Strange Boy teams up with Rebel Phoenix for 'Foul', a hip hop and trad collision that confronts childhood and circumstance

The Limerick rapper’s second single from forthcoming album Say Nothin pairs uncompromising storytelling with bodhrán, flute, banjo and guitar.

Strange Boy has returned with ‘Foul’, which features Dublin rapper Rebel Phoenix and the second single from his forthcoming album Say Nothin’.

The track is a return to authentic Strange Boy trad rap sound that got such positive notices on 2021’s Holy/Unholy and the album’s lead single ‘The Pope’.

While Strange Boy returned to his given name Jordan Kelly for the Diaspora Green rap mixtape, which was easily one of the Irish rap releases of 2025.

“Rap, to me, is storytelling in a modern tongue. The same fire, different form,” Strange Boy says says.

‘Immortal’ was the first track featuring close collaborator Enda Gallery released in March (hear it below), and ‘Foul’ is unique in how the live trad instrumentation of bodhrán, flute, banjo and guitar is so lively and present – an energetic bed for Strange Boy’s fast-paced lyrics to speak on how experience a volatile childhood can affect a person’s growth and lead to a loss of innocence, before there is time or mind to process what was happening.

“You have no power to stop what’s happening, so you just become a product of your own time and circumstance,” says Strange Boy.

Musically, the track brings together producer Enda Gallery’s production with performances from:

• Dermot Sheedy (bodhrán)
• Conor Crimmins (flute)
• Sean O’Meara (guitar)
• Ted Kelly (banjo)

Strange Boy’s album Say Nothin’ will be out Wednesday September 9th 2026.

Follow Strange Boy and Rebel Phoenix on Instagram, and check out Welcome to the New World on YouTube.

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Foul

Lyrics by Jordan Kelly & Rebel Phoenix

Verse 1

cracked windows,
bloody hands,
a firm grip,
try to grasp reality,
it’s a parody
for sticks and stones,
your bones break fast,
there was nothing to me in passed numb,
trying to stay hard,
couldn’t deal with the pressure,
it was getting to me,
sweating
my bones weak from the stress,
it was heavy on me,
stepping the slow walk to the gallows,
I was always ready,
prepping my soul,
posture was cold,
had a lot to carry,
tell me all about it,
you wanna know the facts, kid?
I was living in shambles
since a kid with the fast legs,
running quick from the damage done,
the shit was a mad trip,
inexpensive ambition,
I just wanted to cash in,
pursuing the usual trap by these thoughts,
stand by and watch me act up for the cost,
losses I took on the chin
and stood tall and made amends,
then made my skin off hitting these shots,
typical routine,
daily visits,
the same scenes,
pilgrimage to paradise if you know,
it’s a pipe dream,
good kid, bad intentions,
only one way to find out,
couldn’t express,
we were running amok,
the tensions high,
the income low,
the crackpots coming to visit home,
inspecting,
I was affected,
manufactured aggression,
stole a smile from the face of joy,
respected,
only the violence,
turn talk to silence,
big mouth,
turn mouse when shit goes south,
it’s always the way with it,
caution never comes with a conscience,
we don’t play innocent to be absolved,
it’s constant, routine, tragedy,
it’s the opera,
petty disputes, turn heavy,
don’t get involved,
it’s bittersweet,
the pityful get impeached
the guilty get fat filthy
in there suits discreet,
it’s nothing new to me,
it’s headlines for you,
next day front page,
the front lines get skewed,
it don’t last,
playing the victim,
not in my blood,
what’s that,
through these years I still stayed intact,
circumstances almost took me out,
life’s too foul
but we too proud to crack.

Verse 2

Long way to salvation,
salvating,
thinking bout what’s coming to me
cus I’m past waiting,
lack patience
good soul in damnation,
pay the toll,
smell the blood
it’s a bad fragrance,
have faith,
pray that god has mercy on my soul
it’s mad dangerous,
figure out a plot to escape
I’m rat racing,
not much we can control
in fact facing,
kick back and wish that,
shits starts changing
for better or worse,
ideally the former
but I know how the shit goes,
you can never avoid it
you just get caught out cold,
unimpeded
I’m warning you
I don’t fall for you folk
I’m far from a phone
don’t call me,
sick of the talking,
heard enough of you scruffs
keep it walking,
I take losses when I do
I stand tall
I was fool not a fraud
learn the difference tween um all,
it’s not like how it’s was
back when I was a knee high kid
with a lunch bag teatime
couldn’t even step off the curb,
couldn’t even walk to the bus stop
see why I was upset
till i jumped on beats
find peace in a tough time
big shot boy in the meanwhile
wanna convey these words nothing sweet
why I don’t wanna speak on things
that’s not my concern

Rebel Phoenix

Oscail mo súil céad uair i 9 2

Blessed to have something pure to bind to

Sure to provide us with a cure to guide through

‘Cause round here it isn’t hard for trouble to find you 

Been inspired times two ‘cause I lived through a lot

Knew my true value with interest or not 

One to drop gems from the crib ‘til I rot

I was gifted with this so I’ll give what I got

Leaving little for myself barely fits the bill

Still walking tall leaving big shoes to fill

Moving with the landscapes over cliffs and hills

Harvesting what I feel going through the mill

A lot of good got spoiled by seeing my love toil

Makes the heart race and the blood boil

‘Cause there ain’t much we take with us under the soil

So I stand on my roots and stay loyal

But I was down gully back streets with them hood rats sinning

5 Deep in a whip 3 hub caps spinning

Tryin not to drown in a bloodbath swimming

While the surfaces mound and the flood starts brimming 

From where they celebrate all the thugs and villains

Gat popping knife pulling for the crumbs and trimmings

Many said good riddance to their punts and shillings

Saw the craziest things when the sun start dimming

Lord willing I was there when it rose again

Really locked in when I chose the pen

Saw the strength of the message couldn’t fold or bend

My souls new modus spoke up and broke the trend

That’s the code

No need for a dagger and a cloak

I appear and false idols vanish into smoke

Self absorbed glamour is the target in the scope

Cause too many of these clowns made a habit of a joke

But who’s laughing now we got pure gold

Ice in our veins from fiery hearts that burn cold

Holding it down staying composed with a firm hold

Through all the tales of triumph and hurt the world told

So as I march forth I hold a torch up high

To illuminate a fortune forced to defy

Orders and lies that were born to die

Strange rebels fortify like storms in the sky