Jonen Dekay – Passionate Example mixtape
What you may need to know…
01. Released last Friday, 17-year-old wordsmith Jonen Dekay‘s debut mixtape Passionate Example (streaming above) showcases the Limerick rapper’s scarily accomplished lyrical prowess and maturity.
02. Dekay is the product of the current swathe of Music Generation workshops in Limerick, overseen by Rusangano Family rappers GodKnows and Murli, and Andy Connolly, better known as one-man duo Deviant & Naive Ted.
03. The latter’s fingerprints are subtly identifiable throughout the mixtape, as the masked man stepped out of his box of pro-wrestling VHS to get behind the desk to record and mix the whole affair.
04. The whole mixtape can also be streamed and individual tracks downloaded via Soundcloud here.
Verdict: Dekay’s stream-of-consciousness style, seething observations and unabashedly accented delivery give an indicator of what we can expect from the Limerick rapper in the future. Daycent Irish hip-hop, to say the least.
Hi Mike, I’ve a question. Excluding all the groups you’ve featured already, who do you think is the best band/artist going in Ireland?
I’d say it’s too hard to narrow down to one, as there’s so much out there in different genres in Ireland at present. It’s also the stuff of folly to name one ‘best’ anything, as art is subjective, and what’s good for one person is tripe to another. Different strokes, etc.
Bearing in mind, also, that the column isn’t a traditional review, but a quick overview of the artist that points out what may appeal to a given listener, with the intention of introducing them to the Broadsheet readership. Hence the qualifier You *May* Like This.
what a cranky and defensive response.
Did you read it as cranky? It seemed polite and concise to me. Different strokes, different folks huh?
I read it as a little cranky but wasn’t sure. Perfect example of how tone is often difficult to determine in online fora
Exactly. I think that was my problem there, too. Misjudged the tone of Rory’s comment. :-)
I thought it was a clever, polite and well worded response although a simple “The Undertones” would have sufficed. :)
I did fairly misjudge Rory’s tone, there, and have altered the comment accordingly/apologised.
Ok, baring in mind (that even if you selected one or two bands/artists as current favorites) that there are still a load of great bands/artists in Ireland at the minute,
and baring in mind that your opinion is subjective (and that other people may not agree),
and excluding the bands/artists you have featured already,
who are your favorite irish bands/artists going at the minute?
Ah, okay. Apologies for misreading, and for my tone, then.
Myself, I’m currently listening to loads of the Altered Hours (Cork psych-rock), Naive Ted (Limerick beats/skratch/noise) and Girls Names (Belfast/Dublin post-punk).
All-time fave is Therapy?, though. Something different with each album.
I wouldn’t blame ye for being defensive Mike ;)
Limerick’s Bleeding Heart Pigeons are one of the most interesting new bands.
It’s good, his flow is far too fast. That’s a problem with Irish rap in general, their flow isn’t inventive or intricate, it’s just as quick as you can and hitting couplets. What marks out real skill is a combination of lyrical ability and being able to control flow in line with the feeling and structure of a verse, like DOOM, Earl Sweatshirt or Staples.
Obviously comparing three masters of the genre with artists who are coming up and finding their feet in an only now burgeoning musical culture isn’t fair, I sometimes just wonder what Irish artists are aiming at or being influenced by.
Is that a Bruegel painting?
Yes. Yes it is.
I LOVE that you answered your own question there Tish.
It shows trust and confidence
Did she though?
Yes she did.
Huh, I presumed it was Bosch.