Rebel rappers to take Dublin Castle by storm

Two rising Rebel rap stars are set to storm Dublin Castle tomorrow.

Hip-hop pals Jamie Forde, 14, and Darren Stewart, 11, whose video of their street performance of Cork’s newest anthem, Yeah Boy, has gone viral, will perform a special remix of the catchy rap in the stately surrounds of Dublin Castle today to mark World Children’s Day.

They’ve performed at Turner’s Cross before Cork City FC games, at UCC and at a Spotify Artist Master Class event as part of Irish Music Week. But today’s performance as part of the Child Talks event at Dublin Castle - the flagship Irish event as part of the UN’s World Children’s Day - will be their biggest gig so far.

Organised by the Ombudsman for Children's Office and supported by Music Generation, today’s performance will be broadcast in schools around the country.

The boys recorded the rap with the help of Garry McCarthy, who runs the GMCBeats workshops, supported by Music Generation Cork, and The Kabin studio, in Knocknaheeny, on the northside of Cork city.

Tomorrow’s remix will feature fellow Kabin crew members, Conor Meehan, Cara Cullen and Sophie McCarthy.

Garry said they are all gifted musicians and are all destined for big things.

“They are all highly supportive of each other and we are building a really nice community here. But they are also becoming leaders and ambassadors for their community,” he said.

The boys also landed supporting roles in Cork film-maker Brendan Canty’s short, Christy, starring Danny Power, which was screened as part of the Cork Film Festival in the Everyman Theatre on Sunday.

The boys’ impromptu performance of their rap on MacCurtain St before the screening was filmed by DJ Stevie G, and has been viewed over 100,000 times on various social media channels.

“This is why we need to invest in our youth. These kids bring a smile to everyone’s faces and they have skills and swagger in abundance. It’s pure hip-hop and of course, it’s pure Cork,” Stevie said.

Stars of the hit video Yeah Boy Jamie (the King) Forde and Darren (McTiny) Forde with Kavin crew members Sophie McCarthy, Cara Cullen and Conor Meehan at Kent Station, Cork on their way to Dublin Castle where they will preform to mark World Children’s Day. Included are Garry McCarthy, GMC Beats workshops, members of Music Generation Cork and parents. Picture: Dan Linehan

Canty, who is best known for his music videos, and as the man behind the global hit video for Hozier’s ‘Take Me To Church’, said the scripted short, Christy, was one of the favourite things he’s done so far in his career.

“In its simplest form, it’s essentially about a 16-year-old kid from Knocknaheeny going for a job interview, but really, it’s about young people on the northside and the insecurities they have and how capable they actually are,” he said.

“We street-cast it all. Off the back of it, Danny got a part in an episode of The Young Offenders and they wrote him into a second episode, and two of the other kids have worked on The Young Offenders as well."