Kneecap (band)

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Kneecap
BornBelfast, Northern Ireland
GenresHip hop, Political hip hop
Years active2017–present
LabelsIndependent
Websitekneecap.ie

Kneecap are a Belfast, Northern Ireland-based hip hop trio with the stage-names Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí.[1] They sing in Irish and often reference their support for republicanism. They first began releasing music in 2017 with their single "C.E.A.R.T.A." (Irish for "RIGHTS" as in human rights). They released their first album 3CAG in 2018,[2] and continued to release various singles such as "Get Your Brits Out".

History[]

The group began when Móglaí Bap was out spray-painting with a friend the day before the Irish Language Act march in Belfast. He had written "Cearta" on a bus stop when the police arrived and arrested his friend while Móglaí escaped. The friend refused to speak English, and ended up spending a night in the cells awaiting a translator. This was the inspiration for their song "C.E.A.R.T.A.", which they intended to release "just for the craic. No plans for after," Mo Chara said they wanted to "stick the feelers out and see how it would go down. Luckily people enjoyed it, so we're still at it."[3]

In late 2017[4] their song "C.E.A.R.T.A." was banned from the Irish language radio 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".[5]

In February 2019 they received condemnation from South Belfast Democratic Unionist Party 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 Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Kate Middleton visited the venue.[6]

In 2020 they publicly supported a free Palestine by flying Palestinian flags at concerts and pledging to boycott Israel.[7][8]

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 2020-09-07.
  2. ^ "3CAG YouTube". YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ Mullally, Una. "Kneecap: 'Low-life scum' of west Belfast rap whose day has come". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  4. ^ O'Toole, Lucy. "KNEECAP spark controversy in Belfast with 'Brits Out' chant". Hotpress. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  5. ^ "Belfast Irish language rappers Kneecap banned by radio station". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  6. ^ O'Dornan, David. "Watch: Belfast rappers chant 'Brits out' at Empire following Royal visit". Belfast Telegraph - Sunday Life. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  7. ^ "Belfast hip hop trio Kneecap and the new Irish rebel music". IrishCentral.com. 2020-03-24. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  8. ^ Brayden, Kate. "Over 1000 Irish artists pledge to boycott Israel in support of Palestine". Hotpress. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
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