Kojaque
Kojaque | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Kevin Smith |
| Also known as | Kazoo Kid, Jackie Dandelion |
| Born | 11 January 1995 Dublin, Ireland |
| Origin | Cabra, Dublin |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2015–present |
| Labels |
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| Website | kojaque |
Kevin Smith (born 1995), known professionally as Kojaque /ˈkoʊdʒæk/, is an Irish rapper and record producer from Cabra, Dublin.[1][2] He is also a visual artist and filmmaker.[3][4][5]
Early life
[edit]Smith grew up in Cabra, Dublin. His parents were originally from County Cavan. His father passed away when he was a child.[6] He has three brothers, all of whom are also musicians.[7] He attended St Declans College.[8] He studied fine art in Dublin Institute of Technology and in 2017 received the RHA Student Graduate Award.[9]
Career
[edit]Kojaque released his first single, Midnight Flower, in 2015. The music video for the song received media attention, as it featured the artist holding his breath underwater for three minutes while rapping the track. [10] The mixtape attached to the single, Sunday Roast, was released in 2016.[11]
Kojaque released Deli Daydreams, a concept album about the life of a deli worker, in 2018.[12] It was nominated for the Choice Music Prize.[13]
In 2021, Kojaque released Town's Dead. The album deals with themes of heartbreak, his late father's death, gentrification and the Irish housing crisis - with the events of a love triangle that culminates on New Year's Eve woven throughout. [14] For the week ending 2 July 2021, it was the best-selling album on vinyl in Ireland.[15] It was nominated for the Choice Music Prize.[16]
On 27 October 2023, Kojaque released the album Phantom of the Afters. Collaborations include Biig Piig, Wiki, Charlotte Dos Santos and Gotts Street Park. The album traces blurred outlines of childhood trauma, depression, grief and love, interweaving the physical and emotional journey of central character Jackie Dandelion with bigger questions about immigrant identity, homesickness, cultural stereotypes and ultimately the reconciliation of self.[17] It became his third album to be nominated for the Choice Music Prize.[18]
Discography
[edit]Albums
EPs
References
[edit]- ^ Earley, Kelly. "Everything you need to know about Kojaque, the Irish rapper on NME's list of essential artists for 2019". The Daily Edge.
- ^ "Kojaque | Other Voices". www.othervoices.ie.
- ^ "On the Rise: Kojaque". The Line of Best Fit.
- ^ Wright, Georgie (10 July 2018). "kojaque is the dublin soft boy rapping about shitty jobs and irish life".
- ^ "KOJAQUE on Breaking Tunes". breakingtunes.com.
- ^ Brayden, Kate. "Kojaque explores grief and mental health in new video for 'No Hands'". Hotpress. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "Kojaque: 'I've never felt more Irish than when I moved to London. I felt positively f**king Fenian'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "Kojaque is laughing in the face of hip hop stereotypes — District".
- ^ Mullally, Una. "Kojaque: Dublin hip hop from the belly of the deli". The Irish Times.
- ^ Flaherty, Ciara (11 May 2015). "Irish rapper holds breath underwater for three minutes in new music video". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "Stream: Kojaque - Sunday Roast Mixtape". The Thin Air. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "KOJAQUE".
- ^ Shortall, Eithne. "Change of tune opens Choice Music Prize up to Kojaque". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ "Kojaque: Town's Dead – Welcome to his urban nightmare". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "Picture This score highest new entry on Official Irish Albums Chart". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ "RTÉ Choice Music Prize: Listen to Town's Dead by Kojaque". Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Phantom of the Afters, by Kojaque". Bandcamp. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ "2023 Irish Album of the Year – Choice Music Prize". Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "Town's Dead, by Kojaque". Kojaque. Retrieved 7 July 2021.