Refreshing Kneecap continue to impress 

When did hip-hop start becoming so safe? Irish trio Kneecap have gone against the grain by invoking the spirit of a genre that was born in adversity. Hip-hop is a music format that historically never gave a damn about what others thought; but all that has changed in recent times. The most commercially successful music genre in the world is too worried about upsetting people these days, and it makes the success of Kneecap even more refreshing.

I first met Kneecap in 2018, where I played before them at a small gig in Cork in the Aclai Gym, run by Móglaí’s brother Ainle, where they typically and unselfishly gave up their time for a fundraiser, something which they still do to this day for causes close to their heart. That evening I was impressed with their energy and their lyrics, and while the beats were nothing special yet, they had something that makes all of the best hip-hop act grab your attention. They were young, raw and didn’t care.

Kneecap’s story has been famously told (in a slightly more fictionalised comic way) by their impressive movie of the same name, which is winning over both critics and audiences alike these last few months. Their sold out Cork gig was postponed because of the illness and the sad passing of Móglaí’s and Ainle’s father, Irish language evangelist and community activist Gearóid Ó Cairealláin, but they will return with not one but two shows in February at Cork City Hall.

Kneecap’s own contribution to the spread of the Irish language has been very impressive, and they have managed to accelerate their career while also keeping an incendiary edge by advocating for another cause dear to their hearts; that of Irish Republicanism. The Irish language and the fight against colonialism are not always the most fashionable pursuits for rappers, but it’s impressive the way Kneecap have always stuck to their principles despite disdain and hostility from many.

They have won many more people over and they retain their edge and continue to be outspoken about both Irish issues while also fundraising extensively for the people of Gaza. Many Irish artists of all styles have been prominent in their support for Palestine but it’s notable that many rappers worldwide are silent. Regular readers will be familiar with our own young Palestinian friend, MC Abdul, who is now in the United States trying to develop his career, but sadly, we live in a music climate where even hip-hop artists of a Palestinian heritage such as DJ Khaled remain silent. In 2024 and 2025 hip-hop plays it safe, and the likes of Kneecap are the exception rather than the rule.

The genre built by the likes of N.W.A., Krs-One, Public Enemy, Ice T and Tupac is rarely outspoken these days when it comes to politics, and much of the best political rap comes from non mainstream zones both on the margins in the US and elsewhere. Most recently, at the end of a long year of beefing in which Kendrick Lamar obliterated Drake, some of the Canadian’s fanbase have used Lamar’s activism as a stick to beat him with. Kendrick, whose music has often been co opted for various causes, such as “Alright” with Black Lives Matters, sometimes remains quiet outside his music, but he has contributed a lot to his local community. Criticising this is embarrassing and reflects badly on the very worst type of Drake stans, but it also hints at something more worrying. So called hip-hop fans being dismissive of activism while embracing the crass materialism of the commercial rap era shows that some of us are now far removed from the roots of a movement that was created on the streets by small communities of passionate DJs, breakers, MCs and graf writers.

These grassroots communities and people still exist in Cork, Belfast, Dublin, Limerick, London, Compton, New York and many other spots where passionate hip-hop fans gather, but they largely exist outside of the mainstream too. This is not necessarily a bad thing, and the public face of hip-hop is a million miles away from what is happening on the ground. Ice Cube and many other political rappers of the gangsta rap era are now more likely to be seen supporting Donald Trump rather than fighting against police brutality. Snoop and Dre are making bank while Pac and Eazy didn’t make it past 30. Maybe this is why Snoop continues to play a more diplomatic game. But dig deeper, and there are many others not so afraid of hurting their careers, and speaking up. Kneecap will continue to do so in 2025!