Irish rapper Kojaque has released the music video for his newest track No Hands. The song came out yesterday, the 2nd of March and will appear on his highly anticipated new album who’s name is yet to be announced. Kojaque took to his social media to announce the video and to thank all the people who worked on the video, which you can check out below.
The amazingly gripping video tells the story of the child version of Kojaque who is moving through the world alone following the passing of his father. While his mother comes to grips with her grief, the child learns to manage his life using no hands, as he cycles through the Dublin landscape. The profits from No Hands will support the Irish charity Pieta House, who work to help thousands of people in suicidal distress or struggling with self-harm.
Speaking about the meaning of the song to DIY, Kojaque said; “it’s about growing up. I wrote it on my 21st birthday so it’s a couple years old. I think I was just reminiscing on my childhood, trying to recount old memories. There seems to be a pretty universal feeling when you’re young and that’s wanting to make your parents proud. At least that’s what I remember, searching for approval, wanting that reassurance, the track for me say’s ‘look at me now, look how far I’ve come, imagine what else could happen’. “
“My childhood wasn’t exactly like everyone else’s, at times I really felt like an alien but it was happy, it’s all I knew. We lost my dad to suicide when I was a child. Although the song is about that loss of potential in my dad’s death, I’ve learned to see the potential in my own life. It’s something I’ve very much come to terms with, for me it’s a very hopeful song.”
Kojaque will also be joining Denise Chaila, Unorthodox Coolock, Jessie Reyez, Junia-T and Savannah Ré on St Patrick’s Day, as part of JAMESON CONNECTS JESSIE REYEZ AND FRIENDS. Jameson Connects has announced the event with the aim to bring together some of the best names in Irish R&B, hip-hop and spoken word for a global celebration. The event will include immersive performances from around the world, as the event is striving to celebrate “hometowns and communities” on the day that celebrates the beauty of Irishness.
No Hands is Kojaque’s first release of 2021. Kojaque’s Choice Music Prize-nominated project Deli Daydreams in 2018 led to him working on a collaborative mixtape with Luka Palm on Green Diesel. He also supported Lana Del Rey at Malahide Castle in 2019. Kojaque is also the co-founder of Soft Boys Records, which is an independent label that is not afraid to push the boundaries. Their roster includes fellow co-founder Kean Kavanagh, Gaptoof, Five to Two, Luka Palm, Brién, Westfellow, Henry Earnest, jarjarjr and Matt Finnegan.
No Hands is out now on all platforms, you can check out the music video below.
