Amidst heavy amounts of controversy, Irish rap trio Kneecap has released an intense and politically charged single, “The Recap,” featuring instrumentals by Drum and Bass artist Mozey. Initially released via a Whatsapp group, the track can now be found on the group’s Soundcloud.
The group faced heavy controversy after investigations began into alleged footage of band member chanting support for Hamas and Hezbollah in November 2024. Bandmate Mo Chara has since been charged for allegedly holding out a flag in support of Hezbollah. Chara and the rest of the group have argued the efforts are a smear campaign against the group, taking these moments out of context. The trio was also under fire for their performance at Coachella, which included overt statements in support of Palestine and inciting a chant mocking former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. These events have caused the band to receive criticism including from fellow artists, calling them out as inciting violence and supporting terrorist groups. Other artists have shown support for the trio, claiming the actions of officials as “political censorship” and as a distraction from the Palestine conflict.
In “The Recap,” the trio holds nothing back responding to their current situation with an intense and unfiltered track. Starting with a news report on the terrorism charges, the lyrics mince no words criticizing Kemi Badenoch, leader of the British Conservative Party. The trio compares her to the aforementioned Margaret Thatcher, saying her career will “rot.” Lyrics are in both English and Irish Gaelic. The track ends with another spoken section similar to the intro, including a sarcastic remark on Badenoch’s performances in the election. The track ends with the statement “Free Palestine,” reaffirming the band’s stance on the ongoing conflict.
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