The Rutz is a fictional pub set in West Belfast, serving as the backdrop to “Fine Art,” the debut album of rapper trio Kneecap. This trio is known for their controversial musical style that addresses themes like drug use, police persecution, and poverty in Northern Ireland. Singing their lyrics in Gaelic, Kneecap’s music is a statement against those who tried to extinguish their native language.
The trio’s Móglaí Bap and Mo Chara rap over DJ Próvaí’s beats to deliver a musical experience like no other. Opening track “3CAG” features Lankum’s Radie Peat, who offers a unique spin on Irish folk. The album’s title track is a reference to a controversial mural of a burning police jeep that made headlines in 2022. This album is borne from the frustration experienced by a community that feels voiceless and ignored.
Kneecap’s album is a mix of humor and tragedy. From the excitement of payday to the tragedy of drug addiction, the trio’s lyrics strike a chord with listeners and open their eyes to the reality of Northern Ireland. The song “Sick In The Head” offers a sobering reminder of the situation’s grim realities and the role that drugs play in it.
Through it all, Kneecap never loses sight of the healing power of music. “Parful,” one of the album’s tracks, draws from a 1990s documentary on the role of music and dance in forging temporary peace in Northern Ireland. Joining together to forget their differences, music provided a brief escape from the tensions prevalent in Belfast. Kneecap takes this a step further, using their music to expose the reality of living in a divided community while offering comfort and escape from despair.
In June 2024, Kneecap released their debut album called “Fine Art” and proved to have an immense response from their fans about the reality of living in a divided community. Their album has already been critical in shedding light on issues of poverty, police persecution, drug addiction, and more in Northern Ireland
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