Miss Kaninna’s BLACKPRINT mixtape is immediately unapologetic. From the opening seconds of “Chat My Shit”, she declares “I’m Indigenous so you know you gon’ be feelin’ this.” It’s clear straight away that this isn’t a mixtape interested in quietly introducing itself, but rather it kicks the door in. Across six tracks, BLACKPRINT feels like a fresh introduction to an artist who is extremely confident in who she is.
Miss Kaninna’s lyrics are quick, witty and sharp as hell, but underneath the punchlines is something far deeper: an enormous sense of pride in who she is, where she comes from and what she stands for. There’s a massive strength to that throughout the mixtape, with every song carrying its own weight without losing the swagger that makes her so much fun to listen to.
There’s also this simmering rage that runs throughout BLACKPRINT. Not anger for the sake of being angry, but the kind that stems from frustration, injustice and being sick of watching the same things happen over and over. “Yeah I’m pissed off, fuck the world cause I’ve been ripped off” is a lyric from the titular track that drives this message home. Speaking of, “Blackprint” is an immediate standout. Ridiculously catchy and backed by a beat that’ll get stuck in your head, it never sacrifices the substance of its lyrics to get there, and that’s one of Miss Kaninna’s biggest strengths.
“Look At Me Now”, featuring Kobie Dee is another highlight, and one that shows off a slightly different side to her artistry. Miss Kaninna has a knack for writing hooks that’ll stay with you, but the chorus here is particularly gorgeous. Her vocals are stunning, proving she’s just as comfortable singing as she is spitting bars. It adds another layer to this mixtape that could easily rely on the strength of her rap alone.
Then there’s “Mob Ties”, which turns the temperature up considerably. It’s raunchy and confident, but carries that same heart as everything else here. There’s no disconnect between the playful side of Miss Kaninna and the more politically charged artist, both exist comfortably alongside each other.
“Handout”, featuring Jamahl Yami, brings that anger back to the forefront, and it’s one of the tape’s most charged moments. It’s furious in all the right places, filled with a rage that feels motivating. You can hear and feel the frustration, but you can also hear the purpose behind it.
Closing track “Stolen Wages” might be the most powerful of the lot. Opening with the spoken-word line, “Being blak is a wonderful thing, something you cannot hide…” it gets straight to the heart of what makes Miss Kaninna’s work so compelling. There’s pride, passion and deep frustration woven throughout it, but musically it feels bigger than anything that came before it. It feels like a final statement rather than simply just the end of a mixtape.
BLACKPRINT is a seriously strong release. If you’ve ever had the privilege of seeing Miss Kaninna live, you’ll know that she has that star power- an unmatched energy that captivates the crowd and pulls you in. This mixtape is no different. It proves exactly why she is one of the most exciting and important voices in Australian hip hop, but more importantly it shows why she deserves to be listened to. Her attitude and passion ooze through every track, giving the music a beating heart beneath all the swagger, wit and killer beats.
BLACKPRINT is fun to listen to, of course, but it’s also music with something meaningful to say, and Miss Kaninna knows exactly how to say it.
