Kwn

Last updated
Kwn
Birth nameK. Wilson
Born (2000-04-05) April 5, 2000 (age 25)
Walthamstow, East London, UK
Origin Walthamstow, London
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • rapper
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
Years active2022–present
Labels

K. Wilson, known professionally as kwn (pronounced kay-wuhn) and formerly k1, is a British singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer. [1] She is best known for her singles "Worst Behaviour", whose remix featured Kehlani, and "do what i say".

Contents

She was nominated for Best New International Act at the 2025 BET Awards, [2] was named Billboard's R&B Rookie of the Month, [3] and was included on the NME 100 list of "essential emerging artists". [4]

Early life

Kwn was born and grew up in Walthamstow, East London. [5] She has two older sisters. [6] Her father is Nigerian and her mother is Irish. [7]

She started playing piano and drums in her childhood. [6] She realized by the time she was 11 years old that she wanted to become a musician, [5] after which she started making music and releasing it on SoundCloud. [1] She was inspired in part by her father, who was at one time a DJ, [7] [1] and who exposed kwn to a wide variety of Western musical genres, including R&B, pop, garage, house, as well as various genres of African music. [6] When she was 16, she began attending the arts college East London Arts & Music, [8] [5] which pushed her to work harder at her music. [9] After college, she worked as a chef, [5] and before deciding to pursue music, she was interested in playing football professionally. [10]

Career

Initially known as k1, she changed her stage name to kwn – incorporating the first and last letters of her last name – to avoid being mistaken for a drill rapper. [10] [11]

She began releasing music with Black Butter Records in 2022, debuting with the single, “wn way or another". [1] Her debut EP episode wn was released later in 2022. [3] She was dropped by the label shortly before the release of her single "Worst Behaviour". [12]

Kwn opened for Kehlani for some of the latter's Crash European tour dates. [3]

She was nominated for Best New International Act at the 2025 BET Awards. [2] In March 2025, she was named Billboard's R&B Rookie of the Month. [3] Billboard called her music "a moody amalgam of trap, soulful vocal stacks and splashes of dark electronic music that both captures and reimagines the post-Bryson Tiller R&B landscape." [3] When asked about her own genre placement, kwn said, "I don’t really think I could pinpoint a sound; I just do whatever feels good," though she noted R&B as a consistent influence in her music. [3] She also received a place on NME's 2025 list [13] of one hundred "essential emerging artists". [4]

Her music videos often feature one-shot filming. [10] [3]

Personal life

Kwn has described herself as "literally . . . gay since [she] came out of the womb". Of her sexuality, she has said, "I’m just a girl who likes girls. I don’t like putting labels on things." [5] She is an introvert. [14] Her favorite tattoo reads "lord i've tried" in Spanish ("dios he tratado"), after her song of the same title. [10]

Discography

Singles

YearTitleRef
2022"Wn Way or Another"
"Nobody"
2023"No Cinderella"
"Five More"
"Wn Up"
2024"Lord I've Tried"
"Eyes Wide Open"
"Worst Behaviour"
2025"Worst Behaviour" remix (featuring Kehlani)
"Do What I Say"

Extended plays

List of EPs
TitleMusic DetailsYear Released
Episode Wn2022
With All Due Respect2025

Features

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dazed (2022-07-05). "kwn, the rising artist writing relatable tracks about toxic exes". Dazed. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  2. 1 2 "KWN Gets Real On: Kehlani Collab, The EP, New Fame + Crushing on KeKe | New York's Power 105.1 FM". Angie Martinez. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Denis, Kyle (2025-03-13). "How a Bedroom Instagram Live Session Yielded KWN's Breakthrough Hit 'Worst Behaviour'". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  4. 1 2 NME (2025-02-12). "THE NME 100: ESSENTIAL EMERGING ARTISTS FOR 2025". NME. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Dazed (2025-06-13). "Rising R&B star Kwn on her new EP and that viral kiss with Kehlani". Dazed. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  6. 1 2 3 King, Tyrese (2024-09-19). "Get To Know: KWN". newwavemagazine. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  7. 1 2 "Who is Kwn? Age, ethnicity & girlfriend and more". Capital XTRA. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  8. Denis, Kyle (2025-03-13). "How a Bedroom Instagram Live Session Yielded KWN's Breakthrough Hit 'Worst Behaviour'". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  9. "Kwn - COEVAL Magazine". COEVAL. 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
  10. 1 2 3 4 EDITOR (2025-03-14). "Everything you need to know about rising star Kwn". diva-magazine.com. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  11. "Kwn - COEVAL Magazine". COEVAL. 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
  12. "KWN Reflects on Losing Her Deal, Kissing Kehlani & More - The Angie Martinez Show". iHeart. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
  13. Williams, Kyann-Sian. "R&B's sultry new star Kwn just wants to feel good". WTYE / WTAY. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
  14. "KWN Gets Real On: Kehlani Collab, The EP, New Fame + Crushing on KeKe | New York's Power 105.1 FM". Angie Martinez. Retrieved 2025-06-13.