RedBull commissioned documentary ‘Origins: The Story of Irish Hip Hop’ is set to air on RTÉ One next Thursday. The documentary will chronicle the story of hip hop in Ireland over the past four decades. The project has been a labour of love and several years in development and claims to be “the most comprehensive oral history of hip hop in Ireland to date.”

Denise Chaila photographed by Zyanya Lorenzo for Golden Plec.

Current GoldenPlec favourites appearing in the documentary include ; Biig Piig, Denise Chalia, God Knows, Jafaris, Kneecap, Kojaque, Lethal Dialect, Mango X Mathman, Murli, and Nealo.

‘Origins, The Story of Irish Hip Hop’ aims to tell the story of how hip hop slowly infiltrated Irish culture over the course of the past four decades, going from a niche underground prospect to one that is nipping at the heels of the mainstream today. with appearances from Irish hip hop pioneers Scary Eire and other ‘old guard’ forces including Rob Kelly, Messiah J and the Expert, Ophelia and Lethal Dialect – talk about laying the groundwork for the current crop, and how they were forced to rail against people constantly dismissing the very notion of ‘Irish hip hop’.

‘Origins: The Story of Irish Hip Hop’ also features appearances by Emmet Kirwan and Blindboy who discuss how hip hop became a voice for the Irish working class, and how the playing field changed when artists found the courage to rap in their authentic accents, while Jafaris, Denise Chaila, God Knows and more discuss the infusion of their African backgrounds with their Irish upbringing and how it impacts their music and the stories they tell in their songs.

The hour long documentary was directed by Mark Logan for Collective Films – the people behind Denise Chaila’s video for ‘Chaila’ and Fontaines D.C’s ‘A Night At Montrose, Dublin’ – airs on RTÉ One on Thursday September 3rd at 10:15pm before streaming on RedBull.com from Friday, 11th of September.

Full list of acts appearing in ‘Origins: The Story of Irish Hip Hop’

Biig Piig, Breezy Ideygoke, Collie Costello, Damien Dempsey, Denise Chalia, DJ Flip, Emmet Kirwan, Fehdah, Frankie Grimes, Scary Éire, DJ Mek, God Knows, Jafaris, Kneecap, Kojaque, Lethal Dialect, Luca Palm, Mango X Mathman, Mark Murphy, Maverick Saber, Messiah J & The Expert, Mr. Affiliate / J.B2, Murli, Nealo, Ophelia, Rob Kelly, Strange Boy, Blindboy / Rubberbandits and Yamma Yamma.