Hennessy has announced the highly anticipated line-up for its renowned space at Body & Soul Festival (June 16-18), as the brand continues to solidify its place within the Irish hip hop scene as tastemakers and champions of music and culture.
Marking the celebration of 50 years of Hip Hop in 2023, Hennessy amplifies its investment in Irish and international talent through the stellar line-up of acts announced. Serving up the best in cultural expression and creative cocktails, Hennessy is delighted to bring its signature blend to festival goers for another year at Body & Soul over three days and nights from 16-18 June, with a mixture of bold and immersive surprises lined up.
Gemma Dunleavy
Kojaque
Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra (AV Show)
Denise Chaila
LIVE
Aby Coulibaly || Bon Voyage || Celaviedmai || God Knows || JyellowL || MuRli || Nealo || