It's been yet another landmark year for Irish hip-hop – with rappers across the country transcending traditional boundaries of genre, language, culture and geography, to bring bold new changes to Ireland's ever-expanding scene.

Carving their own revolutionary routes through internationally-informed sounds and ideas, Irish artists have continued to elevate homegrown hip-hop in their own utterly unique ways in 2023 – from fresh Irish spins on drill, to experimental, jazz-influenced approaches to alternative rap.

To celebrate this very special year for the culture – marking 50 years since DJ Kool Herc laid down the foundations for hip-hop in New York City – we’ve teamed up with Hennessy to bring you a new playlist: featuring 50 of our favourite Irish hip-hop tracks of 2023...

Sweetlemondae. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

Throughout the decades, Hennessy has become interwoven into the very fabric of hip-hop. Legends from every corner of rap's history have name-checked the iconic cognac on their tracks, including the likes of 2Pac, Nas, Mobb Deep, A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Jean Grae.

That connection extends to Ireland too. Hennessy has provided a vital platform for many of the artists behind this year’s top Irish rap tracks – with Nealo, Rí Rá, Sweetlemondae, JyellowL and Celaviedmai playing Body & Soul’s Hennessy Hip Hop House, and Kojaque performing as part of the same festival’s Hennessy Music Trail line-up. Hennessy also presented TraviS x Elzzz’s major ‘Out Of The Circle Into The Doghouse’ Tour this year, featuring headline shows in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Carlow. Hennessy's ties to the Irish scene are especially fitting, given that the company was originally founded by an Irishman, Richard Hennessy...

Our playlist highlights the dazzling variety and diversity at the heart of Irish rap in 2023 – featuring pioneers like Rí Rá alongside hotly tipped rising stars such as Sweetlemondae and Jeorge II, as well as trailblazing creative forces like KNEECAP and Kojaque.

So, whether you’re looking for a high-energy dancefloor-filler, or some stream-of-consciousness ruminations on the state of the world, embrace the many groundbreaking voices of Irish hip-hop in our playlist below...

1. KNEECAP - Better Way To Live feat. Grian Chatten

2. Jeorge II x Diem - Man Of The Year

3. Kojaque - WOOF feat. Biig Piig

4. Sweetlemondae - Higher State feat. Jafaris

5. Fortune Igiebor - LEECHERS feat. Kid Kuba

6. Jehnova - Porcelain
7. Offica - Living Proof
8. Celaviedmai - Cool Ya Temper
9. AC3 - Bun Go Bar
10. TraviS x Elzzz - BBB

11. KhakiKid - maradona feat. Bricknasty
12. Citrus Fresh - Cowpoke feat. Strange Boy
13. Aby Coulibaly - DYWS?
14. Dubzeno - When I Fall
15. Rí Rá - Moves

16. Jafaris - Breaking Bread
17. Confamm Charlito with Tidah, Elzzz, TraviS & Reggie - Low Key Hating
18. Odd Numbers - Love Me, Hate feat. Wallfella
19. Leo Miyagee - Braille
20. Luthorist x Jehnova x Zimback x sivv - 1000 Hands

21. Selló - Irish X2
22. JyellowL - Love Me Later
23. Rory Sweeney - Loose Lips feat. Ahmed, With Love., EMBY & Curtisy
24. The Line w/ God Knows & MuRli - Patience Of Saints
25. Uwm. - U4O feat. Kendino & Hidrie

26. A92’s Dbo x Ksav x Kebz x BT - One Take
27. Pat Lagoon - Jungle
28. Malik - No Simp-Athy
29. Nealo - Forest feat. Morgana
30. Slick Bullet - 4 Man

31. Celine - ICK
32. Tebi Rex - Main Character
33. Awkward Z. - Shrine
34. Willzee - Two Friends feat. Hazey Haze & JaYne
35. Skripteh - Mag's House

36. 1k3 - All About The Bag feat. Andre Fazaz
37. BoyW1DR - Calm Down
38. cbakl - OH MY DAYS feat. Alicia Raye & Keanu The Pilot
39. RÓGAN - Trouble
40.GNS x V-Sensei - Love A Lie

41. Reggie B - Million Ways
42. Smilez - Letter To My Mum
43. Fynch - Now Do A Silly One!
44. ENI - Caution
45. Rebel Phoenix - Kaleidoscope

46. Luka Palm - Fanta Red
47. Pablo Kush - PILL$ feat. Masta Killa
48. Walshy x Curtisy - mm mm good (in the cellar)
49. Paro Pablo - Comfort In The Chaos feat. Vanessa & Willa Lee
50. Melanin Tee - Real Facts

Listen to the full playlist below:

See our selection of the 30 Best Hip-Hop Albums & Mixtapes of 2023 – presented with Hennessy – here.