"Phantom Of The Afters" is the 3rd album from Irish rapper Kojaque, out on his very own Soft Boy Records. With landmark projects Deli Daydreams and Town’s Dead, that saw him twice nominated for Choice Music Prize, receive support from Radio 1, 1xtra, 6Music, support Loyle Carner & Lana Del Rey and headline festivals across Ireland, Kojaque changed the rap landscape (and Irish culture) for good. Collaborations on his latest project 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. Kojaque has created a cinematic universe that is bigger in scope but also more tender and intimate in approach than ever before. It’s this willingness to be vulnerable - grotesque, even - that’s captured in the album’s iconic artwork, which subverts the bigoted depictions of Irish caricatures in 19th and 20th century Punch Magazine cartoons and sees this particular Phantom of the Opera remove not just those distorted masks, but also his own.
With songs that are cocksure and contemplative, brutally honest but also refreshingly myth-making, "Phantom Of The Afters" marks a new era from Kojaque: one of his generation’s most unique talents. In suitably audio-visual style, the album traces blurred outlines of childhood trauma, depression, grief and love. It interweaves the journey of central character Jackie Dandelion from Dublin to London with bigger questions about immigrant identity, homesickness, cultural stereotypes and ultimately the reconciliation of self.
With songs that are cocksure and contemplative, brutally honest but also refreshingly myth-making, "Phantom Of The Afters" marks a new era from Kojaque: one of his generation’s most unique talents. In suitably audio-visual style, the album traces blurred outlines of childhood trauma, depression, grief and love. It interweaves the journey of central character Jackie Dandelion from Dublin to London with bigger questions about immigrant identity, homesickness, cultural stereotypes and ultimately the reconciliation of self.
STAFF COMMENTS
Matt says: There's definitely no one quite like Kojaque. His strong Dublin accent cutting through trapy beats like a serrated sonic knife. Lyrically impressive and with a unique persona this is one rapper I think we'll be seeing plenty of.TRACK LISTING
1. Goodbye, Jackie Dandelion
2. Larry Bird
3. Cabra Drive
4. Bambi (ft. Gotts Streeet Park)
5. Woof (ft. Biig Piig)
6. Johnny Mcenroe (ft. Wiki)
7. Yoko Oh No!
8. Fat Ronaldo / Covent Gardens
9. Wagyu
10. Rainy Days
11. What If (ft. Charlotte Dos Santos)
12. Citizen Kane
13. Peekaboo
14. Phantom Of The Afters
15. Heaven Shouldn't Have You