Kneecap: On Palestine, History Will Stand by Us

By all accounts, the past twelve months have been a breakthrough moment for Kneecap. Since the release of its second studio album, Fine Art, and its self-titled biographical film in summer 2024, the Belfast hip-hop trio have made waves. Through their mix of an Irish conscience and hard-hitting lines that take a jab at everyone within reach, Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and balaclava-clad DJ Próvaí quickly amassed a global following. Their songs mix satirical depictions of the Brits, the Irish Republican Army, and their excessive drug use with Irish-language intermezzos that — if not comprehensible to all their fans — underscore the importance of identity and self-determination in their work.

This spring’s Coachella festival should prove to be a turning point for Kneecap’s meteoric rise. After using one of the most prominent stages in the music world to denounce Israel’s war in Gaza as a genocide, the band has found itself in the middle of a perfect storm. Its US artist visas were barred in response, and organizers hurriedly pulled a series of planned gigs in Germany. While criticism on Kneecap’s home turf has been more moderate, its most severe blow yet came from London. As old footage of the band emerged, a 2024 clip showing Mo Chara allegedly brandishing a Hezbollah flag on stage has led to a currently ongoing terror investigation.

Kneecap, however, isn’t deterred in the least. In June, it performed at Glastonbury despite reprimands by British prime minister Keir Starmer and opposition leader Kemi Badenoch, with the band reiterating its views on Palestine and lambasting both politicians. More recently, it has announced a major UK tour, much of which has sold out in hours. When Hungary’s government forced Kneecap out of the upcoming Sziget Festival in Budapest, its statement concluded with the triad “Free Palestine / Tiocfaidh ár lá [Irish for “Our Day Will Come”] / Fuck Viktor Orbán.” Clearly, the group’s rough cut around the edges is hitting a nerve right now — both musically and politically.

In an interview for Jacobin, Alexander Kloss spoke to Kneecap exclusively to discuss their relationship with the UK, Gaza, Irish unification, and the band’s future in uncertain times.