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Kneecap (band)

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Kneecap
OriginBelfast, Northern Ireland
GenresHip hop, political hip hop
Years active2017–present
LabelsHeavenly Recordings
Members
  • Mo Chara
  • Móglaí Bap
  • DJ Próvaí
Websitekneecap.ie

Kneecap are an Irish hip hop trio from West Belfast, Northern Ireland, with the stage-names Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí.[1][2] They rap in a mixture of English and Irish and their lyrics often contain Irish republican themes. Their first single "C.E.A.R.T.A." (Irish for "Rights") was released in 2017, followed by their debut album 3CAG, in 2018.[3] Their second album Fine Art was released in 2024 and a biographical film about the group was released later the same year.[4]

History

Their first single "C.E.A.R.T.A." was loosely based on Móglaí Bap's experience. On the day before the Irish Language Act march in Belfast, Móglaí Bap went out with a friend of his and spray-painted the word "Cearta" on a bus stop. The Police Service of Northern Ireland found that and arrested his friend, although Móglaí managed to escape. The friend only spoke Irish at the police station, and spent a night there, refusing to speak English. Following this incident, "C.E.A.R.T.A." was written.[5]

In late 2017[6] their song "C.E.A.R.T.A." was banned from the Irish-medium radio station RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta (RnaG) for "drug references and cursing". Fans started a petition which garnered 700 signatures to put the song back on air. Kneecap defended the song as "a caricature of life in west Belfast" and "a satirical take on life for young people, particularly in west Belfast".[7]

The group's first full-length album, 3CAG, was released in 2018. The title references the drug MDMA: 3CAG means trí chonsan agus guta ('three consonants and a vowel'), slang for the substance. The group's name was the traditional wounding inflicted on alleged drug-dealers by paramilitary Irish Republicans. Móglaí noted that the irony is intentional, as they are "talking about things that would get us kneecapped".[8]

In February 2019, they received condemnation from South Belfast Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MLA Christopher Stalford after videos of the trio were posted online, showing them chanting 'Brits Out' at a concert performed in the Empire Music Hall in Belfast. The concert took place the day after the then Duke of Cambridge and the then Duchess of Cambridge had visited the same venue.[9]

In 2021 Kneecap released their single "MAM" as a tribute to their mothers, the song was acknowledged as a shift away from their usual style saying that they wanted to do something more "real". Mo Chara stated in an interview that they wanted to show that "we can 'roundhouse' you off the stage but we can also give you a hug afterwards. We wanted to do something a bit sentimental, we don't wanna just box ourselves in with masculinity all the time."[10] The trio also revealed on Instagram that Móglaí Bap's mother had died of suicide before it could be released and that all proceeds from the song would be going to the Samaritans.[11]

In early 2023, the group began filming a motion picture, also titled Kneecap, depicting a fictionalised account of their rise to fame. Released in August 2024, the film was directed by Rich Peppiatt with Michael Fassbender in a supporting role.[12][13]

Film

The 2024 biopic film Kneecap, in which the band members play themselves alongside more experienced actors including Michael Fassbender, Josie Walker, and Simone Kirby, is set in the West Belfast Gaeltacht Quarter in 2019. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2024, the first film in the Irish language to do so.[14]

In August 2024, the Irish Film and Television Academy announced that they had selected Kneecap as their official submission to represent Ireland in the International Film Category at the 97th annual Academy Awards. [15]

Political views

Kneecap are heavily associated with the ideology of Irish republicanism, advocating for the reunification of Ireland and opposing British rule in Northern Ireland. Kneecap refer to themselves as "Republican Hoods" and their fans as "Fenians". Their music, performed in the Irish language, promotes the use of the language as a tool of resistance. The group critiques the PSNI, the UK government, and political figures like Arlene Foster, often highlighting issues such as class inequality and working-class struggles. Kneecap’s approach combines political commentary with social issues, and their music often addresses themes like addiction and mental health.[16][17][18] Speaking about their politics, Móglaí Bap has stated "Republicanism is so vast and on a spectrum. We like to toy with it. We like to take the irony on, and also not be dictated about what kind of republicanism we’re going to believe in"[19] while Mo Chara has stated “I think because of where we’re from, everything has to be about politics. We’re a band, for fuck’s sake. We make music. Obviously, we do things that are political. But I worry that just because we’re a band from Belfast that raps in Irish, any kind of political crisis, they’re like, ‘Oh, let’s fucking ask Kneecap what they think!".[20]

In 2020 Kneecap publicly supported an independent Palestine by flying Palestinian flags at concerts and pledging to boycott the State of Israel.[21][22] They also have close links with a volunteer gym in the Aida Refugee Camp in Palestine, having helped raise funds for it and promoted it on their Instagram, and in 2022 Irish writer Manchán Magan released a cover of Kneecaps song "C.E.A.R.T.A" to raise money for the gym.[23][24]

