God Knows releases deeply personal debut solo LP

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Choice Music Prize winner God Knows has released his highly anticipated debut solo album โ€˜A Future of the Pastโ€™ via narolane records, marking a significant milestone for one of Irelandโ€™s most influential hip-hop artists.

The Zimbabwean-Irish rapper, who won the prestigious Choice Music Prize in 2016 as part of Rusangano Family-the first hip-hop act to claim the accoladeโ€”has crafted what he describes as โ€œthe first chapter of a new bookโ€ from a collection of over 50 tracks.

The albumโ€™s lead single โ€˜Itโ€™s Been A Whileโ€™ is a family affair, featuring God Knows alongside his brother Godswill โ€œDreddyโ€ Jonas on vocals and youngest brother Godwin as producer. His sister โ€œOmgjojoโ€ also appears on the track โ€˜18 Inch War & Eternalโ€™.

Speaking about the collaboration, producer Godwin explains: โ€œItโ€™d been a while since G had done a solo track and a Grime/Drill tune where he proves to the Irish scene and the world why he is where he is today. Itโ€™d been a while since we did a track together.โ€

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Dreddy adds that the track captures their live energy: โ€œWe wanted to have fun and give the energy that we get from the shows right back into music, turn up and have a mosh pit in the sound systems.โ€

The album draws on influences spanning Zimbabwe, New York, Dublin, Shannon, and West Africa, reflecting God Knowsโ€™ expansive creative vision.

Executive producer MuRli describes his role as โ€œgiving God Knows a canvas wide enough to paint the truth as only he can.โ€

โ€œOver time, as I lived with these songs, the work became about building a world around his story,โ€ MuRli continues. โ€œEvery crack and every filling was shaped by his vision; my role was simply to frame it so that his voice could echo fully.โ€

The album blends multiple musical styles. God Knows describes it as containing โ€œalbums within this albumโ€, unified by his commitment to โ€œcollaborating, experimenting, learning new tricks and most importantly growing.โ€

As co-founder of narolane records, God Knows has established himself as a mentor figure in Irish hip-hop whilst building towards this solo moment. The collectiveโ€™s work has garnered international attention from publications including NME, NPR, The Guardian, BBC, and The New York Times.

Known for his โ€œvividly honest lyricism and electrifying energyโ€, God Knows has been credited with elevating Irish hip-hop to new heights.

Music journalist Nialler9 has praised his work as โ€œone of the best things to come out of Irelandโ€™s music scene in yearsโ€, whilst The Quietus noted that he โ€œstands proudly at the helmโ€ of Irish hip-hop.

Though born from personal pain, God Knows emphasises that the album was โ€œultimately made in freedom and loveโ€, positioning โ€˜A Future of the Pastโ€™ as both a deeply personal statement and a bold artistic progression for one of Irelandโ€™s most compelling musical voices.