Kneecap

[TheDayman]

25 minutes ago, doogie said:

 

Even if that's the case, it's in extremely bad taste for those of us who lived with the perpetual threat of IRA terrorism for many years

No one’s denying the pain the IRA caused. But it's also important to recognise that Kneecap grew up in West Belfast under heavy militarisation, harassment, and systemic inequality during British rule. Their politics and style come from that lived reality. Although you might see it as bad taste, for them it's a form of resistance rooted in their experience, not just provocation for the sake of provocation.

[Colorblindjames]

42 minutes ago, doogie said:

 

Even if that's the case, it's in extremely bad taste for those of us who lived with the perpetual threat of IRA terrorism for many years

Don’t go to see them then if they might annoy you. Many also lived with the threat of the British army shooting them. 

Edited May 1, 2025 by Colorblindjames

[JimiC999]

People older than me (I’m 53) will understand this, but to go back to the question ‘will Kneecap be stopped from playing’…….. should we get the old English signs of ‘No Blacks, No Irish’ out? 

[steviewevie]

17 minutes ago, TheDayman said:

No one’s denying the pain the IRA caused. But it's also important to recognise that Kneecap grew up in West Belfast under heavy militarisation, harassment, and systemic inequality during British rule. Their politics and style come from that lived reality. Although you might see it as bad taste, for them it's a form of resistance rooted in their experience, not just provocation for the sake of provocation.

Good Friday Agreement was 1998. The two rapper blokes could hardly have been alive. Maybe the older bloke who wears a balaclava would have been, but he must have been pretty young.

It would have been their parents who would have experienced it all. and I don't know but I expect many from that generation would rather look forward than back.

 

[CaledonianGonzo]

Actually my main concern is these mfers clashing with J-Fog

[Colorblindjames]

43 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

Good Friday Agreement was 1998. The two rapper blokes could hardly have been alive. Maybe the older bloke who wears a balaclava would have been, but he must have been pretty young.

It would have been their parents who would have experienced it all. and I don't know but I expect many from that generation would rather look forward than back.

 

Yes just after the GFA was signed and agreed all our collective memories in NI were wiped. Any memories of what our families went through were no longer spoken of. Now we need English blokes called steviewevie to remind us of what happened. 

[Levitz]

1 hour ago, doogie said:

 

Even if that's the case, it's in extremely bad taste for those of us who lived with the perpetual threat of IRA terrorism for many years

And what about those who lived with the threat of British Army violence. It’s all about perspective. 

[TheDayman]

52 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

Good Friday Agreement was 1998. The two rapper blokes could hardly have been alive. Maybe the older bloke who wears a balaclava would have been, but he must have been pretty young.

It would have been their parents who would have experienced it all. and I don't know but I expect many from that generation would rather look forward than back.

 

They might not have lived through the Troubles, but they grew up in the aftermath - in a West Belfast that was still shaped by surveillance, mistrust, and inequality. The guns may have been put down, but the legacy didn’t end in 1998.

And to your point about looking forward, I think that's exactly what they're doing. But they shouldn't be expected to ignore the environment in which they grew up; one that shaped who they are and ultimately how they express themselves.

And let's not forget - their whole shtick is political satire.

Edited May 1, 2025 by TheDayman

[Levitz]

51 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

Good Friday Agreement was 1998. The two rapper blokes could hardly have been alive. Maybe the older bloke who wears a balaclava would have been, but he must have been pretty young.

It would have been their parents who would have experienced it all. and I don't know but I expect many from that generation would rather look forward than back.

 

Generational trauma and community trauma is a real thing. The GFA wasn’t a magic wand. 

[zahidf]

According to the 2 promoters podcast, 2000 trees are getting death threats for having kneecap playing. It must be the same for wide awake/glasto e.t.c

[Spindles]

48 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

Good Friday Agreement was 1998. The two rapper blokes could hardly have been alive. Maybe the older bloke who wears a balaclava would have been, but he must have been pretty young.

It would have been their parents who would have experienced it all. and I don't know but I expect many from that generation would rather look forward than back.

 

That is largely their message as well.  They are the post Good Friday generation, and they're doing their bit to tell us what being part of that is like from their side of the line.  It is too easy to look at Kneecap and see Belfast's turn on Goldie lookin chain, mouthy lads having a bit of a laugh and chatting about getting mangled, but there's strong social commentary in there as well if you take the time to look for it.

[CaledonianGonzo]

Just now, Levitz said:

Generational trauma and community trauma is a real thing. The GFA wasn’t a magic wand. 

 

There's a scene (played for comedy admittedly) on that very subject in the movie.

[lazyred]

2 hours ago, TheDayman said:

I was specifically responding to previous posters' reference to the IRA. As I've said before, that narrative ignores the political and cultural context of West Belfast. I don't believe Kneecap are glorifying violence but rather challenging the dominant narratives about resistance, colonialism, and who gets to be called a freedom fighter.

I dont see much of that in their lyrics. Not in the English bits anyway. It's all in the image. 

