If you’re talking UK heavyweights, Rap or Drill. Headie One and K-Trap are undeniably trailblazers when it comes to this conversation. It was only right they linked up for the highly anticipated, but unexpected – ‘STRENGTH TO STRENGTH’. Headie has had a relentless run for the past five years, a UK number one album, Drake feature, a collaborative project with Fred again.. just to highlight a few moments. Since going independent and founding Thousand8, K-Trap has found a new form. Clearly mastering the balance between releasing often, but not compromising the quality of the music. May 2021 saw the seminal, independent release of ‘Warm’. The record grew in support, month on month. This gav5e UK Rap’s Godfather, Skepta, no option but to join him on the remix, and his sold out Koko tour dates in November 2022. I sat down with the two figureheads of UK drill to speak everything from how the project came about, who takes longer to write, their order at Park Chinois and what this project means to them below the surface of drill drums.
Morgan L – James
So up until now, we’ve barely seen artists in the UK link up at the height of their popularity for a full length project. So think, Quavo/Travis Scott, Drake/21 Savage. Dave & Cench recently showed us how dangerous our musical exports can be globally, when bringing two talents together. What was behind the final decision to get the project out there, given you both already have incredibly successful and busy solo careers?
Headie One
Like you said, I just feel like it’s something that’s missing. People aren’t open to doing things naturally anymore if that makes sense. People think about things too much, things are too rigid and structured. Just get in the studio, run with it and see what you come up with, know what I’m saying?
K-Trap
With me and H, there’s not much to it – there’s no pressure. It’s not a mad strategic move or a mad plan behind it. The demand is there, the chemistry is there so – let’s work.
Morgan L – James
You guys have already worked together on numerous occasions, for each of your own projects. Why did you feel like the time was now to link up and do a full length project?
Headie One
Like you said, we’ve always collaborated on tracks back to back. The fans just started calling for it. We done a song for Trap’s project – ‘Extra Sleeve’. From then it just became a thing, they were really calling for it so – we thought “Let’s just give them what they want”.
Morgan L – James
Makes sense. It seems collaboration has always been an important part of the creative process for the both of you. You both came onto my radar back in the day, with your respective frequent collaborators – RV and Mischief. I think the first track I heard of yours was ‘Trap Line Bling’ (2017) with Youngs Teflon and Mischief, actually. Given the success you’ve both had as solo artists, what keeps drawing you back to working with other talents?
K-Trap
That’s a hard question but, naturally in the work that we do – we should want to collaborate with other people. If you rock with a sound, or the artist – get creative. I feel like it’s just a part of what we do, people should collaborate, share their ideas and make music together. I just think the way the scene is, everyone makes it seem crazy when two artists link up. Everyone’s a bit stuck up and boujee.
Morgan L – James
That’s interesting. You see how big America is versus the UK. People might have problems in London, but they might just be down the road as opposed to in America – every state is much further apart. Do you feel like like our scene has halted its own growth due to the fact that people aren’t as willing to collaborate with each other? Whether it’s because of ego, hood politics or whatever.
K-Trap
If I’m being completely honest – people might disagree. Why collaborations aren’t coming out of the UK like that is because most of the UK acts, are just acts. They’re not really the people they are. Not even on a street level. I feel like they’ve created this person in the studio, but they’re not that person 24/7, 365. There’s only a small amount of people that can get in the booth together and be their self. ? A lot of people, they’re not comfortable around others. THAT’S why I feel like there’s only a small group of people who can actually do collabs. When you think of the collabs in the UK, like you said – Dave and Cench. Those two are really themselves. Chip, Skepta & Young Adz – that had to have been natural! Me and H, me and Blade – real people init.
Morgan L – James
Factual, factual. And you H?
Headie One
With me and collaboration – our musical decisions may not be the same. If my story and your story crossover, I can relate to you and you can relate to me, then organically – we’ll collaborate. You don’t even neccesarily need to be from the same background as me, if I can see you’re true to what you’re doing. It’s more just an energy thing really.
Morgan L – James
Hear it, is that why you and Alhan get on? Have you heard his song?!
Headie One
I didn’t even know Alhan had a song!
Morgan L – James
Yeah man, Alhan’s got a song – had it for a minute too.
Headie One
I’m gonna get onto him. Even with Al, he’s just a joker but – that’s him init. He’s not tryna be anyone else.
K-Trap
That’s what I’m saying, it’s just about being yourself.
Morgan L – James
You two are probably two of the last authentic drill artists left who helped really put drill on the map. There’s not many actively releasing music these days. How are you finding the shift on social media? Obviously, there’s a lot more of a push on Tiktok. It’s a lot easier for people that don’t necessarily have a gripping story behind them, to cut through and reach a mass audience. How are you finding navigating it all?
K-Trap
I feel like it’s just about sticking to what you know best, being true to yourself. Whatever else is going on, that’s good for them. Just do what you do. Just because Tiktok might be going crazy doesn’t mean we have to leave what we do and do Tiktok. When you’ve got longevity like and H, you don’t need to jump on different trends. We might embrace new things or get involved in all of it, but we stay where we are really.
