Knero Lapaé
kNERO performing during the Liberian Independent Celebration in August 2012.
kNERO performing during the Liberian Independent Celebration in August 2012.
Background information
Birth nameDaniel Boimah Kenney Lapaé Edwards II
Born (1985-05-19) May 19, 1985
OriginMonrovia, Liberia
GenresHip hop, Afrobeats
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • barber
  • author
  • record producer
Years active2006–present
Labels
Trust Funds Entertainment
Websitewww.thekissilent.net

Daniel Boimah Kenney Knero Lapaé Edwards II (born May 19, 1985), better known as Knero Lapaé or simply Knero (stylized as kNERO; pronounced knee ro la pay), is a Liberian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, model, and author.[1][2] His music is a mixture of Hip hop and Afrobeats.

Personal life and family members

kNERO was born in Monrovia, Liberia and raised in Brooklyn, New York. His father is Gola and his mother is from the Kpelle tribe. He is one of four children of Sara Léla and Rev. D. Boimah Lapaé Edwards, who was the youngest Liberian to managed an American corporation in Liberia. His father is currently the President of the non-profit organization, The Bomi County Association.[3] kNERO was brought up in a predominant political background. He is the nephew of Liberia's 24th president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.[4] He has an uncle who was a judge of the Magistrate Court, a District Commissioner, and County Development Coordinator for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He is also the first cousin of Richard B. Devine, a former Senator of Liberia.[5][6] His family was fortunate enough to escape the Liberian Civil War as a result of his father's achievements, but still suffers the loss of family and friends.

Music career and performances

kNERO released "Not Drunk Enuff" featuring Norwegian singer Adele Erichsen, a former contestant on The Voice – Norges beste stemme. The single was released under CCAP records. Due to his political ties, he celebrated the Liberian Declaration of Independence by performing his single "A.F.R.I.C.A" at the Liberian Embassy in Washington, D.C.[7] He performed at the Hip Hop of Pioneers event held at the Newark Symphony Hall; the event featured additional performances from MC Lyte, Kool and the Gang, Dana Dane and Slick Rick.[8]

Between 2006 and 2007, he performed at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta for Dr. Malachi Z. York's 11th Annual Nuwaupu Ball; his name was announced alongside Erykah Badu, Jimmy Cliff and Musiq Soulchild.[9] kNERO released his single "My Thang" featuring Jamal "Gravy" Woolard and former Roc-A-Fella artist Amil, which appeared on several urban blog sites.[10]

In 2014, kNERO closed a deal to release his next single "King" under Universal Music Group.[11]

Music Influences

While growing up, kNERO listened to artists such as Buck Shot, Smif N Wessun, Jay Z, The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Phil Collins, Sade Adu, Fela Kuti, Prodigy, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Rakim, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, KRS-One, 50 Cent, Kool G Rap, Tracy Chapman and Bob Marley.[12]

Other works

Barber career

In 1995, kNERO fell in love with the art of barbering. To avoid street violence and other criminal activities, he learned to master his craft over the years. He then travels from state to state gaining connections in the hair industry, which helped his music career. His limitless experiences, becoming rapper Raekwon from the Wu-Tang Clan personal barber. Gaining clients as Comedian Kyle Grooms, Fashion Designer Toure Designs, Humanitarian/Motivational speaker George Green, Celebrity Hairstylist Keith Campbell, Middleweight Boxer Peter Quillin, and more.[13]

Modeling and clothing

In 2012, kNERO was a model for photos of The Toure Designs' fall season collection. Later that year, the model in The Toure Designs' Target First Saturdays "Carnival Inspired Fashion" themed at the Brooklyn Museum.[14] He continued to walk the runway alongside actress/singer Demetria Mckinney, modeling for Toure Designs' for the 2015 Mercedes Benz Fashion week presented by ICU Network hosted by SB Stunts.[15]

