Krept and Konan: who are the rappers behind England's Euro 2020 song, what's it called and UK release date

We Are England documents how the London duo went about writing the nation's new Euros football song
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England football songs have the power to bring a nation together.

From World in Motion to Three Lions, a catchy tournament tune can become an anthem synonymous with that summer beyond the realms of football.

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This year Krept and Konan follow in the footsteps of New Order, Baddiel and Skinner and many others in writing England football team's official tournament song.

Konan pictured performing at Wireless Festival 2018. (Pic: Getty)Konan pictured performing at Wireless Festival 2018. (Pic: Getty)
Konan pictured performing at Wireless Festival 2018. (Pic: Getty)

The London-based rap duo have been entrusted with England's official Euro 2020 song and document the process in an hour-long feature film on the BBC.

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Krept and Konan: We Are England aired on BBC 1 at 10.45pm on Wednesday 9 June - days before Gareth Southgate's side kick off against Croatia in their first group game.

Who are Krept and Konan?

Krept and Konan met when their schools played each other at football.

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From there, their interest in music saw the foundation for a friendship which has seen both receive royal recognition for their work with the award of British Empire Medals.

Krept, whose real name is Casyo Valentine Johnson, and Konan, real name Karl Dominic Wilson, became known for the 2013 release Young Kingz.

It earned the duo a record deal with Virgin EMI Records and their subsequent release of their debut album The Long Way Home came out in July 2015.

The duo now have a fresh challenge ahead of them - to create England's Euro 2020 song.

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Times have changed since the heights of Brit-pop, with the hip-hop duo looking to put down a modern anthem for the country's national team that everyone can relate to.

Their journey will be documented by the BBC.

What does the We Are England documentary show?

Krept and Konan: We Are England explores the writing process behind the rap duo's Euro 2020 song and features many of the Three Lions' squad playing at the tournament.

Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings and West Ham’s Declan Rice are among the players who are approached during the hour-long documentary.

The musicians also seek the input of Gareth Southgate to discover what ingredients he would like to see added into the mix for the final cut of the song released in support of his team.

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Krept and Konan also pay a visit to chart-topping Manchester rapper Aitch and West London rapper - and Bafta-nominated TV chef - Big Zuu in their research journey.

When is the England song released?

A release date for the official England song hasn't been announced just yet.

But with the documentary airing on the BBC on 9 June and the tournament starting days later on 11 June it is assumed England fans won't have long to wait to hear the finished product.

BBC Three controller Fiona Campbell said: "This film explores the idea of cultural and national identity through music and sport - all of which is at the heart of what’s important to our audience.

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"Krept and Konan have been fundamental to the success of The Rap Game and we’re really excited for BBC Three viewers to get an exclusive preview into the making of the track, as well as exclusive access to football talent at the top of their game."

Executive producer and acme films creative director Jaimie D’Cruz added: "We’ve come a long way from the lad culture of '96 and now live in a nation where our young ballers and rappers represent the very best of us. Krept and Konan are what national pride look like and sound like in 2021."

Krept and Konan: We are England will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer from June 2021.

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