[Intro: Konan]This is my storyThis is my story

This song is of Konan telling a story of how his step-father tragically died. Konan’s step-father Carlton Ned was murdered whilst he was protecting Konan, as it was supposed to be Konan as the intended target due to gang violence. This song is also about their rise in the music industry.

[Verse 1: Konan]Came from radio, it was lateLeft the car, went straight to my gateHead straightDidn't even look left

Konan is reflecting on his journey walking to his home, and the lyrics give the impression that he senses danger approaching.

Got my key out, started hearing footstepsRight over my shoulderHad to act fast, I can hear them getting closerTryna' keep calm and put my key into the door

Konan is stating he can hear people approaching him, and that he knows that they want to hurt him. Then he realises that to stay alive, he must swiftly enter his house, meaning he must be quick and calm.

Thinking to myself if I don't make it then it's over

He knows he is going to die if he doesn’t make it into the house before they get to him.

I don't know how I managed itRan into my mum's room panickingMum shouting at me "Karl what's happening?"Carl shouting at me "Karl what's happening?"

Konan’s step father Karl and his mum are woken up suddenly, and they shout and question at Konan ‘what is going on? They are scared to hear people entering the house to attack them

How the hell did I get in this?Tryna' hold the door but it's coming off the hinges

The hinges on the door were coming off because of the force against them from those who are after Konan.

Somebody wake me from this dream now

Nothing seemed real so he was hoping he is in a dream waiting for someone to save him from the nightmare.

Then I hear a gunshot and my mum scream outSomebody come and save the daySomebody take this pain away

Konan’s mum was scared as the attackers fired a gun. She got shot in her stomach, by the intruders firing a gun behind the door.

How can I ask God for help now, when I isn’t even prayed today?

He felt that because he has not prayed, he doesn’t want to ask God for favours. Konan probably didn’t have time to pray, but because he is now in a crisis he wants the help of his God to get him out of it.

Is this how my life ends? (Nowhere to run, no place to hide in)

Konan is frightened that his life will end, and he has no way of escaping.

Carl ran out of the room tryna' fight themTwo more gun shots, everything's silent

Carl saw the only option to help save his family was to run out of the room they were barricaded in, and attack the intruders. However, the intruders shot him and ran-off. This resulted in him being shot in the chest and he died instantly.

Mum ran downstairs, she's cryingAnd I can't move a muscle but I'm trying

Konan explains how his mum was downstairs crying and how he could not comfort her but he physically cannot move because he is shocked of the events that took place.

Praying for an ambulance but I can't hear a siren

The ambulance was taking long to arrive; at the time, it is most needed.

She said he's shot I hope she's lyingI hear her shouting out for help, I think he's dying

Konan doesn’t want to believe that the people who were after him, had just hurt a loved one. His mother sounds so frantic that he thinks his step-dad’s dying.

I'm thinking why him? Was it wrong place, wrong timing?

He was begging for answers (rhetorical) such as Why did they have to kill him? Was it just wrong place, wrong time, or did they do it to get at Konan? The fact that the attackers hurt a loved one could harm someone more than killing them.

I see him at the bottom of the stairsMum shaking while the neighbours tryna' save him, heart racing, wishing I could disappear

Konan was at the top of the stairs, staring down at all the people surrounding his step-dad, and they were around him trying to save his step-dad while him and his mother stand and watch helplessly. Konan’s terrified and just wants it to all go away.

And it should of been me but it's him lying thereAnd I know it isn't fair

The two boys were after him (Konan) but his stepfather was murdered. He knows it should be the other way around.

I phone Skanks, phone Shook, my whole body's in shock, I couldn't even shed a tearTrapped in this nightmare, how did I get here?

Konan went to call his friends and tell them what happened. But he’s so shocked that he doesn’t know what to do and isn’t even able to cry, after what had happened.

[Hook: Konan]This is my storyAll the pain, all the things, falling on meAll the blood, sweat and tears but don't worryFlashing lights, seen my life flash before meThis is my storyThis is my story

The song is telling the story of Konan’s life. His life has been difficult, the phrase “blood, sweat and tears” is often used to describe difficulty and struggle. Then the flashing lights all are a part of the memory for when his father was shot. This is almost like a flashback imagery for Konan, as he cannot forget this memory.

[Verse 2: Krept]Woke up to a ping on my blackberry

A “ping” is notification you can send to Blackberry phone using Blackberry Messenger. It alerts the receiver with a sound as well as a vibration. It’s used to get attention, and in this situation, it emphasises the fact how Konan was trying to contact him.

It was a message from Kone saying "somebody tried to kill me and got my family"

Konan’s explaining to Krept that someone was after him or out to murder him, but they got his family instead.

I rubbed my eyes, is this a dream or reality?

he never thought this would happen to Konan.

Kone said "Krept who the fuck was this mad at me?"God, how we gone solve this catastrophe?

A “catastrophe” is an event that brings a sudden damage/tragedy. Then he asks ‘‘Who was this mad?’’ enough at Konan to murder his family.

Then God gave us 'Otis' it was a blessing from himCos it stopped us from going getting reckless on him

The duo’s Krept & Konan’s “Otis” was a blessing in disguise for them, since that it was alleged that Jay Z himself ordered it to be removed after it gained 5 million views on YouTube. They took it all in stride though, and have added to a dedicated fan base in the result of the incident.

