Harry Crane - Keep Your Head Up [EP Review]
Brimming with laid back flows and everyman-charm, North-West London native Harry Crane’s third studio project, ‘Keep Your Head Up,’ is a delightful antidote to the troubled world it found itself released into. Never flinching from the candid, Crane’s frank admissions and plain-spoken affirmations provide his fast-growing fanbase with his most honest account to date. Witty lyricism and stylistic versatility in surplus, the nine-track offering is testament to the rapper’s emergence from the underground scene.
Arriving in the last lap of a challenging year for rising artists, ‘KYHU’ couldn’t have been more aptly timed. The feel-good factor Crane emits through his charismatic flows cannot be understated. Backed by a soulful guitar sample against a dusty drum loop, the Harrow rapper opens proceedings honestly, asserting, “I use the music as my therapy,” on ‘Don’t Pray For Me.’ Crane’s refreshingly up-front approach to his struggles paints an optimistic picture, declaring in sing-song, “I love all my family in every way,”on playful lead single ‘Lemonade.’ The bluesy cut has an anthemic feel; Crane circles through his mantras with a laid back manner, “if life gives ya lemons, then ya gotta make lemonade, summer getting waved almost everyday.”
The 21 year-old’s down-to-earth nature is perhaps his greatest asset. Rooted in reality, the impressive support received thus far in his burgeoning career, from BBC Introducing to Rough Trade, reflects his sound’s relatability-factor. Crane’s accounts of daily life tell tales of simplicity, detailing his desire for a “missus he can go to the footy with” and “down a pint in five seconds” on lovestruck ‘Need Somebody.’ But the lyricist’s quiet confidence gives the project a sharp edge, starkly reminding listeners of his ambition to make it to the top. On trap-infused ‘No Time,’ Crane’s assertion that he “makes bangers and classics” boldly grabs your attention. The rapper cannot be mistaken for an artist content with the status quo, as dauntless proclamations such as, “laugh in their face cos the kid’s up next, I don’t need no break I don’t need no rest” indicate.
Crane successfully strikes a balance between consciousness and bravado, best illustrated through the duality of bars like, “stop saying “what if” and start saying “I’m sick,” on eponymous outro, ‘Keep Your Head Up.’ On the same track, he admits “been stuck in my mental lately,” with a relatable vulnerability. But Crane doesn’t fret to put his competition in their place, vowing to “spin a man round like vinyl,” on King H Freestyle. His penchant for witty one-liners are the emblem of a rapper confident in his abilities, comically spitting “married to the Lizzy...might cheat if your girl look pretty,” on rosy cut, ‘Patience.’
Already boasting impressive numbers, Harry Crane should expect his stock to rise even further in 2021, provided he maintains the easy-going sensibilities that have garnered him over 40,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. With the heartening styles of ‘KYHU,’ it’s easy to see why supporters are flocking to Crane and his sound in a time where such optimism seems scarce.