Kneecap share their “10 rules to live by”
Kneecap have imparted some words of wisdom to fans, sharing their 10 rules to live by. Check out the full list below.
The Irish rap trio shared their outlook on life in a new Instagram post, uploaded this morning (December 3). In the update, they revealed that WePresent – WeTransfer’s award-winning digital arts and editorial platform – had reached out and asked for them to share a “manifesto”.
As a result, they came up with a list of 10 rules that they live by, and would recommend to others.
For the most part, these included staples like being kinder to yourself, using your position to stand up for those who are victims of oppression, and embracing the differences across cultures with open arms.
“The heads at @wepresent asked us to write a manifesto…..some rules to live by. Design by @oscartorrans,” the band began in the caption. “My brother, know Karl Marx. He met him eating mushrooms in the people’s park.”
Check out the full list below.
Kneecap’s 10 Rules To Live By are:
1. Don’t be sitting on nothing. It’s better to take part than to be on the sidelines. Don’t say it, do it.
2. Time goes by despite tour hardships, despite crises, despite the time on the clock
3. Don’t be eternally hard on yourself, The worries of the world are heavy enough
4. Take a breath, say hello to a stranger, ‘give a dog a pet’, it’s the wee things that add real wealth to life
5. Try not to be bitter – take it that you and the person in front of you are one and the same
6. There’s a value to friends, culture, language and relationships that money people can’t make a profit off, thank god.
7. Welcome diversity – with people, food and other perspectives of life
8. Be outspoken, leave your mark and stand up for your people. Stand up for Palestine, and stand up for oppressed people around the world.
9. Don’t be afraid of any change, it’s a natural part of life
10. Be sure, when your race is run, that you have left your all on this world. That you gave your heart and your soul and everything in between.
The rules outlined – namely those about “standing up for Palestine and the oppressed people around the world” – align with those the trio shared as part of their cover story with NME earlier this year.
Speaking in the interview, the band reflected on how they had helped to raise nearly £100,000 for a volunteer gym in the Aida Refugee Camp in Palestine, broadcast their message during high-profile TV appearances, and joined the boycott of SXSW this year due to it being sponsored by The Army.
Explaining why they boycotted SXSW but not The Great Escape – which faced a similar boycott due to ties to Barclays Bank – Mo Chara said: “SXSW was obviously a completely different thing.”
He continued: “That was the army sponsoring it, do you know what I mean?”
As for The Great Escape? “We’ve met Palestinians as well who have said that they don’t think it’s fair that the burden is on the artist either. They completely agree: you go, you make your money, you say what you can. Would you rather be a martyr with no cause? No one’s gonna give a fuck if you pull out of this festival, lose money and de-platform yourself.”
Móglaí Bap continued: “Confidence gives you the opportunity to look inwards… If you lack confidence, then you look outside of yourself to find it in other people and places. Our generation has that opportunity to be introspective.”
Since then, the band joined Massive Attack, Nova Twins and more in condemning the far-right riots across the UK following the Southport mass stabbings, and used their massive set at Reading Festival 2024 to denounce anti-immigration riots and “that far-right shite”.
More recently, Bap raised over £30,000 for Gaza food parcels by running 10k a day on tour, the trio made headlines for refusing to take off their Palestine badges in an appearance on Ireland’s Late Late Show, and arranged a Gig for Gaza charity show alongside Primal Scream and Paul Weller. The show will take place on December 13 at the O2 Academy Brixton – you can buy your tickets here.
Earlier this year, Kneecap’s debut album ‘Fine Art’ was released and NME rated it five stars: “In the dark of the night out, the moment is all that matters and the rave will set you free. To shout that in a ‘dying’ language on a record that couldn’t sound any more alive? That’s power – and Kneecap have it.”
As well as the record – which made the NME list of The 10 Best Debut Albums of 2024 so far – the trio also shared a groundbreaking film, which starred Michael Fassbender and arrived in cinemas back in August.
Written and directed by Rich Peppiatt, the feature-length film, titled after the group, was also previewed at Glastonbury Festival’s cinema tent, and won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
Kneecap was also given a full five stars by NME, which named it as “one of the best music biopics ever made
As for 2025, Kneecap have announced details of a huge performance, which is set to be their “biggest live show” to date. They will also headline 2000Trees and Wide Awake Festival next year along with a slew of live dates. Visit here for tickets.
The post Kneecap share their “10 rules to live by” appeared first on NME.
Liberty Dunworth
NME
