Ukendt Kunstner "Dansktop" (2023)

Dansktop

release date: May 12, 2023

format: vinyl / digital (11 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,04]

producer: Jens Ole McCoy

label: FortyFive / Universal Music - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Hena" - 2. "Dansktop" - 3. "Uden dig" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Gran Turismo" - 5. "Fastelavn" - 6. "Kerosin" - 7. "Stjernekigger" - 9. "Hele dagen" - 11. "For livet" (4,5 / 5)

3rd studio album from Danish rap-duo Ukendt Kunstner follows more than seven years after Den anden side (Feb. 2016). To the regret of half a nation, the two artists announced the end of their project in late '16 despite experiencing massive success. After this, they both concentrated on solo projects. Composer and producer Jens Ole McCoy especially became renowned for his musical scores to movies but also continued as producer, and Hans Philip, who had been the voice of the band, released two acclaimed solo albums before they dropped the bomb: without any rumours or announcements they released this very album and simultaneously declared they were back! Out of nowhere!! Sneaky, sneaky... wonderful guys!

Not only are they now back, but of course they're back with a musical statement. They don't repeat their previous sucesses but come out with a new sound - it's so much part of their instinct not to repeat. Dansktop is in every sense an original album. It doesn't just play along other rap-artists' styles and sound. These two have made their name and continue in a league of their own, and it appears they (can) do whatever they feel like. The album still brings back bits of the groove from their two previous albums, it takes up some of the fragility from Hans-Philips' solo albums, and then it comes out as something new. There's a simplicity to it but also a will to explore and experiment, and in either or any case: they are near sublime. So many Danish rap and hip hop artists walk around the same bushes, do the same mixes, employ the same productions, but this is just original material. Loved it from day one, and it only gets better!

Highly recommended!

[ Politiken, Gaffa.dk 5 / 6, 👍Soundvenue 4 / 5 stars ]

2023 Favorite releases: 1. Anohni and the Johnsons My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross - 2. Ukendt Kunstner Dansktop - 3. Sigur Rós Átta

<  show lyrics >

~ ~ ~
"Dansktop"

(Det gik op for mig, baby, nu' jeg-)
Dansktop
Ligesom Birthe Kjær
Ligesom Lis og Per
Ligesom Kjeld og ligesom Hilda er jeg dansktop
Ligesom Campeotto
Tjek min konto, ja, det ligner, at jeg vandt i lotto

Baby, nu' jeg dansktop
Ligesom Birthe Kjær
Ligesom Lis og Per
Ligesom Kjeld og ligesom Hilda er jeg dansktop
Ligesom Campeotto
Tjek min konto, ja, det ligner, at jeg vandt i lotto

Baby, nu' jeg dansktop
Ligesom Lille Per
Ligesom Pia Kjærsgaard og ligesom grisetæer
Jeg burde passe på min konto, men kan ik' la' være
For jeg' millionær
Og jeg kigger ik', hvad prisen er

Jeg' dansktop
Ligesom Birthe Kjær
Men de si'r, der' koldt på toppen, ligesom Isaberg
Men hvorfor snakker de om toppen?
Det' på toppen, at de ikke er
Det' jer, der prøver at ligne mig, jeg prøver ik' at ligne jer

Og I' helt okay
Ja, I' faktisk rigtig gode
I' bare ik' HP

Nej, jeg' dansktop
Ligesom Birthe Kjær
Ligesom Lis og Per
Ligesom Kjeld og ligesom Hilda er jeg dansktop
Ligesom Campeotto
Tjek min konto, ja, det ligner, at jeg vandt i lotto
Baby, nu' jeg dansktop

At jeg var den største, har jeg vidst, siden jeg var bittelille
Men om skolen tænkte mor, "hvad skal det blive til?"
For jeg var god med ord, men ik' til matematikken, vel
Nu' livet letter' end en ti-tabel
Kan komme frem til summer ved at tie stille

Bare lad beatet spille
Ja, og det hele kom så pludseligt
Jeg var nede i minus, jeg' tilbage, jeg' i plus igen
Vendte om på ligningen, nu vil alle være Ukendt

