “I’m Ready” appears in tracks by Gigolo Tony, Rofo and Tag Team, including Tag Team’s “Whoomp! (There It Is)”. “Another Life” is remixed by Master Blaster for their 2003 album We Love Italo Disco and sampled by Lifelike & Kris Menace in “Discopolis”. “Ikeya Seki” is sampled by Kavinsky on “Grand Canyon”, from the 2007 EP 1986.