Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap have undoubtedly been one of the most discussed acts of the last few years, never struggling to end up across the headlines.
From their monumental impact in sparking an Irish language revival to constant clashes with the UK government, Kneecap have cemented themselves as a staple political act, with a catalogue of back-to-back hits, a critically acclaimed movie, and huge collaborations under their belt to prove it.
Their most recent release, ‘The Recap’ explores a slightly different sound, incorporating rising star DJ Mozey into the mix to produce a single that not only carries Kneecap’s punchy combination of the Irish and English languages, but also thumping basslines and rapid breakbeats. The overall effect is one that evokes the feeling of being in a sweaty East London club, as thudding beats send waves through the listeners stomach.
Hardcore fans who are part of the boy’s Whatsapp channel were allowed early access to the track via Soundcloud on 23 May, as Kneecap prepared for the all-platforms release on 23 June.
Its release was marked by a high-intensity performance during Kneecap’s 2025 Glastonbury set, much to the crowd’s delight, proving itself as a guaranteed belter to get the crowd jumping up and down, and followed up the recent release of an accompanying music video.
The sound of the track is truly something special, landing with a crash in New Music Friday playlists to shake things up from the masses of senseless pop which saturates them.
As well as the crowd, it seems ‘The Recap’ is potent enough to get the band jumping too, seeing a balaclava-clad DJ Provai perform a stage dive into the sea of ‘Hoods’ with full force in order to get some crowd-surfing action.
However, the actual sound of the track is only half of what has had people talking about it, with the real story being its digging lyrics at the UK government, an institution with which Kneecap have their fair share of history.
From their 2024 victory against Tory leader Kemi Badenoch (who unlawfully withdrew the trio’s arts grant) to their 2025 return to Westminster to defend their rights to speak for Palestinian activism, Kneecap have won a good few victories over Badenoch, sparking a cheeky inclination to play on their ongoing grievances.
‘The Recap’ doesn’t restrain itself in this sense either, calling the Conservative Party leader a “wally” and managing to cram in all the highlights of their two-year long war, referencing how she “tried to take (their) money but (they) came and collected it back”, as well as telling her that her “career is gonna rot.”
It is not only in English that rappers Moglai Bap and Mo Chara rib her, informing her that “Is cuma cén cinneadh, You just cumadh cé chomh / Tá tú chomh lán de chach, Cosúil le do cheannaireacht”, which translates to “No matter what decision you make, you’re just making it up as you go / you’re completely full of sh*t, just like your leadership”. It’s fair to say that Kneecap do not hide their opinions.
‘The Recap’ is a certified crowd-pleaser, working its way up to number 30 in Ireland’s singles chart, carving out a sharp path through the UK music scene despite attempts to silence it. From electric festival performances, playful lyrics, and thudding bass, ‘The Recap’ is one of Kneecap’s strongest contributions to their catalogue yet, setting high expectations for what fans can expect next.
Words by George Connell
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