Jeg blæser træer, ligesom en vind i skoven
Hun spørger, hvor jeg mon har det fra
Jeg si'r, "det' sendt fra oven"
Nej, dét, du har i venstre hånd
Det ligner estragon
Jeg si'r, det' Cali i næst' sæson
Gør, mine problemer, de er glemt i morgen

Hov, for fanden
Det' årets mand, han går på vand
Og drypper som en sovsekande
Er varmere end Corsica
Men det' vildt, ik?
Siden lille knægt var hans far pist væk
Men selv som spæd ku' han ik' græde over spildt mælk
Har tit tænkt, "sikke en tung smerte for sådan et ungt hjerte"
"At skulle undvære det smukkeste i verden"
"Nu' hans mor alene, kan hun mon bære det?"
Nætterne var sortere end skosværte
Jeg kigger op, slår korsets tegn og ryger blunten færdig
Åh nej, ung knægt, han var delt op i to
Et splittet atom
Så langt nede, at han mistede troen
Han græd tårer, som der glinsede i solen
Turde ikke engang hviske det til nogen
Så han lyttede ikke efter i skolen
Boede, hvor én, han fik en hård psykose
En anden, han døde af overdose
Det samme skete for overboen
Han plantede frøer, der ik' fik lov at gro
Han havde sig selv og så sin overtro
En sæk med tøj, ti smøger og en sovepose
Der' langt derop
Men vi ramte top
Ligesom Campeotto
Nu' vi dansktop
Ligesom Birthe Kjær
Ligesom Lis og Per
Ligesom Kjeld og Hilda er
Og det vildeste er
Vi gemte det bedste til allersidst, ligesom at spise dessert
...og så har jeg ik' mer'

~ ~ ~

Ukendt Kunstner "Den anden side" (2016)

Den anden side
release date: Feb. 29, 2016
format: digital (11 x File, MP3)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,12]
producer: Jens Ole McCoy
label: Sony BMG Music - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: 1. "Den anden side" (4 / 5) - 2. "Lige nu" (feat. S!vas) - 3. "Mand over bord" (feat. Track72) - 4. "Lange nætter" - 5. "Et andet niveau" (feat. Kesi) - 6. "Ingen hører" (4,5 / 5) - 7. "Baby" - 8. "Ingen problemer" (4 / 5) - 9. "Soma" - 10. "Jesu blod" - 11. "Overleve" (4 / 5) (live)

2nd studio album by Danish duo Ukendt Kunstner consisting of rapper Hans Phillip and musical composer and producer Jens Ole McCoy. Alas, later in 2016 the two announced that they would stop working as Ukendt Kunstner. They have truly renewed hip hop and rap on a national level with an international and unique sound. They have managed to add new dimensions to the tradition of Danish lyrics with poetic narratives on everyday life bound together with a distinct simple and yet broad sound. They shall truly be missed.
The album is slightly more stripped down and laid-back compared to the debut, and it displays an even stronger emphasis on the lyrical side - it's way up there, almost as great, maybe even better? Perhaps in a matter of months I will consider this bettering the 2014 album but for now it's clearly the best Danish album in 2016.
I have awaited a cd version of the album, but it never came and most likely never will be issued. Unfortunately. This new tendency seem to be the new way to launch albums, and Den anden side has only been issued as a download album at 320kps. Why no FLAC-files or high fidelity formats for people who care about sound quality?
[ Gaffa.dk, Berlingske 4 / 6 stars ]

2016 Favourite releases: 1. Tindersticks The Waiting Room - 2. Ukendt Kunstner Den anden side - 3. Bob Mould Patch the Sky

Best of 2014:Ukendt Kunstner "Forbandede ungdom" (2014)

Forbandede ungdom [debut]
release date: May 12, 2014
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,22]
producer: Jens Ole McCoy
label: Sony Music - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: 1. "Begyndelsen" - 2. "Hun sagde" (feat. Karen) (4 / 5) - 3. "Feelings" - 4. "Alting / Ingenting" (4 / 5) - 5. "Fortæl dem" (feat. Lord Siva) (4 / 5) - 6. "Spor 6" - 7. "Boulevarden" - 8. "Daglige brød" (3,5 / 5) - 9. "Stein Bagger" (4 / 5) - 10. "Gennem byen" (4,5 / 5) - 11. "Englebarn" (feat. Caroline Henderson) - 12. "Kjærlighed" (4 / 5)

