Irish rap trio Kneecap have thrust themselves back in the spotlight once again, this time with the release of their latest single ‘No Comment’ featuring drum and bass legend Sub Focus. Filled with relentless energy and political jabs, this latest addition to Kneecap’s catalogue is one of their most poignant.
The release of the track follows rapper Mo Chara’s (real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh) recent acquittal in the English crown court, acting as a rebuttal against the injustice the Irishmen faced in how their charges were handled and acted on by the authorities.
‘No Comment’ kicks off with a moody backing track, underlining the words of Mo Chara, which are bitingly mixed into the introduction of the single. The opening lines of this release are a perfect representation of the band as a whole: absolutely fearless when it comes to speaking their mind, whether that’s in “Ag roinnt an fhírinne / Sa bhruach thíar agus Gaza” (“sharing the truth in the West Bank and Gaza”) or calling out British politicians by name (“Musgrave, no comment / I’m misbehaving in badness”).
Recently, the group has leaned far more into electronic territory, putting out back-to-back ecstasy-filled belters fit to soundtrack a warehouse rave. ‘No Comment’ is no different, building up to a fast-paced and explosive chorus as rap duo Mo Chara and Moglai Bap yell into their microphones as Gaeilge.
Frantic in nature, the track is almost erratic. Shifting between mardy notes in the verses to relentless, harsh EDM in the choruses, the group’s latest release is further proof that the Irishmen aren’t done evolving their sound.
Sub Focus’ influence is not lost for a second on this single either, cutting through Mo Chara and Moglai Bap’s lyrics to distort the essence of the track completely. Packed with wobble and bass growl, the track retains a sense of classic, Prodigy-esque dance music while managing effortlessly to remain fresh and exciting.
The lyrics themselves are just as, if not more, impossible to ignore. The trio is not strangers to exercising their free speech in their shows and music, and ‘No Comment’ is arguably their most political track yet. Admitting in an interview with the Irish Times, the single is “all about getting harassed by the British state”, going on to jibe about how the “Irish are well used to it”, a perfect demonstration of the recklessness that has earned the trio such a divided reputation (and devoted fanbase).
Whether listeners agree with the politics of the message or not, there is no doubt that ‘No Comment’ is one of the most exciting releases this year, particularly for fans of electronic music. Not only are Kneecap bringing the Irish language to the forefront of the world stage, but their fearless politics have once again made their way into the news: exactly their goal. As if the single’s cover art (Banksy’s Royal Court piece criticizing the inequalities of the British justice system) was not clear enough, the West Belfast rappers have demonstrated once again that they will not be silenced.
Words by George Connell
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.