Morgan L – James
You guys have both had a huge 12 months, ‘Warm’ for me, has grown into a contender for the UK’s national anthem. Whilst ‘Martin’s Sofa’ quickly became a UK classic, both records sitting on an impressive 25M+ Streams on Spotify alone. How important has consistency been for the both of you on your journeys?
Headie One
Very important, you know. It’s like anything else in life. The more you nurture something, and energy you put in. The more you get out. People make something in music, then forget that work it took to get there. The work ethic in everything I do, makes me succeed. Consistency. You, Trap?
K-Trap
It’s just about staying consistent. This is my story. If you’ve got a passion for music, It’s a never ending story, we’ve been through so much… there’s so much to speak about. Man’s just going off what I’ve seen and what’s around me. I just stay in the studio making music, I’m passionate about music, so.
Morgan L – James
Where was your last headline show, Koko? Two sold out nights in a row? After doing these things, how do you get up, keep your eyes on the prize and keep being consistent? How many kettles (watches) you got now?! There was times you’d rap about buying these things, now you can from music?
K-Trap
As long as you’re ambitious, bro. To be fair, there’s always another target to hit – another level to get to. We’re not gonna comfortable anytime soon. We got big dreams, so everything is just a stepping stone.
Morgan L – James
So, at the time of this interview. Two of the singles, ‘Catfish’ and ‘Park Chinois’ are holding down number 1 & 2 trending positions on YouTube. Was this the response you expected when you were readying to drop the tape?
K-Trap
I feel like me and H are kind of the same when it comes to that stuff. What will be will be, kind of thing init. Man’s aware of who we are and what we do. If it’s doing what it’s doing, good – thumbs up. Man’s not acting like it’s easy or it’s light work but obviously, when we do see that… I’m not gonna sit here and say I could have never seen this happening. *Room breaks into laughter*
Morgan L – James
Two artists of your stature, you’ve both got sick teams behind you, wouldn’t expect nothing less really!
Moving quickly on. When you eat at Park Chinois – what’s your order?
Headie One
We went there the other day for the vid. Everything really. Duck, prawns, dimsum, anything that’s not pork.
K-Trap
Yeah man, feast. Whatever really, just tell ’em bring it out.
Morgan L – James
Aite, Trapo. You love the finer things, mate. If you had to pick out of jewellery or fine dining for the rest of your life. Which would it be? Ready your self Headie, you’re next.
K-Trap
That’s a different one…
Headie One
It wasn’t jewellery or designer clothing though, is because… I can’t see you wearing a bussdown with a meedi outfit.
K-Trap
It’s sounds mad yeah. Most probably fine dining. It’s an experience. Jewels are all good but they’re fun at certain moments. I don’t always wear jewels when I’m dining. If you think about what’s more of the vibe. I always wanna go have food, have a little vibe. Can’t just be wearing bare chains, that’s a madness. Yeah bro, fine dining.
Morgan L – James
And what about you Headie?
Headie One
They both give you a good feeling so, it’s hard! My thing, is more fine dining in different territories. I like travelling, experiencing different things.
K-Trap
Yeah, it’s true. Dining could be anywhere. Different countries, different restaurants, different lounges.
Morgan L – James
Back to Strength To Strength. What’re you both benching in the gym?
K-Trap
I ain’t been in the gym for a moment.
Morgan L – James
Since you shot that Paper Plans video?
K-Trap
*laughs* I’ve been in the gym since then still.
Headie One
I reckon I could still get up a 90(KG).
Morgan L – James
Plus the bar?
Headie One
Nah nah, 90 including the bar.
K-Trap
Nah, I reckon me and H could both do a bills (100). 120 one rep. Tell a lie. When I was on my European Tour, I was in a studio that had a little bench in there. I done a little 120, still.
Morgan L – James
Man said bench in the studio? Must’ve been smelling mad. Right, Headie – when asked about the uni situation in your NFTR Interview in 2018… Your response was famously, “Not much light can be shed on that, cah… it’s a bit of a sticky one still. Right now anyway… maybe in the future that can change.” *Room breaks into laughter *
Headie One
You thought about these questions!!!
Morgan L – James
*Continues* Come on! Of course. Given this was almost six years ago now… can any light be shed on that one?
Headie One
I just feel like… I ‘coulda been somewhere else right now.
K-Trap
No light! Can’t mix the streets with the industry. *References Track 10 – ‘STREETS X INDUSTRY’*
Morgan L – James
So in response to that situation, you released the career defining track ‘Know Better’. The NFTR interview’s virality also forced the highly popular ‘Shed No Light’ out of you. Has your laidback nature allowed you to act more impulsively when it comes to releasing music?
Headie One
The maddest thing is, that wasn’t even the thought process. That was more my team’s musical decision. What Trap was just saying kinda reminded me – my natural decision wouldn’t be to mix the music with whatever else is going on. So that was more my management saying, remember the music. A lot of those impulsive decisions that I was taking at the time, thankfully I had a good team.
K-Trap
You gotta make good of a bad situation. Hit two birds with one stone.
Morgan L – James
What impact do you want this project to have on the UK scene and what legacy do you want it to leave?
