Kneecap’s Smugglers and Scholars: Hope and Revolution

The Belfast rap trio Kneecap are not strangers to controversy. They were recently up on terrorist charges due to flying a Hezbollah flag at a 2024 concert in support of Palestine. This was ultimately dismissed by a UK court; however, the band is known for political activism and agitating those in power. Often rapping in Gaelic in support of the Irish language movement in Northern Island and rapping in support of Irish Republicanism, Kneecap is at the centre of politics in the UK. Their latest record Fenian is named after a historic slur used against the Irish and is set to be their most political record yet. The band has talked about reclaiming the word with this record and offering hope those who share their beliefs. Let’s take a look at their lead single Smugglers and Scholars.

The two genres most utilised by marginalised groups to inspire revolution are punk and hip hop/rap. Kneecap blends these two genres with some sharp guitar and synth inspired backing tracks over high octane rapping. Their use of harsh synth, as opposed to the classic bass inspired 4/4 beats of US hip hop, has a punk transgression and rage to it. Smugglers and Scholars has a tense danger to it, while also being a good beat. There is a sense that things can pop off at any moment, which is a lot like most of the tracks on this record. Kneecap’s instrumentation mirrors the urgency embodied in their revolutionary lyrics.

Speaking of lyrics, Kneecap shares a lot with Indigenous artists here in Australia. Indigenous hip hop artists here, Baker Boy and Barkaa for example, often drop verses in their mob’s language, while Kneecap will use Gaelic. Much like First Nations artists here, the fact that they are using their language, and keeping it alive, is a political statement in itself. The message is pride in their heritage and their duty to keep it alive, which is an overt rejection of assimilation. Smugglers and Scholars takes this rejection one step further and reminisces about the times fo revolution where all Irish would unite in resistance. It didn’t matter…smuggler….scholar…they all came together in revolution and Kneecap hopes that they will come together for revolution again.

Kneecap has a punk energy to it. An energy that is one of not just wanting to change the system, but to burn it down to the ground. Using music to mobilise the masses against injustice and the government is as old as Woody Guthrie, Public Enemy, Black Flag, Joan Baez, N.W.A. and Nina Simone…but it’s great to see that activist fire burning in modern music.

Listen to Smugglers and Scholars