Do you know the Northern Irish band Kneecap? With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, and a biopic about them due to hit cinemas soon, we thought it was time to talk about this group, considered by many to be one of the new hip-hop sensations.
And it's perhaps Elton John who says it best. In a new episode of the BBC Radio 6 Music Breakfast Show, the iconic singer-songwriter made no secret of his love for this hip-hop trio from Northern Ireland. " I saw a video of them and was so impressed by the energy and vitality they exuded," he explained. " They were just extraordinary and what they're talking about is political, and there aren't many bands that do that. So I love them, I love their energy, I love everything about them, " added Elton John in the interview.
In fact, the band will soon be starring in a biopic. Expected to hit French cinemas on June 18, this feature film, directed by Rich Peppiatt, has won awards at a number of festivals, including Sundance in 2014, the Galway Film Fleadh in the same year, theBritish Independent Film Awards and the British Academy Film Awards in 2025. In France, the film won an award at the Arcs Film Festival.
The pitch? The film looks back at the band's career, formed in post-conflict Belfast. The three artists play themselves in the film, alongside Michael Fassbender.
For those in a hurry, Les 3 Luxembourg cinema in Paris is organizing a preview of the film on March 18. This exclusive screening is offered in association with the Centre culturel irlandais, on the occasion of Saint Patrick's Day.
So, how did the Kneecap craze come about? First of all, the band sings in English, but also - and much more rarely - in Irish Gaelic. Skillfully blending humor, derision and political opinions, Kneecap has thus become the symbol of a rebellious Irish youth, intent on preserving its mother tongue, long suppressed at the time of British colonization.
Kneecap, which means " kneecap " in English, consists of two rappers, Móglaí Bap and Mo Chara, and a DJ, Próvaí. To date, the trio has two opuses to its credit,"3CAG" released in 2018, and"Fine Art". Released in 2024, this second album unveils 18 tracks, including the singles " Sick in the Head ", " Fine Art ", " Love Making " not forgetting " Better Way to Live ", a track on which Kneecap shares the mic with Grian Chatten, the celebrated frontman of Irish rock band Fontaines DC.
Proof of their renown, tickets for Kneecap concerts are selling out. This summer, the band is scheduled to perform at the legendary Glastonbury festival in the UK. But will we be lucky enough to see this Northern Irish rap group live in Paris in the near future? For the moment, no indoor dates have been announced in the capital. But Kneecap will be performing at the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud on August 24, as part of the new edition of Rock en Seine. The perfect opportunity to discover this talented trio live in Paris!
Official website
www.kneecap.ie