K-Trap
I haven’t got no crazy story on how I want people to feel. Regardless, people should respect it init, in so many different ways. You’re not gonna find two people who are gonna sound like us. Personally, before the music. We’re doing very good for ourselves and we’ve come from a certain place. He’s from North, I’m from South, not to get deep into it… where we’re from, usually man’re ‘tryna hurt each other. We’ve come together, we’ve been adults and patterned up. He’s not my cousin, he’s not from down the road. When we first started doing music, it was very risky times. Fast forwarding now, dropping a joint project – that alone is big. Everyone’s got to really look at that, for that. The music’s gonna speak for itself, trust me man. People should look past it sometimes and look into..
Headie One
…the deeper messaging.
K-Trap
Yeah, man – for both of us to be here now, give you a joint project, from where we first started. It’s sick.
Morgan L – James
Word. When you and Blade dropped ‘Joints’ I wasn’t that shocked. If I saw you and Youngs Teflon pop out with a project right now, I wouldn’t be shocked at all. This one was really unexpected. So I feel like it was definitely needed, not an easy thing to pattern up, but worth it in the long run. What was the recording process like?
Headie One
Literally recorded it in a week.
Morgan L – James
A week?
K-Trap
Just in the studio – back to back. We were both busy though. One minute I’m in there, H is gone – he comes back hours later. I’ve made something, I’m gone, I’m back – he’s not there, but he’s left an idea for me.
Headie One
Yeah man – it was lit, still.
Morgan L – James
Did you encounter any challenges whilst making the project?
Headie One
The challenges came after, because we made so much music in a short space of time. Putting things together was more the conversation. Those conversations took a long period of time but it was inevitable that we would sort it out, put it together. We’re here now.
K-Trap
Did that water come?..
Morgan L – James
How did you decide which producers to have on there?
K-Trap
The thought process wasn’t crazy. Hit up a few people. Naturally, M1OnTheBeat, Carns are obviously gonna be on there. Whoever was hungry, willing to work and about at that time. M1, Carns Hill – two people that were needed.
Morgan L – James
They gave me that essence. This is what the scene’s been missing since we’ve had the new wave of the Plugged In Drill Generation… *Laughter* There’s not a lot of OG heads still doing drill, one. Two, the soundscape is completely different now. LinkUpTV, 67 in their prime. M1 & Carns were there too so, they really set a tone for the project.
Morgan L – James
Moving on. Something you must always have in the studio with you at all times. No incriminating answers. *Laughter in the room*
Headie One
Naturally, water. Need to stay hydrated. Maybe a little liquor.
K-Trap
Yeah a water. Actually, a snack. Little drink.
Morgan L – James
Who takes the longest to write?
Headie One
I take a bit longer that him, but I’m quick! That means he must be real quick!
K-Trap
We’re both quick, but Headie’s a little more laid back.
Headie One
A lot of times I’m in the studio with other artists, they think I write quick. I think it’s the energy of the of the production as well. You know when you get in to a certain vibe, certain mode – remembering real life things that have happened.
Morgan L – James
What kind of sounds can we expect to hear on the project?
K-Trap
One of them’s a girl song init? *’GOOD GIRLS’*
Headie One
One for the ladies on there. I feel like the production is a bit different too. It’s elevated.
Morgan L – James
Elevated drill yeah?
Headie One
It’s elevated but, not to a place where you wouldn’t want it to be elevated to. Get what I’m ‘tryna say?
K-Trap
It’s drill and it’ll give you that old school feel but –
Morgan L – James
I get what you mean now, it has the essence, but it doesn’t feel like a 2017 mixtape..
K-Trap
Yeah, it has that balance for people that are listening now. For the point we’re at in our careers now anyway.
Morgan L – James
Who’s usually late..
K-Trap
*Quickly jumps in* H.
Headie One
Yeah… my timing’s a bit nuts sometimes.
Morgan L – James
‘Cos the face is all busted, that’s why bro *gestures to Headie’s watch*. Need to get you a plane Janie.
Morgan L – James
Trap, this is your second collaborative project in the last 18 months. Is there anyone else you’d like to work with, here or overseas.
K-Trap
As long as it’s real recognise real and we connect then… There’s no one at the top of my head.
Morgan L – James
Favourite verse of your own from the project and why?
Headie One
That’s a good one still. I think it’d be between ‘ANPR’ and ‘Strength to Strength’.
K-Trap
Probably, ‘Trending Topic’ or ‘Strength to Strength’
Morgan L – James
Your favourite verse of each others on the project?
Headie One
His second verse on ‘Trending Topic’.
K-Trap
I’d say ‘Strength to Strength’.
Morgan L – James
So what was the concept behind the hand prints on the artwork?
K-Trap
What was it? *Both laugh* It’s mad fam cos, thinking of it now – how do you even explain it. *Laughter in the room* I don’t know bro but, the names Strength to Strength init. It’s got my hands, his hands. Maybe that’s the Strength to Strength init.
Headie One
It looked cool.
Morgan L – James
Haha, ‘gotcha!
You man, thanks for your time, definitely an interview for my greatest hits. Congratulations on the release and good luck with the rest of the campaign!
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