Introducing himself in 2014 with a rapid-fire, chopper delivery style, Maryland's Brandon Perry is an incredibly prolific rapper who issued more than 20 long-playing sets -- along with a plethora of EPs -- within his first decade as an artist. Professing to speak for the curious, intelligent listener, his chosen moniker stands for Knowledge Above All Nonsense. The themes explored throughout K.A.A.N.'s rich, diverse canon include mental health, substance abuse, politics, and religion. Mid-career, the Grammy-winning producer Dem Jointz became a key collaborator, especially after K.A.A.N. relocated to Los Angeles. One of his earliest tracks, "Kaancepts," set a particularly high bar for integrity, freneticism, and the ability to shift rhythms mid-flow. By the time of 2022's The High Before You Fall, he'd long since mellowed without compromising his tightness of delivery and cerebral, occasionally sardonic lyricism.