Kojaque
Birth nameKevin Smith
Also known asKazoo Kid, Jackie Dandelion
Born (1995-01-11) 11 January 1995
Dublin, Ireland
OriginCabra, Dublin
Genres
Occupation(s)
Years active2015–present
Labels
  • Soft Boy Records
Websitekojaque.com

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

Smith grew up in Cabra, Dublin. His parents originally from Co. Cavan. His father passed away from suicide in 2008. He has three brothers, all of whom are also musicians.[6] He attended St Declans College.[7] He studied fine art in Dublin Institute of Technology and in 2017 received the RHA Student Graduate Award.[8]

Career

Kojaque released Deli Daydreams, a concept album about the life of a deli worker, in 2018.[9] It was nominated for the Choice Music Prize.[10]

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. [11] For the week ending 2 July 2021, it was the best-selling album on vinyl in Ireland.[12] It was nominated for the Choice Music Prize.[13]

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.[14]

Discography

Albums

  • Town's Dead (2021)[15]
  • Phantom of the Afters (2023)[14]

EPs

  • Deli Daydreams (2018)[9]
  • Green Diesel with Luka Palm (2019)[9]

References

  1. ↑ Earley, Kelly. "Everything you need to know about Kojaque, the Irish rapper on NME's list of essential artists for 2019". The Daily Edge.
  2. ↑ "Kojaque | Other Voices". www.othervoices.ie.
  3. ↑ "On the Rise: Kojaque". The Line of Best Fit.
  4. ↑ Wright, Georgie (10 July 2018). "kojaque is the dublin soft boy rapping about shitty jobs and irish life".
  5. ↑ "KOJAQUE on Breaking Tunes". breakingtunes.com.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. ↑ "Kojaque is laughing in the face of hip hop stereotypes — District".
  8. ↑ Mullally, Una. "Kojaque: Dublin hip hop from the belly of the deli". The Irish Times.
  9. 1 2 3 "KOJAQUE".
  10. ↑ Shortall, Eithne. "Change of tune opens Choice Music Prize up to Kojaque". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  11. ↑ "Kojaque: Town's Dead – Welcome to his urban nightmare". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "Picture This score highest new entry on Official Irish Albums Chart". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  13. ↑ "RTÉ Choice Music Prize: Listen to Town's Dead by Kojaque". Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Phantom of the Afters, by Kojaque". Bandcamp. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  15. ↑ "Town's Dead, by Kojaque". Kojaque. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
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