Belfast hip hop trio, Kneecap, have won an ongoing legal battle, on the grounds of discrimination, against the UK government. The decision for Kneecap to instigate a legal battle was ignited by a decision made by the new Conservative party leader, Kemi Badenoch when she occupied the role of Business Secretary.
The group known for their socially-conscious and outspoken lyricism, often delivered in a fusion of English and Irish, applied to the Music Export Growth Scheme for a grant in 2023, an arts scheme (which supported by the government) provides grants to independent music companies to promote their artists internationally. At the time, Kneecap’s application was provisionally approved by the British Phonographic Industry, before it was unveiled in June that Badenoch had revoked their application back in February.
A spokesperson for the then Business Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, argued the rejection of Kneecap’s application followed the perspective that the government did not want to hand taxpayers’ money “to people that oppose the United Kingdom itself”.
Since their ascendance in 2017, Kneecap have been under the watchful eye of the Conservative Party, previously the Conservative government, due to their conduct and ethos as a group. The trio have been subject to criticism from the Conservatives throughout the years for their highly provocative lyrics, fervent republicanism within their discography and their blatant imagery within merchandise and touring. Their 2019 tour titled ‘Farewell to the Union’ featured a tour poster of Boris Johnson, the then-Prime Minister, on a rocket.
Kneecap’s ‘Farewell To The Union’ Tour Poster (2019)
As a group formed from a dedicated ethos of social consciousness, Irish unity and opposition to British rule, Kneecap’s DJ Próvaí arrived at the Belfast High Court hearing, on brand, in a RUC Land Rover in his signature tri-colour balaclava whilst presenting the Irish and Palestinian flags.
As the Belfast High Court ruled the UK government had acted unlawfully against Kneecap, the group’s barrister Ronan Lavery KC said: “It is declared that the decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair, took into account immaterial considerations and failed to take into account relevant factors”.
The hearing concluded that the government would pay the band £14,250 – the grant amount they’d initially applied for. The ‘Get Your Brits Out’ trio equally split the money, donating it to two youth organisations, who work with both Protestant and Catholic communities across Northern Ireland. Despite winning the court battle, Kneecap have stated it was never about the money, instead about the promotion of equality.
In their statement posted on social media, the trio stated: “For us this action was never about £14,250, it could have been 50 pence. The motivation was equality. This was an attack on artistic culture, an attack on the Good Friday Agreement itself and an attack on Kneecap and our way of expressing ourselves.”
Continuing: “They don’t like that we oppose British rule, that we don’t believe that England serves anyone in Ireland and the working classes on both sides of the community deserve better; deserve funding, deserve appropriate mental health services, deserve to celebrate music and art and deserve the freedom to express our culture.”
“They broke their own laws in trying to silence Kneecap… They didn’t like the fact that we are totally opposed to all they represent, embodied right now by their arming of genocide in Gaza.”
They concluded the statement: “Free Palestine! – Kneecap x” – a sentiment fit for the band whose member Móglaí Bap, only last week raised over £30,000 for Gaza food parcels by running 10km a day on their most recent tour.
This latest case between Kneecap and the UK Government illustrates the significance of the music industry in utilising art as a means of promoting equality and the freedom of expression, against restrictive societal constructs and governments.
