New two-part documentary explores the rise of Knucks to stardom

The first part of a new documentary exploring the rise of UK rapper-producer Knucks from his childhood beginnings to stardom has been released today (December 19).

Directed by Lauren Luxenberg and Alfie Barker, KNUCKLES tells the story of the MOBO award winning rapper through the voices of his musical collaborators, family and friends, while being cut with short, dramatised sections depicting his youth spent growing up on a North West London estate.

Produced by Untold Studios, It comes as part of YouTube’s Artist On The Rise programme, with part two scheduled to be released on Wednesday (December 21).

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The KNUCKLES director Lauren Luxenberg said about the process: “Working with Knucks has been an absolute dream.

“He’s a complete visionary and incredibly considered with everything he feeds back and the ideas he communicates,” she continued.

“He’s got a real eye for film and his storytelling nature really lent itself well to the film and narrative.”

Co-director Alfie Barker said: “The fun was being able to peel back the layers of his music and focus on an experience of what it was like at Alpha House.

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“The silences within the film were so important, we didn’t want it to be one big soundtrack – we wanted to have time to just stop and live within these moments through the eyes of Knucks as a child,” he added.

The documentary comes less than a week after Knucks released a deluxe version of ‘Alpha Place’ via NO DAYS OFF, featuring new single “Don’t Look Up”.

The original version of the album, which was released earlier this year in May, won the MOBO Award for Album Of The Year, sharing the prize with Little Simz for her ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’ LP.

Check out part one of KNUCKLES below:

Isaac Muk is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow him on Twitter