Kwn
Kwn | |
|---|---|
| Born | Khyra Leah Wilson 5 April 2000 |
| Origin | Walthamstow, London |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2022–present |
| Labels | |
Partner | Kehlani (2024–present) |
Khyra Leah Wilson (born 5 April 2000), 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 2024 single "Worst Behaviour", which entered the UK singles chart, while its remix (featuring Kehlani) entered the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
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,[3][5] which pushed her to work harder at her music.[8] After college, she worked as a chef,[5] and before deciding to pursue music, she was interested in playing football professionally.[9]
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.[9][8]
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".[10]
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[11] of one hundred "essential emerging artists".[4]
Her music videos often feature one-shot filming.[9][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.[2] Her favorite tattoo reads "lord i've tried" in Spanish ("dios he tratado"), after her song of the same title.[9]
In October 2025, she confirmed that she was in a relationship with Kehlani, after months of speculation.[12][13]
Discography
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Episode Wn |
|
| With All Due Respect |
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | "Wn Way or Another" | Episode Wn |
| "Nobody" | ||
| 2023 | "No Cinderella" | Non-album singles |
| "Five More" | ||
| "Wn Up" | ||
| 2024 | "Lord I've Tried" | |
| "Eyes Wide Open" | ||
| "Worst Behaviour" | ||
| 2025 | "Worst Behaviour" remix (featuring Kehlani) | With All Due Respect |
| "Do What I Say" | ||
| "Back of the Club" | ||
| "All the Girls" | ||
| 2026 | "Hopeless Romantic"[14][15] | TBA |
Features
- "Clothes Off" (Kehlani, While We Wait 2, 2024)
- "Too Many Women" (Jordan Adetunji, A Jaguar's Dream, 2025)
Awards and nominations
| Organisation | Year | Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBC Radio 1 | 2026 | Kwn | Sound of 2026 | Nominated[16] |
References
- ^ a b c d Dazed (5 July 2022). "kwn, the rising artist writing relatable tracks about toxic exes". Dazed. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "KWN Gets Real On: Kehlani Collab, The EP, New Fame + Crushing on KeKe | New York's Power 105.1 FM". Angie Martinez. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Denis, Kyle (13 March 2025). "How a Bedroom Instagram Live Session Yielded KWN's Breakthrough Hit 'Worst Behaviour'". Billboard. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ a b NME (12 February 2025). "THE NME 100: ESSENTIAL EMERGING ARTISTS FOR 2025". NME. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Dazed (13 June 2025). "Rising R&B star Kwn on her new EP and that viral kiss with Kehlani". Dazed. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ a b c King, Tyrese (19 September 2024). "Get To Know: KWN". newwavemagazine. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Who is Kwn? Age, ethnicity & girlfriend and more". Capital XTRA. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Kwn - COEVAL Magazine". COEVAL. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d EDITOR (14 March 2025). "Everything you need to know about rising star Kwn". diva-magazine.com. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ "KWN Reflects on Losing Her Deal, Kissing Kehlani & More - The Angie Martinez Show". iHeart. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
- ^ Williams, Kyann-Sian. "R&B's sultry new star Kwn just wants to feel good". WTYE / WTAY. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ EDITOR (30 October 2025). "Kwn responds to backlash after hard-launching relationship with Kehlani". Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ "Kwn addresses backlash after confirming Kehlani relationship". Capital XTRA. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ "kwn Steps Into Her Lover Girl Era With New Single "Hopeless Romantic"". trenchtrenchtrench.com. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ Murray, Robin (20 February 2026). "kwn Returns With New Single 'hopeless romantic' | News". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ "BBC Radio 1 unveils its Sound of 2026 longlist". BBC. 2 December 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2026.