TOOK THE THRONE

Interlude: Krepes and Kones

June 20, 2025

SOUTH CROYDON, ENGLAND

“Ok girls sorry but you’re going to have to call it a night. We’ve got to shut the place up” Konan said in a tired voice.

“Alright low it” replied one of the diners in a thick London accent. “Didn’t you used to be some big rapper anyway? Why are you ruining our night? Go record an album or something!” The diner’s louder friend laughed at him as they got up to leave. Krept was standing at the door ready to close it as the girls walked out laughing to each other.

Annoyed, he said “Bro I’m sick of working at this place! This was supposed to be our rainy day fund and now look.. it’s all we’ve got”.

Konan looked up as he wiped the last dirty table, he gloomily replied “I know how you feel. The music is lost in the world right now for so many of us artists. Hopefully after tonight’s meeting something might change. The Landlord sounded serious when he called, he said to set up at least 10 chairs.. it’s like some knights of the round table shit”.

After a while there was a knock at the door and their landlord, Giggs, appeared in the doorway. “Oh look at you my G’s! Got your aprons on and everything!” he laughed. Both Krept and Konan looked down in horror and ripped off their matching ‘Crepes and Cones’ outfits.

“Come on Giggs man you know how it is, it’s not like we ain’t been in a struggle before. We’ll be rockin them designer fits again before you know it!” Krept said enthusiastically.

Giggs changed his tone, “For real though thank you for closing early and allowing us to use the space tonight. Big changes are coming and you’re playing an important role in making them come together”.

“It’s the least we could do to repay you. You stepped up for us and bought this place when things got hard with the pandemic and the whole music collapse“. Konan looked genuinely grateful “This space is yours anytime you need it, Hollowman”.

As the three of them stood and chatted, through the window they saw an unmistakable car pull up. The suicide doors of the Rolls Royce Phantom opened and out stepped two bright blue shoes reflecting the streetlights. Above the blue Nike SKair shoes was a tailored black suit donned by the one and only, Skepta.

“Boy Better Know is in the building” Krept said as he welcomed Skepta at the door. Skepta was followed by two others, Frisco and JME. JME was grinning ear to ear as he looked at Krept, who was holding the door open for them, “Jeeez! I don’t think this is what you meant when you said respect the fact me and Kone opening some doors” he just about got the words out as him and Frisco bundled through in fits of laughter.

One by one other guests arrived, J Hus stepped out of a Black Mercedez Benz G Wagon with Dave, Stormzy and Ed Sheeran. Ghetts and Kano laughed with Giggs and Bugzy Malone was giving Konan a hard time about his unkempt afro.

As Wretch 32 slowly made his way through the door he announced he had somebody with him. “Everything’s gonna be calm in here ok, no arguing ting. We are here for reasons bigger than us.”

Behind him followed Wiley, who immediately gave Ed the stink eye and blasted “Oh my days! Why is Ed here? Is Ed grime now? NO! Who made this scene? WILEY.”

Together there was a sigh from everyone else in the room. Bugzy Malone stood up and said “Man’s always gotta cause a commotion”.

“Man fuck beefin with babies” roared Dave.

At that moment Stormzy joined Bugzy Malone and escorted Wiley outside. After a couple of minutes the two of them came in dusting themselves off and all was calm again.

Giggs stood up and clinked his glass of Havana Club to get everybody’s attention. “My family, thank you for coming” he got cut off and looked at the door when he heard “Knock Knock”.

“Who’s there?”

“Dizzee”. Dizzee Rascal and Tinie Tempah rushed in from the London night.

“Kano told us you man are disturbing London tonight, you know the OG’s had to make it” beamed Tinie.

“Oi where’s that boy Lethal B?” asked Skepta.

“Man you know he’s living that penthouse life over in Ghana still” Kano answered.

Giggs’ smooth voice echoed through the room “Again, thank you all for coming, but tick tock the clock’s ticking, let’s get into things”.

The room was filled with the who’s who of the UK music scene and the ‘Knights of the round table’ were seated.

Wretch 32, known for being the wisest, had the table’s attention.

“Alright fam now we all know this last couple years have been a madness. Let’s be real, the money dried up. If it weren’t for this ice cream ting Krept and Konan would be toast!”

There were muffled laughs around the table as Krept kissed his teeth.

“Think back to 2016/2017 and look at how much our scene blew up. I know some had their opinions with it but let’s be honest, if it wasn’t for Dave, Giggs and Skepta linking up with Drake, we might be struggling a lot more right now.”

“Swear down, I gotta get my money right.” Dizzee nodded.

Wretch 32 kept talking to the table. “We are here today to discuss the future and something exciting for all those involved.

We have all seen the madness that’s been going on in the States. We all thought none of that would affect us at all but now the streaming money has stopped rolling in. It’s been nearly 6 months that Spotify and the other streaming networks have been down. With all the other crud the world has gone through it was looking like our fans might actually be able to enjoy new music. With no streams, our P’s are getting pinched and more importantly, the message and power of music is not getting out there.

Most of you know we are planning to put together a joint album and tour, legends of the UK scene along with Drake and his guys.

“But” Wretch paused and made sure everyone was focusing. “Things haven’t exactly gone to plan, Drizzy has been missing for like 3 months and 6 days. No man has heard from him in time so it’s only right we go over and check out what is going on.”

J Hus said “I got a girl who studied criminology. I’ll get her to look into it too”.

Wretch 32 kept talking to the table. “We are here today to discuss the future and something exciting for all those involved.

We have all seen the madness that’s been going on in the States. We all thought none of that would affect us at all but now the streaming money has stopped rolling in. It’s been nearly 6 months that Spotify and the other streaming networks have been down. With all the other crud the world has gone through it was looking like our fans might actually be able to enjoy new music. With no streams, our P’s are getting pinched and more importantly, the message and power of music is not getting out there.

Most of you know we are planning to put together a joint album and tour, legends of the UK scene along with Drake and his guys.

“But” Wretch paused and made sure everyone was focusing. “Things haven’t exactly gone to plan, Drizzy has been missing for like 3 months and 6 days. No man has heard from him in time so it’s only right we go over and check out what is going on.”

J Hus said “I got a girl who studied criminology. I’ll get her to look into it too”

Looking concerned, Dave said “Yeah Drake’s not been seen since he did the Chicken Shop Date with Amelia and announced the joint album. Man was mad excited to talk about it, Amelia couldn’t get the title name out of him though”.

“Has anyone heard what it’s going to be called?” Ed asked the room before Stormzy stood up and exclaimed “Yo we have got to make this project happen! Imagine the crowds at the shows, it’s going to be mental ya know? How long has it been since our fans could skank out live?”

Excited chatter broke out in the room and every eye in the room was wide with passion.

Wretch called for peace in the room. “Aight so keep working on your bars. Tomorrow Skepta, Ghetts, Dave and Giggs are catching the Air Drake to Toronto. And do us all a favour and don’t go Skengman Mode over there”.