RAPPER Konan (real name Karl Wilson), son of the late Jamaican rocksteady singer Delroy Wilson, earned a gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on Friday for I Spy. Its sales exceeded 400,000 units.

I Spy, credited to Krept and Konan and featuring Headie One and K-Trap, was released in July 2019. The song peaked at 18 on the Official Singles chart in the United Kingdom.

Krept and Konan have to date earned 10 Brit-certified singles which include one platinum single, seven silver and two gold. Three of their albums, Revenge is Sweet, The Long Way Home, and 7 Days, have been certified silver for sales exceeding 60,000 units each.

Konan, who was born in Thornton Heath, was five years old when his father died in 1995 from cirrhosis of the liver, age 46, at the University Hospital of the West Indies. His mother, Donna Michael, is also from Jamaica.

“I was about five years old when he died but one of the best feelings was when I was about 14, while in Kingston, Jamaica, and people kept coming up to me and saying: ‘You look like Delroy Wilson. Are you his son?’, ” Konan told the Jamaica Observer in a previous interview.

He continued: “I always knew my dad was famous because of family members and hearing his songs on radio. Going to family functions and christenings, he was always getting played.”

Born in Kingston, Delroy Wilson was a ska, rocksteady and reggae singer. He began his recording career at 13, while still a pupil at Boys’ Town Primary School. His first single, Emy Lou, was recorded for Clement “Coxson” Dodd in 1962.

His many hits including Dancing Mood, Jerk in Time (with the Wailers), Feel Good All Over, I’m Not a King, True Believer in Love, Rain From the Skies, Conquer Me, and Riding for a Fall.

In 2013, he was posthumously awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican Government.

Konan recalled visiting to Jamaica during the summer holidays.

“I visited Jamaica when I was eight with my mum, and when I was 14 she sent me there for the summer holidays to live with my brother because I kept getting in trouble.”

Krept & Konan formed as a duo in 2005. Krept (real name Cayso Johnson) is from Gipsy Hill. They began impacting the UK underground scene and in 2013 they signed with Virgin EMI Records.

Their biggest hit to date is the 2015 top 10 single Freak of the Week featuring Jeremih, which peaked at nine. The song featured a sample from producer Jeremy Harding’s Playground rhythm. A remix of the song features Popcaan and Beenie Man.

Krept & Konan have charted on the British charts with For Me, Dreams (featuring Ed Sheeran), Ask Fipz, and The Long Way Home (featuring ska legend Derrick Morgan).

Among their accolades are two MOBO Awards and one BET Award.