Not sure if someone has posted this guardian article but it sums it up nicely for me

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/01/kneecap-band-furore-hypocrisy-cancel-culture-free-speech

 

Edited May 1, 2025 by lazyred

[TheDayman]

7 minutes ago, zahidf said:

According to the 2 promoters podcast, 2000 trees are getting death threats for having kneecap playing. It must be the same for wide awake/glasto e.t.c

Thanks for sharing. I hadn't heard of that podcast, but it sounds like a great one for us festival nerds!

Here's the link to that episode mentioned above, if anyone wants it - 
 

 

[CaledonianGonzo]

4 minutes ago, lazyred said:

I dont see much of that in their lyrics. Not in the English bits anyway. It's all in the image. 

Not sure if someone has posted this guardian article but it sums it up nicely for me

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/01/kneecap-band-furore-hypocrisy-cancel-culture-free-speech

 

 

Yeah - not sure I agree with his conclusion that "their defenders have transformed into free-speech absolutists".

 

I don't think anyone on this thread has been taking that perspective.

[JimiC999]

1 hour ago, JimiC999 said:

Might not be such bad taste for those Irish people whom were treated as 2nd class citizens in their own country, simply because of what god (small g intended) they followed…….

Sorry to quote my own post, but I remember a Pogues song……. Apologies, I can’t remember the song title……. But the lyric said (roughly) ‘for being Irish in the wrong place and at the wrong time’……… are we seeing a subtle attempt to ‘place hate’ on Catholic Irish again……. 

[Colorblindjames]

13 minutes ago, lazyred said:

I dont see much of that in their lyrics. Not in the English bits anyway. It's all in the image. 

Not sure if someone has posted this guardian article but it sums it up nicely for me

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/01/kneecap-band-furore-hypocrisy-cancel-culture-free-speech

 

Classic centrist Guardian article that fails to question why 3 rappers are being held to a higher moral sat than The MPs accusing them of causing offence. Why are kneecap asked to explain themselves when MPs aren’t?

[fred quimby]

24 minutes ago, zahidf said:

According to the 2 promoters podcast, 2000 trees are getting death threats for having kneecap playing. It must be the same for wide awake/glasto e.t.c

How wonderfully ironic

[xchan]

2 hours ago, Physical_graffiti said:

It's a cartoon, the ira were quite obviously not dressed in tricolour balaclavas and dj provai is quite obviously not dressed like that to seriously glorify the IRA

Correct. Its just a balaclava with an irish flag on it. But of course thats exactly their point. Irish Language activism =/= Irish Republicanism.

[lazyred]

6 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

Yeah - not sure I agree with his conclusion that "their defenders have transformed into free-speech absolutists".

 

I don't think anyone on this thread has been taking that perspective.

I'd say they have. Certainly refusing to condemn awful acts oif terrorism and hinting at jewish conspiracies to shut down kneecap.

The people who'd like to cancel radiohead are giving kneecap a free pass. 

The article condemns the politcians  more than the band. But it does put kneecap in the sex pistols tradition and quotes them saying they are calculated in their PR

[CaledonianGonzo]

4 minutes ago, Colorblindjames said:

Classic centrist Guardian article that fails to question why 3 rappers are being held to a higher moral sat than The MPs accusing them of causing offence. Why are kneecap asked to explain themselves when MPs aren’t?

 

Could be worse - when I clicked the link I was half expecting to see Jonathan Freedland on the byline.

[Levitz]

6 minutes ago, Colorblindjames said:

Classic centrist Guardian article that fails to question why 3 rappers are being held to a higher moral sat than The MPs accusing them of causing offence. Why are kneecap asked to explain themselves when MPs aren’t?

God Lynskey is awful. Smug, self satisfied, media centrist. The whole Corbyn period really exposed him for me. 

[lazyred]

4 minutes ago, Colorblindjames said:

Classic centrist Guardian article that fails to question why 3 rappers are being held to a higher moral sat than The MPs accusing them of causing offence. Why are kneecap asked to explain themselves when MPs aren’t?

It doesn't. It discusses previous similar cases and ends with:

One thing invariably holds true though: politicians who attack musicians come off as opportunistic, authoritarian and often foolish in their thirst for soft targets. Ban this sick stunt.

[ironmike8]

One thing that always strikes me when a topic along these lines comes up, is how little English people are aware of or know about Irish/Northern Irish history. There was effectively a civil war going on in the UK for decades and a huge chunk of the population are completely oblivious. I don't think that helps when it comes to the nuance of quite a delicate subject matter.

 

I was born in London to Irish parents who moved over in the 80s, which is where my interest comes from, but not once was it touched upon in my school curriculum.

[Nicklord]

I want to say that there is a genocide happening in Gaza right now, committed by Israel and its army. I also think Kneecap shouldn't get cancelled. And yes, governments across the globe aren't doing enough to prevent Israel from committing war crimes. Yes, they should be held responsible as well. No, Kneecap shouldn't "suffer" more than them.

 

With that said, I'm very disappointed by people here trying so hard to defend Kneecap over their Hamas/Hezbollah comments and support. Some people almost said they're actually good guys. No, Hamas or Hezbollah shouldn't be supported. You shouldn't try to defend people who celebrate them. Don't try to make the case that people like the guys from Kneecap, who support groups that kill hundreds at a music festival, are somehow good guys. No, they're not. They're garbage human beings for doing that.