Thinking to quit musicThinking to go and do something stupid

They had thoughts about quitting music and going back to gang-banging. This is because after the death of his step-father, he was thinking to get revenge for the murder.

Then things fell in place and started improvingThat's why I say the music chose us, we didn't choose it

Music started to work out for them during the hard time-period they were going through, even though they were beginning of thinking to quit music and go back to the road-life. As of this reason he thinks that music is their destiny.

Bearing in mind Kone started from scratchFeds took his house, money, clothes, he never had jack

Konan had nothing when they started rapping coming from “Started from scratch”. This means that he started without anything, because ‘’feds’’ (London slang for police) took everything he had; because of an arrest. If things are bought with drug money, the courts will have those assets seized. “He never had jack” means he didn’t have anything, mentioning again that the music literally saved their lives.

Then I got a call from VashHe told us the plan so we got up in the lab

Vash is the founder of PlayHard Records, which manages artists such as Sneakbo and Krept and Konan. The “lab” his talking about is the studio, he uses the word

“lab” because it is somewhere they make money, making comparisons to a drug lab.

Then things started to pick up even more

Suddenly, Krept & Konan’s fan base and had raised even more and they were beginning to gain more recognition.

Skepta hollered at me, said that we should come on tourSkepta don't even realise what he did for usWell if you're listening, thank you for help fixing usFrom the tour, all these shows start coming in

Skepta (another major UK Artist) brought Krept and Konan on tour with him a few years ago, where they opened the shows everywhere around the UK. Krept gives his thanks to Skepta for letting them come on tour with them because it helped them gain recognition. This helped them go through a rough period, but thanks to Skepta who helped them stay on their feet, they stuck with music.

Back on our feet now the money started flooding inInvested in clothes and money started doublingNow so much for struggling

They invested in “Play Dirty”, the clothing line owned by themselves. They use different artists to promote their clothing line represented by rappers such as Yungen. This line is foreshadowing the line “Now Play Dirty’s on the up fucking up the streets” (later-on in the song), and it’s a massive clothing brand within the teenage community, especially London.

Watching Kones getting back up on his feetThinking "how's he coping", I couldn't if it was me

Krept admires that Konan is getting back up after the event where his step-father had died.

Now Play Dirty's on the up fucking up the streets

Krept and Konan have now toured with many artists such as Skepta, Boy Better Know and Tinie Tempah.

Everyday a new city that we reachBut even though we turned around a messI'm sitting in my yard thinking that I could be nextThinking "did I give anyone his address?"

Even though they turned around from the road-life to legit music money, he still wonders if he is the next target. This also suggests that he is asking himself if he gave anybody his address.

That shit that happened to Kone still playing in my head

The events that happened to Konan’s step-dad is still on his mind, as he doesn’t want a tragic such as that to happen to him.Thinking 'bout he day it happened, when I saw his mumAnd she told me "please look after my son"

Krept was reminiscing when Konan’s mother asked Krept to look after his son (for him be his guardian angel), after the shooting. Since then, Krept and Konan have been friends since a very young age, and they have witnessed and went through experiences together.

Not a single tear on her face showingEven though I know her heart's brokenStaying strong even though we're stressingCos she lost her husband and that being the second

Being Konan’s step-father, Konan had already lost his father, and now his mother had now lost two husbands and still managed to stay strong despite Krept and Konan going through their hard times.

That's why the music is a must to usKone he's going to make it up to her

He’s already mentioned about being successful in the music industry, and it also being their destiny‘’Then things fell in place and started improvingThat’s why I say the music chose us, we didn’t choose it’’The only way out to succeed in life is to be successful in the music industry

[Hook: Konan]This is my storyAll the pain, all the things, falling on meAll the blood, sweat and tears but don't worryFlashing lights, seen my life flash before meThis is my storyThis is my story

The song is telling the story of Konan’s life. His life has been difficult, the phrase “blood, sweat and tears” is often used to describe difficulty and struggle. Then

the flashing lights all are a part of the memory for when his father was shot. This is almost like a flashback imagery for Konan, as he cannot forget this memory.

In conclusion, this task helped me understand the lyrics, and the in-depth meaning. As of November 2016, this song has now reached 4.5 million views and is one of the biggest music videos in UK grime. They used social media to promote it, such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook; therefore, different audiences could hear about his journey to where he is now. Throughout the YouTube comments, there were signs of sympathy being shown as it is a sensitive topic when talking to an audience of how a family member had passed away. We chose this song as we could try use our own ideas to come up with our own narrative, and to improve our media skills. In our music video pitch, we talked on how we could re-create a similar meaning of getting the audience to sympathise with a loss of a family member. This ‘’story’’ is also very realistic as it does happen in areas in the UK, so it is very relatable. We will try to avoid the original music video, as that is not being innovative and coming up with our own ideas, so as a group we decided to create a different narrative to the original. This will involve a loss of a brother, and the artist rapping about it. This song is easy to understand, and is suitable across all ages, as it is a story being told, and how they overcame it. This conforms to Tzvetan Todorov’s theory where all narratives follow a three-part structure where they begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced, progress as something comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution, when equilibrium is restored. In relation to the music video, the equilibrium is where they were doing music and everything was good, the balance was present. The disruption is the killing of Konan’s father, and the struggle having no-money, and struggling for a period of time. Then it is restored when they began to get recognition in the grime scene, and now they are very popular.