The Irish rap trio Kneecap has released a new single, "Smugglers & Scholars," from their upcoming album Fenian. The track reflects on revolutionary times in Ireland and follows political controversies involving the group. The album is set for release on April 24 via Heavenly Recordings.
Kneecap, a Belfast-based rap trio, dropped their new single "Smugglers & Scholars" on February 25, 2026. The hard-hitting track, featuring a Detroit-style hip hop sound with dark, bass-heavy production, draws on idealized views of Ireland's past. It reminisces on revolutionary times when the working class, academics, and others united for change, as the group explained in a statement: "A track that's reminiscing on Revolutionary times in Ireland, driven by a hopefulness, when the working class, academics and good people everywhere united and took action in search of a better future."
The single includes lyrics such as "Smugglers and scholars/ Getting guns with American dollars," and "Did it before do it again no bother/ Don’t need your help with internal matters." It serves as the second preview of Fenian, produced by Dan Carey and marking the group's first album since a series of polarizing political statements. Those incidents included being branded "terrorists," facing cancellations, and drawing condemnation from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after displaying messages at Coachella 2025: "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people" and "Fuck Israel / Free Palestine."
Kneecap addressed the backlash in a statement: "They tried to stop us by branding Kneecap ‘terrorists’, with cancellations, with statements from the Prime Minister himself. We had all the motivation we needed… this isn’t a swift reaction, but a considered response to those that tried to silence us. And failed." The previous single, "Liar’s Tale," featured a music video targeting Starmer, with lyrics like "Nah fuck Keir Starmer, Netanyahu’s bitch and genocide armer, better off as compost for farmers."
To support Fenian, Kneecap has scheduled in-store gigs in Kingston, Brighton, Bristol, Nottingham, Dundee, Edinburgh, and London. Their largest headline show yet will be at London's Crystal Palace Park on June 27, joined by The Mary Wallopers, Fat Dog, Biig Piig, Gurriers, and Madra Salach. Festival appearances include AVA Festival in Belfast, Primavera in Barcelona and Porto, Roskilde in Denmark, Rock Werchter, Boomtown Fair, and Reading & Leeds Festivals in England.
