SXSW 2019: Kojaque Converts Sceptics In Texas

At the Velvetta Room on 6th street, Kojaque made his debut appearance at South By Southwest. He continues a romantic, introspective style, that was established by Irish hip-hop acts over the past decade. A vulnerability that was seldom displayed in the genre was sentiment. This preservation of sensitivity is worn proudly, as the Dublin emcee’s T-shirt reads ‘SOFT’ - referencing an ethos and the name of his record label Soft Boy.

The piercing opener, ‘White Noise’, is an unflinching look in the mirror at self and society’s impacts on a complex artist. His delivery is as abrasive as the content, grasping out his last breath to finish the bar, “I’m just a fish I’m tryna breathe air”.

The mood mellowed with a subsequent duet with Kean Kavanagh. Kean - who it turns out is a Texas native born in Houston - serenaded the crowd with the emotive track, ‘Eviction Notice’.

The crowd was bouncing for this one. Class #sxsw set from @kojaque, @lukapalm256 & @keankavanagh pic.twitter.com/CSzR6kVTdY

— Ed Murphy (@rockinfoed) March 16, 2019

The show really blossomed as Luca Palm burst onto the stage. The rappers chemistry lifted the energy in the room. The two bounced off each other like seasoned pros, trading bar for bar on the sensational, ‘Date Night’. The track features some of the finest writing they've put out. Kojaque’s tongue saunters effortlessly through symbolism like a hot knife through hash. “Toe paint on me girl she a wavy chick/Pinky nail and a bag of powder playing lucky dip”.

His soul cleansing set is a zen garden of tranquility in a sea of Thursday mosh pits. Kojaque's a true artist that brings visuals and written content that’s cutting and magnetic. With each new song and video release, he's challenging himself and his fans. Hot Press can't wait to see what else he has in store for 2019.