23 Best Irish Rappers
When you think of rap music, you probably do not immediately think of Ireland. You will change your tune after reading this list, though.
Rap music is a vehicle for self-expression and discussing controversial themes. It makes sense then that rap music would take off in Ireland, especially in bigger cities like Dublin. Here are the best Irish rappers to add to your playlist.
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Rejjie Snow
Rejjie Snow is the current stage name of Alexander Anyaegbunam. (He also used Lecs Luthor and The Snowman for a time.) Snow was born in Dublin in 1993. His father is Nigerian, and his mother is Irish-Jamaican. His heritage comes through in his music.
He released Rejovich, his debut EP, in 2013. It was immediately successful, even when competing against music from J. Cole and Kanye West. He has since released some singles, more EPs, and two studio albums. Snow helped pave the way for other Irish rappers.
Denise Chaila
Denis Chaila is an Irish-Zambian rapper who operates out of Limerick. She was born in Zambia but moved to Ireland when she was three. So, she is Irish through and through. She has been active in the Limerick music scene since 2012 but did not release an EP until 2019.
Chaila’s music is full of energetic rhythm, smooth beats, style, and empowering messages. She often talks about being unapologetically authentic as a woman of color. Her song Duel Citizenship poetically speaks to this and her pride in her family’s heritage.
Kojaque
Kojaque is the professional name of Dublin rapper Kevin Smith. Kojaque is also a producer, filmmaker, and visual artist. He is for sure a rapper, but his musical style pushes the boundaries of what mainstream rap music sounds like.
It goes back and forth between modern rap, hip hop, jazz rap, or a mixture of all three. His song Love and Braggadocio is a prime example of jazz rap if you are curious about what that sounds like. He is a clever lyricist whose smooth words back up even smoother beats.
Hare Squead
Tony Konstone and Lilo Blues are members of the Dublin rap group Hare Squead. They have been active since 2013. They released 14 singles and two EPs during that time but no studio album yet. Everything they have released has been a hit, though.
Hare Squead has an impressively flexible style that allows trap songs, R&B, jazz, and everything in between. Their song Minor Gangsters (Gully) has an effortlessly smooth (almost mellow) sound, while Long Way To Go is energetic and upbeat. They have the range, darling.
Jafaris
Percy Chamburuka, better known as Jafaris, is an Irish-Zimbabwean rapper, actor, singer, and songwriter. He was born in Zimbabwe but moved to Dublin when he was six. The 27-year-old has been an active musician since 2016 but developed his interest in music at age 15.
He has had a busy career since he released several singles and two studio albums, one of which received a nomination for the Choice Music Prize. He is quite talented and versatile. His music is energetic, catchy, and fun no matter if it is rap or hip-hop.
Rob Kelly
Rob Kelly is a rapper, producer, and MC from Wexford. Hip-hop music of the late 80s and early 90s first drew Kelly to the genre. You can easily tell if you listen to Jack the Ripper, Crazy, or any of his other songs.
Kelly has the talent and experience to excel in other genres, but he prefers to stay true to the old-school rap style. That means his songs use a moderate tempo, simple rhythm, and unembellished rhyme schemes. That’s what sets him apart from other Irish rappers.
God Knows
God Knows is the stage name of Zimbabwean-Irish rapper Munyaradzi Jonas. He was born in Zimbabwe and moved to Shannon when he was nine. He identifies as 100% Irish and 100% Zimbabwean. His complex identity and lived experiences are often topics of his music.
His earlier music focused on social commentary, but his newest single, Twelve 61, is different. He embraced his African heritage by integrating zimdancehall (an offshoot of dance hall music) into its sound. His family connects through music, so he wanted to do this for them.
NUXSENSE
NUXSENSE is a currently 5-piece rap group that’s based in Dublin. The group originally started with seven members: rappers Rem$ (formerly Yung Pe$o), Jehnova, Luthorist, AL-I, Prophet Goon, Bogzy, and beatmaker Sivv. Some started a solo career, but there’s no bad blood.
All seven members bonded at school as immigrant kids. They united over their common interests, which included music, girls, and being outsiders. They’ve grown a lot together as people and musicians. Their style is mostly mellow, soulful rap music.
JyellowL
JyellowL is the stage name of Nigerian-Irish rapper Jean-Luc Adenrele Ibrahim Koko Uddoh. He was born in Nigeria but moved to Dublin when he was 14. His career started in 2016 when he was just 17 years old. He’s since successfully released an EP and a studio album.
JyellowL’s music has been featured on a video game and a TV show. All his songs show off his skillful, fiery flow, and his lyrics show he's apt to perceptively rap about social issues. He has an abundance of talent that’s waiting to be tapped into.
NEOMADiC
Dyramid and Yake Loga make up the rap group NEOMADiC. Dyramid is Irish-South Sudanese, and Yake Loga is Irish-Zimbabwean. Like many of the other young Irish rappers, they come from a multicultural family that gives them a unique perspective on daily life.
Their song Languid Flowz is an excellent example of their style. You’ll find that they deliver smooth lyrics to the sound of chill, mellow beats. They also frequently use wordplay like double entendres to add layers of complexity to their music.
Malaki
Hugh Mulligan, better known as Malaki, is a very young Dublin rapper. He had no interest in pursuing music until he first heard the group A Tribe Called Quest. He first started in the Dublin underground rap scene but quickly rose through the ranks.
Malaki uses his music to shine a spotlight on mental health issues in young men, especially toxic masculinity. Malaki struggled with his mental health but found music to be a therapeutic release. His EP, Butterfly Boy, insightfully tackles these issues and more.
Mythill Grim
Mythill Grim has been active on the scene since around 2015. He played at a lot of nightclubs and bars before getting the chance to perform on stage. He opened for many rappers including $uicideboy$, The Pharcyde, Freddie Gibbs, IAMDDB, and Essais pas.
His beats and his lyrics are both smooth, yet dark, and getting darker with each new release. It seems he can’t rap without his feelings bubbling to the service. He talks openly about heartbreak, family, and his multicultural upbringing.
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