Full studio debut album by the Danish duo Ukendt Kunstner consisting of Hans Phillip on vocal and Jens Ole McCoy credited as producer. They have already released several eps, singles, and a fine mixtape in the span of just a few years.
It's nice and fine music the two produce, which loans from various artists like Tricky and Drake, but they still manage to make it sound quite unique in this blend of British and American styled conscious hip-hop, rap, r&b, and trip hop. Lyrically, they sing exclusively in Danish only, which is made in a subtle and artistic way, and subject-wise, I find that they have improved on this by distancing their stories and subjects from other Danish contemporaries, but also elevating Danish music to new standards in the rap and hip hop categories.

EDIT August 2016: In 2015 and early 2016 I still had the album in fourth place for 2014, then I placed it as third best, but I have slowly come to realise that's it's simply the best album, surpassing Bob Mould and Kent. The album has already become a certified Danish classic.

2014 Favourite releases: 1. Ukendt Kunstner Forbandede ungdom - 2. Kent Tigerdrottningen - 3. Sharon Van Etten Are We There

Ukendt Kunstner "Neonlys" (2013)

Neonlys, mixtape
release date: Apr. 8, 2013
format: digital (10 x File, MP3)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: Jen Ole McCoy
label: selv-released download - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: 1. "Profetien" - 2. "28 / 46" (4 / 5) - 3. "Neonlys" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Guld & diamanter" (3,5 / 5) - 5. "Lørdag aften" - 6. "Søndag morgen" - 7. "Langt væk" - 8. "F.P. Jac" - 9. "Fucking nummer" (4 / 5) - 10. "Drømme" (feat. Rebecca Christel) (4 / 5)

10-track "mixtape" as labelled by the duo Ukendt Kunstner made available as free download on the duo's homepage. Musically and lyrically, I think this is an improvement to their first double ep. This is much more like the 2014 (and actual) debut album. The music is more coherent, much more original, and the lyrics are elaborated in both rhyming, choruses verses, and in the narratives, although, the subjects are mostly about the same issues - which still point back to their first ep releases. It's songs about partying, girls, drugs, relationships, and sex. However, musically, this is stuffed with great tracks all held-together by an original flow.
The album is simply one of the best of its genre coming from Denmark at the moment.

Ukendt Kunstner "Hælervarer" (2012), double ep

"Side A" cover

Hælervarer, double ep [debut]
release date: Sep. 20, 2012
format: digital (10 x File, MP3)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Jens Ole McCoy
label: self-released - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist, "Side A": 1. "Pornografisk hukommelse" - 2. "København (feat. Murro)" (4 / 5) (live) - 3. "Kolumbine" - 4. "Ukronede Konger (feat. Gio)" - 5. "Uhyggeligt"
"Side B": 1. "M.A.E.R.S.K." - 2. "De sataniske vers" - 3. "Ingenting" (4 / 5) - 4. "Betonjunglen (feat. Gilli, Kimbo & Semih Automatisk)" - 5. "The Motto Freestyle"
[ Side A - Side B ]

Double ep debut by Ukendt Kunstner consisting of rapper Hans Phillip and composer and producer Jens Ole McCoy. Before establishing the duo, Hans Phillip was a solo grime rapper going by the monicker Skørmand. This album is a self-released double ep made available as two free download eps. It's a fine debut with nicely produced music, which may turn out as a mix between Drake, The Weeknd and Partynextdoor with a combo of Danish rap, although both The Weeknd and Partynextdoor weren't even around at this point. Yes, they seem inspired by American pop rap and alt. r&b, only, I find that the lyrics here are not that evolved (as they would later be). When it's good, it's pretty fine but sometimes it sounds like Danish rapper L.O.C. with lyrics about sex, drugs, women, and... sex - the typical hardcore hip hop subjects. It's rather superficial and (at times) downright tedious. However, the tracks "København" and "Ingenting" are truly fine and show a splendid original tone and musical direction, something they would later successfully elaborate on.
[ Soundvenue 4 / 6 stars ]

"Side B" cover