Kevin Smith (born 1995), known professionally as Kojaque , is an Irish

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

and

record producer A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure. Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...

from

Cabra, Dublin Cabra () is an inner suburb on the northside of Dublin city in Ireland. It is approximately northwest of the city centre, in the administrative area of Dublin City Council. It was commonly known as Cabragh until the early 20th century. Larg ...

. He is also a visual artist and filmmaker.

Early life

Smith grew up in

. His parents were originally from Co. Cavan. His father passed away when he was a child. He has three brothers, all of whom are also musicians. He attended St Declans College. He studied

fine art In European academic traditions, fine art is developed primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from decorative art or applied art, which also has to serve some practical function, such as pottery or most metalwor ...

Dublin Institute of Technology Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT, ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath) was a major third-level institution in Dublin, Ireland. On 1 January 2019 DIT was dissolved and its functions were transferred to the Technological U ...

and in 2017 received the RHA Student Graduate Award.

Career

Kojaque released his first single, Midnight Flower, in 2015. The music video for the song received media attention, as it featured the artist holding his breath underwater for three minutes while rapping the track. The mixtape attached to the single, Sunday Roast, was released in 2016. Kojaque released ''Deli Daydreams'', a concept album about the life of a deli worker, in 2018. It was nominated for the Choice Music Prize. 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. For the week ending 2 July 2021, it was the best-selling album on vinyl in Ireland. It was nominated for the Choice Music Prize. On 27 October 2023, Kojaque released the album ''Phantom of the Afters''. Collaborations include Biig Piig,

Wiki A wiki ( ) is an online hypertext publication collaboratively edited and managed by its own audience, using a web browser. A typical wiki contains multiple pages for the subjects or scope of the project, and could be either open to the pub ...

, 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. It became his third album to be nominated for the Choice Music Prize.

Discography

Albums * ''Town's Dead'' (2021) * ''Phantom of the Afters'' (2023) EPs *''Deli Daydreams'' (2018) *''Green Diesel'' with Luka Palm (2019)

References

External links

Official websiteKojaque on SoundcloudKojaque on YouTubeKojaque on Bandcamp
{{Authority control 1995 births 21st-century Irish musicians 21st-century rappers Living people Musicians from Dublin (city) Irish rappers Alumni of Dublin Institute of Technology People from Cabra, Dublin