Marxman, Scary Eire, Brogue, all names that suggested hip hop was about to break through in Ireland. In a recent interview Tom Silverman, founder of Tommy Boy records said: “We heard lots of demos from white rappers that wanted to be black but Everlast was proud of being Irish and didn’t apologise about it.”

This simple logic is applied on Filthy Folklore and shows 3rd Eye at their best, in their own accents, telling their own stories. ‘Dirty ‘Aul City’ is a great tune with a clever line in rhyme, “Dublin, Dublin, a dirty aul city, where the girls are pretty but the weather’s kinda’ shitty”. The album has a genuine old skool feel, not only in style but also in wit.

It begins with an endorsement from Chuck D (beat that) and rolls along with an uneven body of work. ‘Ruff Style Life’ and ‘3rd Eye Mindstate’ are solid tracks. ‘Craic Agus Ceoil’ is remixed by the legendary Deckwrecka and features Cork’s own MC Strict.

Although some of the album is naïve it is one of the most welcome calling cards from an Irish group in many years. Check out Filthy Folklore and prepare for the future sound of Dublin.

Colm Walsh 9