Devonte Kasi Martin Perkins (born 21 October 1995), known professionally as K-Trap, is a British rapper and songwriter from South London. He is known for his prominence in the UK drill scene, releasing notable mixtapes such as The Last Whip (2017), The Re-Up (2018) and No Magic (2019). Previously, K-Trap was widely known for wearing a balaclava to conceal his identity until June 2019 when he revealed his face for the first time in the music video for his single "Big Mood", promoting his mixtape No Magic.
His fourth mixtape, Street Side Effects, was released on 13 November 2020. His mixtape collaboration with Headie One, Strength to Strength, was released on September 22, 2023, reaching number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and number one on the UK Hip-Hop and R&B Albums Chart.
Early life Devonte Kasi Martin Perkins was born on 21 October 1995, in the Lambeth area of South London.
Career 2017–2019: Career beginnings, The Last Whip, The Re-Up, and No Magic
K-Trap started rapping at a young age, yet he only began to start taking music seriously in 2015. Despite him just starting to take his career seriously, K-Trap was arrested and was in jail for two years before being found not guilty. He entered the music scene in 2017 after being released from prison and was known distinctively for his choice of wearing a balaclava to hide his identity. K-Trap independently released his debut mixtape, The Last Whip on June 25, 2017, featuring guest appearances from Blade Brown, Headie One, Potter Payper, alongside several other artists. The mixtape would go on to be labelled as a cult classic of his. K-Trap released his second mixtape, The Re-Up on July 12, 2018, through Just Jam Records and would include guest appearances from popular British artists such as Loski, D-Block Europe, Sharna Bass, and Yxng Bane. The mixtape marked K-Trap's first appearance on the UK Albums Chart, debuting at number 37.
In 2019, K-Trap signed his first record deal with Black Butter Records before the release of his debut single, "Big Mood" which peaked at number 66 on the UK Singles Chart. In the music video for the track, K-Trap revealed his face for the first time after removing his balaclava to promote his third full-length mixtape, No Magic. The mixtape would eventually be released on June 27, 2019, and would peak at number 33 on the UK Albums chart.
In a December 2020 interview with Notion, K-Trap would go in-depth into the reasons behind him revealing his face:
2020–2023: Mainstream breakout, The Last Whip II, and Strength to Strength
On October 26, 2020, K-trap shared the tracklist for his fourth mixtape, Street Side Effects. The mixtape was preceded by the single "New Opp Block" featuring British drill rapper, Abra Cadabra. The mixtape was released on November 13, 2020. It would make his second and final release under Black Butter Records.
K-Trap's breakthrough single, "Warm" was released on May 13, 2021. The track would eventually go viral on the video-sharing app TikTok for its catchy introduction. The track would later appear on K-Trap's fifth mixtape, Trapo released under his newly-founded independent record label, Thousand8. K-Trap received his first MOBO Award nomination for the Best Drill Act which he lost out to Central Cee.
On March 25, 2022, K-Trap and Blade Brown released the collaborative mixtape, Joints. On August 28, 2022, K-Trap released the single "Spoilt" alongside announcing the release of his sixth mixtape, the sequel to his debut, The Last Whip II. The mixtape was preceded by the singles "Busy", "Spoilt", and "Extra Sleeve" featuring Headie One, release just a day before the mixtape's official release on September 30, 2022.
Over a year after the release of the original, following an increase in popularity of "Warm" on social media, K-Trap recruited UK rap legend Skepta to appear on the remix of "Warm". K-Trap won his first MOBO Award for the Best Drill Act at the 2022 ceremony on November 30, 2022.
On September 22, 2023, K-Trap released his collaborative mixtape, Strength to Strength with fellow UK drill rapper, Headie One. The mixtape was preceded by three singles, "Catfish" and "Park Chinois". The mixtape was released on September 22, alongside the single "Triple Threat" with Clavish. The project proceeded to debut at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart.
K-Trap won his second consecutive MOBO Award for the Best Drill Act at the 2023 ceremony on February 7, 2024.
2024–present:Smile?
On April 18, 2024, K-Trap announced the release of his debut studio album, Smile?. The album was preceded by five singles, "Heaven or Hell", "Old School Era", "Mobsters" with Blade Brown, "Victory Lap", and "Whistle".
Artistry Influences Perkins has referred to his early influences stemming from R&B and that he often listens to slow jams, reggae, and soul music.
