Limerick based hip-hop artist releases debut album 'A Future of the Past'

LIMERICK-based rapper, God Knows, has been a driving force behind Ireland’s evolving hip-hop scene and with the release of his long-anticipated debut solo album, 'A Future of the Past', he fully steps into the light he helped engineer for others.

Released on September 26, 'A Future of the Past' comes as a deeply personal, richly layered body of work shaped by collaboration, community, and cross-continental influences from Shannon to Harare.

God Knows, the Zimbabwean-Irish rapper, first rose to prominence as part of the Choice Music Prize-winning trio Rusangano Family, whose 2016 album 'Let the Dead Bury the Dead' broke ground as the first hip-hop record to win Ireland’s prestigious Album of the Year award.

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He made his solo debut with 'Who’s Asking' Vol. I and Vol. II in 2020 and then two years later, he set the scene on fire with 'We Move the Needle'.

Having incorporated his African roots and influenced by amapiano, a subgenre of house music that emerged in South Africa in the 2010s, God Knows wanted to move the needle, this time, “for good.”

Since then, he’s worn many hats as mentor, collaborator, curator and as co-founder of Limerick’s narolane records, he’s been instrumental in fostering a new generation of artists.

The album draws from a well of emotion and experience, with God Knows describing the creative process as “collaborating, experimenting, learning new tricks and most importantly, growing.”

The album’s lead single, 'It’s Been A While', is a true family collaboration.

God Knows is joined by his brother Godswill “Dreddy” Jonas on the hook, with youngest brother Godwin handling production. Elsewhere on the album, his sister Omgjojo lends her voice to the track '18 Inch War & Eternal'.

Dreddy speaking on the track said, “We’ve been making music a long time, back when there was two people and the bartender at the shows. From churches, pubs, industrial estate buildings, parties and in between. So for this one we wanted to have fun and give the energy that we get from the shows right back into music, turn up and have a mosh pit in the sound systems!”

With a track record of international recognition from The Guardian and NPR to The Irish Times, Vice, and France 24, God Knows has garnered international praise for his electrifying energy and lyrically honesty.