Choice Music Prize winner God Knows has released his highly anticipated debut solo album ‘A Future of the Past’ via narolane records, marking a significant milestone for one of Ireland’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 accolade—has crafted what he describes as “the first chapter of a new book” from a collection of over 50 tracks.
The album’s lead single ‘It’s Been A While’ is a family affair, featuring God Knows alongside his brother Godswill “Dreddy” Jonas on vocals and youngest brother Godwin as producer. His sister “Omgjojo” also appears on the track ‘18 Inch War & Eternal’.
Speaking about the collaboration, producer Godwin explains: “It’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. It’d been a while since we did a track together.”
Dreddy adds that the track captures their live energy: “We 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.”
The album draws on influences spanning Zimbabwe, New York, Dublin, Shannon, and West Africa, reflecting God Knows’ expansive creative vision.
Executive producer MuRli describes his role as “giving God Knows a canvas wide enough to paint the truth as only he can.”
“Over time, as I lived with these songs, the work became about building a world around his story,” MuRli continues. “Every crack and every filling was shaped by his vision; my role was simply to frame it so that his voice could echo fully.”
The album blends multiple musical styles. God Knows describes it as containing “albums within this album”, unified by his commitment to “collaborating, experimenting, learning new tricks and most importantly growing.”
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 collective’s work has garnered international attention from publications including NME, NPR, The Guardian, BBC, and The New York Times.
Known for his “vividly honest lyricism and electrifying energy”, God Knows has been credited with elevating Irish hip-hop to new heights.
Music journalist Nialler9 has praised his work as “one of the best things to come out of Ireland’s music scene in years”, whilst The Quietus noted that he “stands proudly at the helm” of Irish hip-hop.
Though born from personal pain, God Knows emphasises that the album was “ultimately made in freedom and love”, positioning ‘A Future of the Past’ as both a deeply personal statement and a bold artistic progression for one of Ireland’s most compelling musical voices.