Discography Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected details and peak chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions UK UK R&BFor The Last Whip For The Re-Up For No Magic For Street Side Effects For Trapo For Joints For The Last Whip II For Strength to Strength For Smile? For Trapo 2 Smile? Released: 31 May 2024 Label: Thousand8, EGA, UMG Format: CD, Mini-LP, digital download, streaming 10 1 Trapo 2 Released: 21 August 2026 Label: Thousand8 Format: Digital download, streaming 86 1
Mixtapes + List of studio albums, with selected details and peak chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions UK UK R&B The Last Whip Released: 25 June 2017 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming — 8 The Re-Up Released: 12 July 2018 Label: Just Jam Format: Digital download, streaming 37 11 No Magic Released: 27 June 2019 Label: Black Butter Format: Digital download, streaming 33 19 Street Side Effects Released: 13 November 2020 Label: Black Butter Format: Digital download, streaming 26 1 Trapo Released: 10 September 2021 Label: Thousand8 Format: Digital download, streaming 33 4 The Last Whip II Released: 30 September 2022 Label: Thousand8 Format: Digital download, streaming 12 2 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Collaborative mixtapes + List of collaborative mixtapes, with selected details and peak chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions UK UK R&B Joints(with Blade Brown) Released: 25 March 2022 Label: Thousand8, BxB Ent. Formats: Digital download, streaming, CD 18 2 Strength to Strength Released: 22 September 2023 Label: Thousand8, One Records Format: Digital download, streaming 4 1
Singles As lead artist +List of singles, with year released, selected chart positions and certifications Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album UK UKR&B/HHPeak R&B chart positions in the UK: For "Airforce (Remix)": For "Big Mood": For "I Spy": For "I Spy": For "Extra Sleeve": For "Warm": For "Park Chinois" and "Triple Threat": For "Heaven & Hell": IRE "David Blaine" 2017 — — — "Paper Plans" — — — The Last Whip "Behind Barz" — — — rowspan="2" "Wild Thoughts" — — — "Watching" 2018 — — —The Re-Up "Anything Else" — — — "A to B" — — — "Back to Cali" 2019 — — — rowspan="2" "Won't Stop" — — — "Plaza Riddim" — — — Morefire "Mask Off" — — —No Magic "Big Mood" 66 38 — "Mad About Bars" — — — rowspan="7" "Out The Mud" — — — "Exit" — — — "Paid the Cost" 2020 — — — "Off White" — — — "Private Snap" — — — "Shivers" — — — "Whip That Work" — — — Street Side Effects "Daily Duppy" — — — "New Opp Block" — — — Street Side Effects "Warm" 2021 17 6 41 BPI: Platinum Trapo "Maths" — — — "Pick 'n' Mix" — — — "Different" — — — "6 Figures" 2022 — — — Joints "Daily Duppy (5 Million Subs Special)" — — — "Busy" — — — The Last Whip II "Extra Sleeve" 71 29 — "Mad About Bars" — — — "Back 2 Back" — — — Cold Feet "Predicate" 2023 — — — Purple Hearts "Outings" — — — "Catfish" — — — Strength to Strength "Park Chinois" 39 18 — "Triple Threat" 31 13 — "Heaven or Hell" 2024 47 21 — Smile? "Old School Era" — — — "Mobsters" — — — "Victory Lap" — — — "Whistle" — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
As featured artist +List of singles, with year released, selected chart positions and certifications Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album UK UKR&B/HH "Diamonds" 2017 — — rowspan=2 "Airforce" (Remix) 2018 20 6 BPI: Gold "I Spy" 2019 18 11 BPI: Gold Revenge Is Sweet "Are You Mad" 2020 66 — Quarantime: The Lost Files "Pull Up" 2021 — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Other charted and certified songs +List of songs, with year released, selected chart positions and certifications Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album UK "Joints" 2019 70 Bags & Boxes 4 "Interlude" 2022 — BPI: Silver The Last Whip II
Guest appearances +List of non-single guest appearances, with year released, other artist(s) and album name shown Title Year Other artist(s) Album "Operation Fortress" 2023 D-Block Europe DBE World "Bricks & Mortar" 2025 Look at Me Now
Awards and nominations Year Organization Award Work Result Reference 2021 MOBO Awards 2021Best Drill Act Himself 2022 MOBO Awards 2022 rowspan="2" 2023 MOBO Awards 2023
References