Belfast Irish language rap trio KNEECAP have announced their new single 'Better Way to Live,' a collaboration with Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten and drummer Tom coll.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by KNEECAP (@kneecap32)

Forming in 2017, KNEECAP have garnered a unique reputation - being banned by RTÉ and kicked out of their own gig at University College Dublin (UCD). Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí have built up a cult notoriety for themselves, with their distinct sonic merge of Irish and English, articulate satirical lyricism and socially conscious critique. Since their debut mixtape 3cag, KNEECAP have firmly cemented themselves as one of Northern Ireland's most radical, significant and iconic musical voices.

The release announcement follows news of the rap outfit signing to London-based independent record label, Heavenly Recordings. "The day has finally come where a record label, Heavenly Recordings, is mad enough to sign us," the band wrote on social media in September.

The label, which Jeff Barrett founded in 1990, has released projects by the legendary likes of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Mark Lanegan, Fionn Regan, Confidence Man, Doves, Katy J Pearson, Beth Orton, The Magic Numbers, Working Men's Club, Baxter Dury, The Orielles and Saint Etienne.

KNEECAP's debut album is in the pipeline, with an expected release sometime next year.

Teasing the new single, which is set for release next Wednesday, 22nd of November, KNEECAP posted snippets of the song and its accompanying music video to their Twitter account.

Our new single, out next Wednesday on @heavenlyrecordings - ‘Better Way to Live’ 🔥 pic.twitter.com/KKgy1MwOvM

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) November 12, 2023

Seemingly a suitably post-punk tinged track, 'Better Way to Live' musically centres around a prominent bass and drum groove; with the music video appearing to take place in a Northern Irish pub, as a group of dishevelled men sit at the bar, Guinness in hand, a female bartender waiting on them. One can imagine the incisive sociocultural observations and scathing satire the Béal Feirste lads will deliver this time around.

Our new single, out next Wednesday on @heavenlyrecs - 'Better Way to Live' 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6qkkhrWgij

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) November 11, 2023

The group also released a Twitter video in the run up to the single, listing fan guesses on who KNEECAP's newest musical collaborator was going to be. Amongst the guesses; Chief Whip of the DUP Samuel Wilson, Jedward, Shane McGowan, Daniel O' Donnell and Gerry Adams.

Well well well...we've a brand new single out this Wednesday 🔥

Later this evening we'll reveal who we collaborated on it with...🥁

But before that...your guesses on who it might be 👇 pic.twitter.com/ikVt7fm0Zf

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) November 10, 2023

KNEECAP's new single 'Better Way to Live' is set for release on Wednesday the 22nd of November...

In the meantime, why not revisit KNEECAP's Hot Press cover story here.