Acting

kNERO Lapaé has made an appearance in the 2013 film Living With No Regrets, with Clifton Powell, Marc John Jefferies, rapper AZ, Charlie Baltimore, Treach and more.[16]

In 2014, kNERO landed a role on Red Dot[17] a series about a group of trained killers, which expands into stories of many other individuals that they come into contact with. He first appeared in the Red Dot episode "The Walking Dead", as Fritzoy, a goon of a hit-man leader named Cassius who's out for revenge after finding out his friend Eddie was murdered.[18]

Memoir

  • Homeless With A Record Deal: The Moments Of Luxury (January 2016)[19]

Discography

Singles

Year Song Chart positions Album
NO U.S. Pop U.S. Rap
2011 "Not Drunk Rnuff" (featuring Adele Erichsen)
  • Released: February 25, 2011
  • Label: CCAP Records
 — — — N/A
2012 "My Thang" (featuring Gravy, Amil )[20] — — — N/A
2013 "The Vent" (featuring Emmaline)[21] — — — N/A
2013 "A Story To Tell Pt 2"[22] — — — N/A
2013 "Aint Like Me"[23] — — — N/A
2013 "The Wire"[24] — — — N/A
2013 "Awaken" (featuring Keynotez)[25] — — — N/A
2014 "King" (featuring Rikroot)[26]
  • Released: April 8, 2014
  • Label: Universal Music Group
 — — — N/A
2015 "On Ur Mind" (featuring Chaseforever)[27] — — — N/A
2018 "That Werk"
  • Released: December 1, 2018
  • Label: Trust Funds Entertainment
 — — — N/A
2019 "Don't Count" [28]
  • Released: August 11, 2019
  • Label: Trust Funds Entertainment
 — — — N/A
2019 "Run It" [29]
  • Released: December 2, 2019
  • Label: Trust Funds Entertainment
 — — — N/A
2020 "SMM" (featuring Dopezulu,JoeyNicz) [30]
  • Released: May 12, 2020
  • Label: Trust Funds Entertainment
 — — — N/A
2020 "Wolf Land"(featuring Raekwon) [31]
  • Released: December 21, 2020
  • Label: Trust Funds Entertainment
 — — — N/A

Awards and nominations

Liberia Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014 Himself Artist of the Year - USA Nominated[32]
Hip Hop Artist of the Year Nominated[33]
2016 Hip Hop Artist of the Year Nominated[34]

