Exploring Belfast’s Music Scene: Adetunji and Kneecap
By Aisling Suri
Rap music can be used as a tool to explore social, economic and political situations in which marginalised people often find themselves within. Enabling expressionism through sound. This is no different for the Belfast artist Jordan Adetunji, who received a Grammy nomination for best melodic rap performance, with his song Kehlani. Adetunji was announced for the award on November 8th alongside artists such as Beyonce and The Weekend. His breakthrough single Kehlani gained blew up on TikTok earlier this year having been produced from Adetunji’s bedroom.
“Did this from my bedroom in Belfast with a 100 pound interface and my mum always supporting me even when I would record late as ever.” (1)
Adetunji describes his sound as a mix of genres with roots in Nigeria, afrobeats, UK grime and elements of rap. Having moved to Belfast at age 10, he says that
‘Belfast culture has influenced me a lot’, (2)
From the club scene to the Irish rap group, Kneecap. The rap scene in Belfast is aiding breaking down barriers, and uniting communities by capturing real life experiences through music. This culture resurgence is breaking international barriers, with the hip hop group Kneecap starring in their own biopic this summer. Set in West Belfast in 2019, the film follows the rise of the band, highlighting the struggle to use their mother tongue in their lyrics.
Kneecap are a Gaeilge hip hop group who merge the Irish and English language through their provocative lyrics. Transcending music with their new film ‘Kneecap’, the band members play an exaggerated version of themselves. Set against the backdrop of Belfast, the film follows the trio’s tumultuous journey from local obscurity to national prominence, painting a vivid picture of the struggles and triumphs tied to identity, language and resistance. The narrative not only highlights the current reality- with only 0.3% of northern Irelands population being native Irish speakers (3)- but also brings to life the generational challenges known to ‘troubles babies’, a demographic shaped by political and cultural strife. The comedic biopic shares themes with trainspotting, exploring how the post-conflict environment has affected the drug culture in northern Ireland. The boundary pushing content and thought provoking themes have the ability to reflect the complex socio-political landscape of Northern Ireland. ‘ceasefire babies’ grew up in an environment that had been shaped by a conflict that was supposed to be over, but many of the outward signs remain. The last 30 years has seen a steady growth in Gaelscoil’s throughout Ireland, with 6000 Irish speakers in the north today. All three members of kneecap attended a Gaelscoil and their use of the Irish language has brought it into completely new spheres such as Glastonbury festival.
“Our music is provocative, but it’s a mirror to society”(4)
Kneecaps music reflects their lived experience in a post conflict landscape, with the 2024 album ‘fine art’, mirroring the setting of young people in the pub, seamlessly merging the Irish and English language with satire and socially conscious lyrics. Theirs is a voice coming from the too often ignored deprived areas of Northern Ireland, speaking in a language which is too often overlooked. Kneecap are the first of their kind, reaching global audiences in the US and UK. Their art within the music industry pushes boundaries and defies expectations, remaining a vital voice in contemporary music and culture. Their debut mixtape 3CAG delved into themes of identity and resilience, with songs like Amach Anocht highlighting the intersection of youth culture and historical trauma, making kneecaps work both a reflection and critique of their society.
Kneecap are a cultural phenomenon reshaping the language of Irish hip hop.
“Every word of irish spoken… is a bullet fired for Irish freedom”(4)
Sources:
[1] Hargan, Garrett. “Belfast Musician Nominated for Grammy Award after His Song Took over Tiktok.” BelfastTelegraph.co.uk, November 8, 2024. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/belfast-musician-nominated-for-grammy-award-after-his-song-took-over-tiktok/a1624198531.html.
[2] Corscadden, Jane. “Belfast Musician Nominated for Grammy Award.” Belfast Live, November 9, 2024. https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/belfast-musician-jordan-adetunji-nominated-30334998.
[3] NISRA. “Main Statistics for Northern Ireland Statistical Bulletin.” Census 2021, September 22, 2022, 1–12. https://www.nisra.gov.uk/system/files/statistics/census-2021-main-statistics-for-northern-ireland-phase-1-statistical-bulletin-language.pdf.
[4] Kneecap. “Kneecap,” n.d. https://www.kneecap.ie/.
