Tracks from Maria Kelly, THUMPER, XO-MO, T.E.D, Fia Moon and more.
This is only a selection of new music – dig into more or follow the Spotify playlists. 1. Maria Kelly – Small Talk Maria Kelly tackles the issue of mental health in her new song ‘Small Talk’. The song is full of subdued beauty. From the earthy quality of the acoustic guitars to the warm… Read more »
Posted on March 29th, 2018
The Gavin FitzGerald-directed doc shines a light on one of the most thriving contemporary Irish movements
‘The Truth About Irish Hip Hop’ is a new documentary directed by Gavin FitzGerald. The 20-minute feature details the rise and evolution of Irish hip-hop since the turn of the decade. The documentary centres itself around multiple interviews with various players on the hip hop scene and features a litany of noticeable Irish rappers. These… Read more »
Posted on March 29th, 2018
Soft Boy producer and rapper impresses with this short release chronicling the life of a deli-worker.
Soft Boy Records’ founder and Dublin rapper/producer Kojaque’s past releases showed flashes of the quality to come. Last year’s single ‘Wificode’ was a brief tongue-in-cheek self-analysis, but it was pointed and energised. The standalone single, and the excellent video, only added to the anticipation for a long form release. The announcement for that long form release came… Read more »
Posted on March 5th, 2018
Mankyy on production for Cork rapper's new extended-player, released via The Unscene and featuring LK wunderkind Jonen Dekay
After a steady 2017 that saw a return to regular gigging, and an IndieCork music award for his set with Mankyy at the Cork premiere of documentary ‘The Truth About Irish Hip-Hop’, Cork rapper Spekulativ Fiktion has unveiled his new extended-player ‘Effigies’ this afternoon, released via Limerick hip-hop mainstay Unscene Music. The release follows this… Read more »
Posted on January 26th, 2018
'Bubby's Cream' is taken from the release out on Soft Boy Records.
Kojaque’s ‘WifiCode’ marked an artist who was growing increasingly comfortable being a publicly visible artist after a few years of hiding in the Youtube and Soundcloud shadows. It was also his most direct tune. For his latest project on affiliated label Soft Boy Records, Deli Daydreams, Kojaque takes it back to the laid-back sound of… Read more »
Posted on January 26th, 2018
The rapper sharpens his baritone flow in collaboration with beatmaker Mankyy.
There’s scarcely any more need to talk up Limerick hip-hop at this stage: the efforts of the MusicGeneration crew and Unscene Music platform in the city have resulted in a generation of innovative and empowered creators doing their thing on their own terms. Rappers like Jonen Dekay, Same D4ence and producers like Co. Clare’s Mankyy… Read more »
Posted on January 18th, 2018
Cork lo-fi producer learns to stop worrying and love the bomb
One of Cork’s lesser-known musical success stories is Robert O’Halloran, a beatmaker better known in Irish hip-hop circles as Jar Jar Jr. (or ｊａｒ ｊａｒ ｊｒ, as the kids say). Assembling jazzy, lo-fi beats of the old-school persuasion, O’Halloran’s traversion of “the Rhodes less travelled”, to coin his own phrase, has led to a dedicated cult… Read more »
Posted on January 15th, 2018
A who's who of Irish hip-hop from Scary Éire to T-Woc.
“How lucky is Cork to have that dude? Hip-hop MVP of the country for years now. Obviously he does so much sterling grunt work setting up gigs and keeping things ticking over like the underground trooper he is, but his artistry is so damn high-level. DJ-wise, on a modern hip-hop tip, there’s not many out… Read more »
Posted on November 7th, 2017
Dancehall R&B vibes and a party video.
Soulé’s ‘What Do You Know’ dropped a few short weeks ago and has racked up 600k plays on Spotify in a five weeks. Now, she slays it in a video that echoes the song’s period of celebrating being away from a toxic relationship. Soulé keeps it lit on her own. Good to see a Repeal… Read more »
Posted on October 20th, 2017
After winning the music honours at IndieCork Film Festival, Unscene Music duo reveal the first track from their upcoming E.P.
After an eight-day programme of gigs and music documentaries that included Cork alt-rockers’ Hope is Noise’s 20th anniversary shenanigans, live techno outfit Bhailíu and Leeside premieres of The Truth About Irish Hip-Hop and Notes on Rave in Dublin, IndieCork Film and Music Festival last night capped off the season by presenting their third annual Music… Read more »
Posted on October 16th, 2017
Recent collaborative releases from Limerick skratchologist also feature members of Rusangano Family, Same D4ence and Morning Veils
The don of Limerick hip-hop has been back at it as of late, and he’s brought company. Over the past few weeks, Naive Ted has continued his journey into noisier, harsher sonic climes with the release of ‘The Minute Particulars’, a fortnightly series of extended-players featuring a wide range of collaborators, including Murli, GodKnows, Morning… Read more »
Posted on October 10th, 2017
'IDGAF' comes from Belfast x London x Zimbabwe
London-raised, Belfast-based, Zimbabwean artist Leo Miyagee introduces himself on ‘IDGAF’ with a brief history of his career and motivations so far – “he’s a chav at heart,” he’s been living in Belfast for 7 maybe 8 years, he supported Chipmunk and has been looking beyond his own city lately. ‘IDGAF’ is from the Trust God,… Read more »
Posted on September 28th, 2017
A track to mark the end of the summer & their Electric Picnic set this weekend.
With a show coming up on Saturday at Electric Picnic this weekend, Rusangano Family dropped a new track out of the blue which extols the virtues of a good cup of tae. The track is a darker, grimier production than we’re used to from the Limerick / Clare group and references Skepta and DJ Mustard…. Read more »
Posted on August 31st, 2017
What do you get when you put Lil Yachty, Avalanches & Passion Pit in a beat blender?
Soft Boy Records came on my radar via a mixtape of beats featuring label founders Kojaque and Kean Kavanagh along with Wastefellow, Brame. Brién and Matt Finnegan. Their latest release introduces a new Dublin-based artist Henry Earnest, who has operated under the name Dr. Duloc and with the banf Ro Gang. ‘Good Day’ is a… Read more »
Posted on August 22nd, 2017
Hear Sean Price's 'Negus' now.
MF Doom has announced a new weekly single series on Adult Swim featuring music from upcoming releases that will run for 15 weeks and feature DOOM along with others. The Missing Notebook Rhymes series is described as a “notebook” of upcoming releases and singles by other artists featuring DOOM including Jay Electronica. Here’s the first… Read more »
Posted on August 8th, 2017
22 gigs and clubs to see in Cork this week
Pillow Queens, Maria Kelly, Sub Motion and ROE to perform at Girls Rock Dublin fundraiser
Massive Attack’s Mezzanine is to be coded in DNA
Punk-funk legends A Certain Ratio announce Dublin date
Kurt Vile announces Dublin show
Christine and the Queens for RDS Dublin show
Leon Vynehall, Horse Meat Disco, Avalon Emerson and Optimo for Dublin gigs
The best gigs & clubs in Dublin this week
Rising Cork band Happyalone unveil new trip-hop-leaning single ‘bodybags’
Action Bronson for Dublin show
