“What the fuck is up Dublin?” screams Luka Palm, as he takes to the stage of The Academy an hour later than expected. The young Dublin rapper carries himself with a boyish swagger, as he marches up and down the stage, with cartoonish intro music blaring in the background. There is certainly a buzz in the air as the show begins, but with that comes an air of uncertainty. Palm has been doing the round on the Irish and UK circuit with his SoftBoy label-mates over the last year, but has not released much music. The audience are unfamiliar with…
-
-
KnockanStockan has long established itself as one of of Ireland’s biggest small festivals and with a line up of amazing homegrown Irish talent from all genres and movements, it appears to have exceeded expectations. While the line-up is stellar and the festival is endlessly appealing in terms of appearance and size, Knockanstockan 2018 struggles with one major stumbling block: disorganisation. With many stages running towards hours late, a lack of security around ensuring safety in campsites and production room, problems with clear signage indicating who is playing where and when and issues around officially booked transport to and from the…
-
Kojaque has shared his first new music since last year’s raucous ‘Wificode’. The Dublin rapper/producer and founding member of the Soft Boy Records collective is in typically reflective, honest form on the gorgeous ‘Bubby’s Cream’, produced by fellow softboy Jar Jar Jr. The single is taken from his forthcoming Deli Daydreams EP, set for release on 23 February which documents the week in the life of a deli worker. “The project meanders through the daydreams of KOJAQUE, the main protagonist, as he contemplates love, life and loneliness in the lead up to the annual work Christmas party,” the MC, real name Kevin Smith explains. “The…
-
With support from Kojaque, Mick Flannery at The Olympia in Dublin. Photos by Lucy Foster.
-
Featuring some of the absolute best in the emerging Irish Hip-Hop scene, the latest installment of Psykick Dancehall – our regular Dublin showcase with Medium Presents – takes place at Bello Bar on Saturday, June 25. Headlined by God Creative + Crimes Against, the show will also performances from Kojaque and Young Phantom. Admission is just €6. Doors are at 8.30pm.
-
This Sunday saw the release of Dublin hip-hop producer and MC Kojaque’s Sunday Roast Mixtape, a collection of seven tracks that add to the aspiring artist’s already striking repertoire. Kojaque – real name Kevin Smith – garnered a considerable intrigue in May of last year with the tense beauty that was ‘Midnight Flower’ along with its equally stark video which showed Smith lip-syncing with the track, head submerged underwater for its entirety. ‘Midnight Flower’ was a dark, uneasy introduction that maintained a delicate poignancy despite itself. Sunday Roast continues down much the same path, giving further cause to perhaps see Kojaque…
-
Dublin indie-rock quartet Cascades – with support from Bagels and Kojaque – live at the Twisted Pepper in Dublin. Photos by Colm Moore.