Personas and Public image

As part of their on-stage personas, members of Kneecaps often wear balaclavas, which are associated in Ireland with the Provisional IRA.[17][18] The Guardian has suggested that Kneecap's earlier work focused on asserting Gaelic identity and merging it with hood culture.[17] However, journalist Malachi O'Doherty has called in question Kneecap's authencity, stating Kneecap "have worked diligently at presenting themselves as worthless layabouts. There’s a dishonesty at the heart of that" and "Maybe what their success suggests is that hood culture and provie [Provisional IRA] culture are both now parodied rather than preserved with any integrity."[17]

Discography

Albums

Singles

List of singles, with selected peak chart positions
Title Release date Peak chart positions
IRE
[25]
"C.E.A.R.T.A" December 2017 —
"H.O.O.D" June 2019 78
"Gael-Gigolos" June 2019 —
"Fenian Cunts" September 2019 —
"Get Your Brits Out" October 2019 100
"Mam" December 2020 —
"Guilty Conscience" October 2021 —
"Thart agus Thart" October 2021 —
"Its Been Ages" March 2023 —
"Better Way to Live" November 2023 92

References

  1. ^ Earley, Kelly. "Who are KNEECAP? Everything you need to know about the Irish rappers in trouble with both BBC and RTÉ". The Daily Edge. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  2. ^ Mullally, Una (16 March 2022). "A Celtic Revival, in Hip-Hop and More". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  3. ^ "3CAG YouTube" – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "Kneecap movie trailer released ahead of UK premiere in London". Belfast Telegraph. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  5. ^ Mullally, Una. "Kneecap: 'Low-life scum' of west Belfast rap whose day has come". The Irish Times. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  6. ^ O'Toole, Lucy. "KNEECAP spark controversy in Belfast with 'Brits Out' chant". Hotpress. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Belfast Irish language rappers Kneecap banned by radio station". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  8. ^ O'Toole, Lucy. "12 INTERVIEWS OF XMAS: KNEECAP on Controversies, Misconceptions, Mental Health and Generational Trauma". Hotpress. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  9. ^ O'Dornan, David. "Belfast rappers chant 'Brits out' at Empire following Royal visit". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  10. ^ Allen, owen (16 September 2021). "An Interview with KNEECAP". New Sound Generation. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Kneecap release gorgeous song to pay tribute to their mams". JOE.ie. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Kneecap's Irish Language Film is Heading to Cannes". District Magazine. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  13. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (4 April 2024). "'Kneecap,' 'Dìdi' to Bookend Sundance London". Variety. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  14. ^ O'Broin, Cian (6 December 2023). "Belfast rap group Kneecap make history with new film becoming first Irish language movie at Sundance Festival". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  15. ^ "IFTA Announces Kneecap As Ireland's Entry For Oscars® 2025 - International Feature Film". www.ifta.ie. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  16. ^ Kula, Adam (27 January 2024). "Kneecap: Who are Belfast's republican Irish language rap trio and why are they labelled controversial? A breakdown of the group's background, lyrics and antics". News Letter. Retrieved 21 November 2024. Republicanism is one of the central themes of Kneecap's music (they refer to themselves as "republican hoods" and their fans as "fenians") as well as hostility to the police (whom they call the RUC, despite the RUC having disbanded in 2001, when they were children).
  17. ^ a b c d Carroll, Rory (14 August 2024). "How Northern Irish rap trio Kneecap rose to fame by subverting the Troubles". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  18. ^ a b Whitington, Paul (6 June 2024). "Kneecap review: An honest and irreverent insight into Belfast rappers' free-living republicanism". Irish Independence. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  19. ^ Mullally, Una (16 March 2024). "A Celtic Revival, in Hip-Hop and More". New York Times. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  20. ^ Blistein, Jon (20 February 2024). "Kneecap Want to Piss Off the World — And Unite It". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Belfast hip hop trio Kneecap and the new Irish rebel music". IrishCentral.com. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  22. ^ Brayden, Kate. "Over 1000 Irish artists pledge to boycott Israel in support of Palestine". Hotpress. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  23. ^ @kneecap32 (19 February 2020). "My Brother and co are building a gym at the moment at the Aida refugee camp in Palestine. That's the bais in the físeán there [...]" – via Instagram.
  24. ^ Newsdesk, The Hot Press. "Irish writer Manchán Magan covers KNEECAP's 'C.E.A.R.T.A' in aid of volunteer gym in Palestine". Hotpress. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  25. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts: Week 35, 2024". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
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