Kings is a pretty big deal. The New Zealand rapper/producer/songwriter has grown to become one of his home country's biggest names not just in hip-hop but full-stop, blossoming into one of the country's many heavy-hitters with his 2016 break-out single Don't Worry 'Bout It. Since then, KINGS has dropped three albums (2017's Chapter One, then 2018's Two and LOV3 & 3GO), has mustered up tens of millions of streams and taken home a collection of Pacific Music Awards (nine) and Vodafone Music Awards (13), positioning the rapper as a force within the New Zealand music scene that now, is looking outwards. In 2019, with a new album ready to go, Kings is setting himself up for international domination, kicking off with Australia. He's crossed the Tasman to play MTV's refreshed reboot of TRL and is set to return soon for a round of Australian shows yet to be announced, but first comes Flex - his most addictive single to date, and the one that gives Kings his biggest chance of international cross-over to date. Flex is refreshingly fun and filled with energy, taking a bounce-filled production reminiscent of something by Timbaland or Pharrell and giving it an authentically Kings boost, aided by producer and longtime collaborator 10A. "I’ve got a lot to prove with this record. I worked closely with 10A (producer) to make sure that we got shit that bangs," he says on the track, and with its arrival, it's clear he's pulled it off. It's a strong entry point into Kings' music if you're yet to be acquainted - or a knock-out-the-park for the rapper if you've been a long-time fan - and with plenty more to come before the year's out, dive into Flex below, with a tasty little introduction to a name bound to be one of New Zealand's biggest.
Kings is a pretty big deal. The New Zealand rapper/producer/songwriter has grown to become one of his home country's biggest names not just in hip-hop but full-stop, blossoming into one of the country's many heavy-hitters with his 2016 break-out single Don't Worry 'Bout It. Since then, KINGS has dropped three albums (2017's Chapter One, then 2018's Two and LOV3 & 3GO), has mustered up tens of millions of streams and taken home a collection of Pacific Music Awards (nine) and Vodafone Music Awards (13), positioning the rapper as a force within the New Zealand music scene that now, is looking outwards.
In 2019, with a new album ready to go, Kings is setting himself up for international domination, kicking off with Australia. He's crossed the Tasman to play MTV's refreshed reboot of TRL and is set to return soon for a round of Australian shows yet to be announced, but first comes Flex - his most addictive single to date, and the one that gives Kings his biggest chance of international cross-over to date. Flex is refreshingly fun and filled with energy, taking a bounce-filled production reminiscent of something by Timbaland or Pharrell and giving it an authentically Kings boost, aided by producer and longtime collaborator 10A. "I’ve got a lot to prove with this record. I worked closely with 10A (producer) to make sure that we got shit that bangs," he says on the track, and with its arrival, it's clear he's pulled it off.
It's a strong entry point into Kings' music if you're yet to be acquainted - or a knock-out-the-park for the rapper if you've been a long-time fan - and with plenty more to come before the year's out, dive into Flex below, with a tasty little introduction to a name bound to be one of New Zealand's biggest.