Well yes, bad news for fans of Kneecap Across the pond. The Irish hip hop group, which mixes Gaelic rap with political lyrics and a fair amount of bad blood, has had to cancel his tour of the United States.
What happened?
The thing is not due to lack of desire or logistics, but rather visasThe US authorities have denied them work permits and, according to the band itself, the background is their public support for Palestine.
Come on, politics has crept into their music, to the point of leaving them on the ground and forcing them to cancel. fifteen concerts already confirmed.
Europe and Canada yes, USA no
The positive part is that Kneecap keeps all its dates in Europe and CanadaSo, even though they're losing market share in North America, they continue to tour in venues where their offerings are well-received.
And be careful, because these moves tend to have a rebound effect: what they lose in US ticket sales, they gain in media visibility and the narrative of being a group that doesn't stay quiet even if it costs them opportunities.
For those who don't know them, Kneecap are from Belfast and have carved out a huge niche for themselves singing in Irish about politics, drugs, identity, and culture. They don't do anything half-hearted: you either love them or they make you uncomfortable, but what's clear is that They leave no one indifferent.
And now what?
With the US tour canceled, we'll have to wait and see how their plans are reconfigured. What's clear is that this episode opens up an interesting debate:
Can a country ban a group for its political opinions? How far does freedom of expression in music go?
Be that as it may, Kneecap is another reminder that rap isn't just about entertainment: it can also be political weapon.
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