Keir Starmer vs Mo Chara - Why KNEECAP matter
Why KNEECAP's message is important, and why those in power can't stand hearing it
Irish rappers KNEECAP have quickly become the hottest band on the planet. You'd have to go back to the days of the Sex Pistols to find a band that have riled the establishment to such a degree.
The difference? KNEECAP do not simply rely on 'shock-jock' tactics, their fury truly gets underneath the skin of those in power, with sound political aims that are informed and galvanizing to their youthful audience.
To put it bluntly, it scares the British elite as their dropping from both the TRNSMT Festival and Eden Sessions, as well as calls to axe the group from the upcoming Fontaines DC show in Manchester, highlight.
The 'Orange March' is a yearly sectarian parade in which protestants celebrate the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. This march is a council approved tradition, which features anti-Catholic chants and threats. In years past it has also been plagued by anti-Catholic violence.
Why is this relevant? Because one of this year's Orange Marches took place the same weekend, in the same city as TRNSMT festival, from which KNEECAP have been dropped from the bill due to, "police concerns over safety". Perhaps nothing showcases the hypocrisy, and borderline racism, of the British establishment better than this. Sectarian marches may continue because of, 'history'.
KNEECAP, and in turn a voice for both the Irish and the Palestinian people are silenced because of British establishment are complicit in the crimes committed. You need only look at the hate that filled communities around Belfast this year, as bonfires were constructed depicting both effigies of the band as well as of refugees.
This is seen as acceptable in the UK, slogans on stage are not.
This brings me to Coachella, the famed festival where beautiful influencers bask in the sun of the Colorado desert…and three men from West Belfast cause an international incident.
During KNEECAPS set, they displayed behind them a message reading, "FUCK ISREAL, FREE PALESTINE", a display of solidarity at what is perhaps the world's biggest festival. (It's worth bearing in mind Green Day also showed their support for Palestine, with none of the fall out).
From this point on is when the witch hunt began. Their work vias to the US were revoked and it was announced that the British government would be reviewing gig footage from almost 2 years ago, eventually charging Mo Chara (Liam Og OhAnnaidh) with terrorism, and then subsequently dropping the charges. All at the tax payers expense naturally.
What KNEECAP said on stage that night is almost beside the point. Hip-hop has a long history of provocative lyrics and quotes, particularly where politics is concerned. In fact there is little difference between the words of Mo Chara and that of EMINEM who claimed, "I'm done rapping for dead presidents, I'd rather see the president dead." Was the latter charged with a criminal offence and have the powers that be try to strip them of a platform? Or is he now, as he was then, one of the biggest music stars in the world.
Selective anger is a difficult thing, especially in the social media age. People are now free to pick and choose what offends them and set about with a mob-like mentality. But when it bleeds into the news and wider-public perception is when this becomes a real issue. For those that claim KNEECAP are antisemitic, I challenge you to find any news article spitting the same vitriol at Kanye West and his new track, the title of which I don't wish to repeat. Religion and race are not what's at stake here, it's right and wrong.
But the silencing of artists is a rich and storied affair. From as far back as the Jazz singers of the 1930's, through to Elvis, The Beatles, the Sex Pistols anyone who has dared to challenge the establishment in this country in particular has tried to be shot down and silenced. With the end result naturally being a surge in popularity amongst young people.
But KNEECAP are different. The establishment are not scared of them because of a new musical style or fashion sense as per the examples. But rather, because they stand for something, they meet them head-on and have embarrassed them at every turn.
Mo Chara was not charged because of anything he said on stage. He was charged because they have embarrassed the elite at every single turn. From beating Kemi Badenoch in a court of law (and donating their winnings to both a Catholic and Protestant youth center) to having their own BAFTA winning film. The rise and rise of KNEECAP is symbolic of a changing tide within this country and abroad. People are waking up and rejecting what the powers that be are offering, and as they try to silence it they only make their message more powerful.
To quote an equally controversial artist, and new found friend of the band Johnny Rotten, "don’t be told by them what you want, don't be told by them what you need"