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.

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.

Hazey Haze

Limerick City native Hazey Haze is a rapper and MC. He’s released tons of singles and features throughout his career, which started in 2015. He dropped his full-length album, Is Mise, in 2020. The hefty 19 tracks on the album show just how versatile of a musician he is.

His voice is easily recognizable thanks to his deep timbre. That may not sound inviting, but it adds to his music’s appeal. He spits absolute fire when he raps. His beats are sick, and his lyrics shed light on general life in Limerick and social inequalities.

Rebel Phoenix

Rebel Phoenix is a Dublin trap rapper who splits his time between Ireland and the United States. He released his first project (R.E.B.E.L.) in 2014 and hasn’t stopped making moves since. He intentionally chose his stage name as a way to represent his ideals.

Rebel Phoenix wants to inspire and motivate people to take charge of their lives. His idea of a rebel is someone who makes their own rules in life. The phoenix represents rebirth and trial by fire. He lives up to the name. He spits fiery, proficient lines over mad trap beats.

Paul Alwright/ Lethal Dialect

Lethal Dialect is the moniker of Paul Alwright. His first album was released under Alwright and the other three were under Lethal Dialect. He’s a proficient Dublin rapper, actor, and spoken word artist. He’s been creating music since 2006 and still going strong.

Alwright raps over smooth, catchy beats. His lyrics are consistently fluid and intelligent. He prides himself on his intelligence in a world that celebrates ignorance. His Irish accent pleasantly comes through in his music, too.

Offica

Tomas Adedayo Adeyinka raps under the name Offica. Adeyinka was born in Nigeria but moved to Drogheda, Ireland when he was six. He released his first single, No Hook, when he was just 18 years old.

Adeyinka has released several singles and features in just a few short years. He prefers to perform in an orange anime mask (Tobi Obito from Naruto). Different animes inspire much of his music and lyrics, too. Naruto Drillings, Sharingan, and Blue Bird are all examples of this.

KhakiKid

KhakiKid is a Dublin alternative rapper. He certainly does have an alternative style. His music is vastly different from the other rappers on this list. That doesn’t mean it’s any less enjoyable. His music is a little slower and very chill.

His clever lyrics are cynical and mocking (and sometimes just straight-up strange). The music videos that accompany his songs are uniquely bizarre, but it works for him. Overall, it’s a lot of fun to watch him perform.

Selló

Selló is a drill rapper from Clondalkin. He is revolutionizing the rap scene with his unique brand of Gaelic Drill. He raps in both English and Gaelic on his single, Dublin, and it’s super cool. His music is pushing boundaries on what’s possible in hip-hop today.

He impressively signed a record deal with two record companies in 2022. Selló still finds time to continue working in social care and with the homeless despite this. He’s an all-around good guy.

Curtisy

Dublin rapper Curtisy uses a style that’s known as dreary rap. It’s an underground sound with enough of a recent following to become its subgenre. Curtisy raps slowly yet with intention. His music resembles a smoker’s deeply philosophical, yet almost incoherent, thoughts.

It’s interesting to see rap music that’s almost the opposite of “rap.” Usually, rap is fast-paced and filled with strong emotions. Curtisy’s songs have no sense of urgency at all and are extremely casual. 

Ra Gerra

Ra Gerra is a group made up of rapper and MC, MuRli (Mawuli Boevi), and electronica music producer, Kobina (Sean Arthur). MuRli raps evocatively about his life and personal experiences. Kobina provides a killer soundtrack that combines electronica and African music.

They make a pretty good team. Their songs show they both know how to play to the other’s strengths. Pressure is the perfect example of this. If you enjoy their music, you should check out these Baltimore rappers.

Ahmed, With Love

Dublin rapper Ahmed, With Love, has a more conversational style of delivering lines. His chill and relaxing beats pair well with his calm, melodious voice. He raps about many relatable subjects like break ups, family, and new crushes.

Ahmed, With Love, can just as easily rap about relevant social issues like in the song pebbles. No matter the speed of the song, he delivers fluid and poetic verses. He has also clearly mastered internal rhyme schemes.

TraviS

TraviS is a Nigerian-Irish rapper who moved to Dublin when he was six. He grew up listening to 50 Cent, Skepta, and Section Boys. He started rapping when he was just 12 years old. TraviS recently collaborated with Elzzz Drop on a project.

The two rappers complement each other’s styles well. Their flows and cadence are almost opposites, but their senses of humor and energy are equally matched. They make a great team and may continue working together in the future.

FYNCH

Fynch is a 25-year-old Dublin rapper. He’s also the co-founder of the record label Burner Records. He has released several singles, features, and an EP called Bookies Pens & Loose Ends in his career.

He raps about anything from soccer to self-doubt. His songs are just as catchy as they are highly relatable. It seems like FYNCH is a master of intricate internal rhyme schemes. It’s especially pleasant to listen to his music because of this.

Top Irish Rappers, Final Thoughts

Now that you’ve read about the best Irish rappers, do you have a different opinion on Irish rap music? These rappers have enough skill, energy, and creativity to go around. Each has different strengths that impact their music, but they all have something undeniable Irish as well.