Beyond Belfast: The Summer of KNEECAP
Design by Charlotte Heintz
By MAdison decina
Three Irishmen, Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí, known together as KNEECAP, are Ireland’s most popular rappers and some of the most controversial artists in music today. Exploding onto the scene in 2024, the group has topped European charts, brought chaos to festivals around the world, and even starred as fictionalized versions of themselves in a 2024 feature film. The trio is unapologetically loud, rowdy, and redefining what it means to be both an artist and an activist.
This summer, the group became a matter of taboo across the festival circuit due to their outspoken support of Palestine. Following a highly controversial set at Coachella, where the band displayed messages condemning U.S. involvement in the genocide in Gaza, the band found itself at the center of intense scrutiny. In response, many festivals chose to limit the broadcast of or drop their set completely, citing concerns that the band was inciting violence.
The backlash became so intense that the group was banned from Hungary, Canada, and had their fall U.S. tour canceled. These attempts at censorship have only stoked the fire, inspiring a slew of pro-Palestinian messaging and petitions across the industry. What started as a controversy has grown into a massive debate on free speech in the arts, with artists such as Fontaines D.C., Massive Attack, and Dua Lipa joining KNEECAP in defense of artistic autonomy.
Growing up in the wake of the Troubles, KNEECAP witnessed the horrors of cultural oppression firsthand. Their native city, Belfast, is a major player in the Irish struggle for independence. From Ireland to Palestine, the group has dedicated its platform to dismantling colonial regimes and has become a symbol of hope for indigenous communities around the world.
Despite the criticism, the group continues to don keffiyehs and tricolor balaclavas on stage, refusing to sterilize their beliefs to make audiences comfortable. War is uncomfortable, occupation is uncomfortable, so why should dissent be any different? The trio has embraced their role as instigators, be it in the name of human rights.
As creatives, we must all recognize the significance of KNEECAP’s struggle. Agree or not, they have a right to express their beliefs freely, and this backlash emphasizes how delicate that freedom is. Thankfully, all attempts to silence KNEECAP have proven futile. With shows booked through next summer in Europe and a New York pop-up planned for later this month, their momentum shows no signs of slowing.