References

  1. ↑ "kNERO's Rap: Liberian-Born Rapper, Performer on Cusps of Mainstream Appeal :: FrontPageAfricaonline.com - All Things Africa 24/7". FrontPageAfricaonline.com. 2012-06-21. Archived from the original on 2014-04-18. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
  2. ↑ "kNERO "Liberian Artist kNERO Set To Release A Memoir (Homeless With A Record Deal: The Moments Of Luxury)". Thatsenuff. 2014-10-01. Archived from the original on 2014-10-02. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
  3. ↑ "National Bomi Association Concludes Convention in Minnesota". theliberianjournal.com. Archived from the original on 2013-08-28. Retrieved 2013-07-30.
  4. ↑ Lana M. "G. Momo Johnson (1957 - 2010)". memory-of.com. Archived from the original on 2012-12-01. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  5. ↑ "TLC Africa". tlcafrica.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ↑ http://allafrica.com/stories/200603060844.html Archived 2012-11-30 at the Wayback Machine AllAfrica.com 6 MARCH 2006 http://allafrica.com/stories/200603060844.html Archived 2012-11-30 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ http://allafrica.com/stories/201107200947.html Archived 2012-11-30 at the Wayback Machine allafrica.com http://allafrica.com/stories/201107200947.html Archived 2012-11-30 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ http://grandgood.com/2006/11/29/pioneers-of-hip-hop-show-in-nj-122-8pm/ Archived 2012-12-01 at the Wayback Machine Hip Hop of Pioneers http://grandgood.com/2006/11/29/pioneers-of-hip-hop-show-in-nj-122-8pm/ Archived 2012-12-01 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ "kNERO'S PERFORMANCE". YouTube. 23 April 2007. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  10. ↑ "New Music: kNERO ft Gravy X Amil -"My Thang"". Get Wit It Magazine - The Entertainment Site Of The New America. Archived from the original on 2012-12-30. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
  11. ↑ "kNERO ft. Rikroot 'King' [Audio]". THATSENUFF.COM. Archived from the original on 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2014-04-28.
  12. ↑ "Sex Workers in Liberia Share Experience With FrontPageAfrica Newspaper". FrontPageAfrica. Archived from the original on 2014-04-18. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  13. ↑ "KNERO's Barbering and Music". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-19.
  14. ↑ The Snobette (3 August 2014). "Runway: Butch Diva At Brooklyn Museum". The Snobette. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "Liberian Rapper kNERO Seen at Toure Designs 2015 Fashion Week". Archived from the original on 2015-04-05. Retrieved 2015-03-13.
  16. ↑ " Living with No Regrets (2013)" Archived 2023-01-17 at the Wayback Machine, IMDb.
  17. ↑ "kNERO". hot97.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  18. ↑ "Red Dot: Episode 2 - "The Walking Dead" Director By Nimi Hendrix". IMDB. Archived from the original on 2015-04-07.
  19. ↑ "HUFFPOST - Exclusive Interview with Knero Lapaé, Author of 'Homeless With A Record Deal'". www.huffpost.com. 15 January 2018. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  20. ↑ My Thang http://getwititmagazine.com/2012/12/24/new-music-knero-ft-gravy_ny-x-amil-my-thang/ Archived 2012-12-30 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ "Hot97 Dj Drewski & Get Wit It Magazine.com Presents kNERO ft Emmaline - The Vent (Prod by. kNERO) - Track Inside - Hip Hop News, Celebrity News and Entertainment News". Hiphopnews24-7.com. 2013-04-04. Archived from the original on 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  22. ↑ "kNERO – A Story To Tell [Audio". Thatsenuff.Com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  23. ↑ "kNERO 'Ain't Like Me' Artwork". Thatsenuff.Com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-07. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  24. ↑ "kNERO - The Wire (Prod by kNERO) Presented by Hot 97 Dj Drewski and Get Wit It Magazine.com - Track Inside - Hip Hop News, Celebrity News and Entertainment News". Hiphopnews24-7.com. 2013-06-03. Archived from the original on 2013-10-10. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  25. ↑ Awaken http://hiphopnews24-7.com/profiles/blogs/knero-feat-keynotez-awaken-prod-by-kurt-stock-track-inside Archived 2013-07-06 at the Wayback Machine
  26. ↑ Allhiphop.com http://allhiphop.com/2014/04/17/knero-ft-rikroot-king/ Archived 2014-04-29 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ↑ "KNERO Feat. Chaseforever 'On Ur Mind' (Prod by kNERO) - Track Inside - Hip Hop News, Celebrity News and Entertainment News". Getwititmagazine.com. 2015-10-21. Archived from the original on 2015-10-14. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  28. ↑ "Knero Lapaé – Don't Count". Archived from the original on 2019-08-14. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
  29. ↑ "Knero Lapaé – Don't Count". Archived from the original on 2019-08-14. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
  30. ↑ "Knero Lapaé – Don't Count". Archived from the original on 2019-08-14. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
  31. ↑ "Knero Lapaé – Don't Count". Archived from the original on 2019-08-14. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
  32. ↑ "Front Page Africa Online". Liberian Music Awards. March 21, 2014. Archived from the original on April 5, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Liberia Music Awards Foundation Announces the nominees for the 2014 Liberia Music Awards". Get Wit It Magazine. March 26, 2014. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Liberia Music Awards Foundation Announces the nominees for the 2016 Liberia Music Awards". Liberian Music Awards. March 26, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
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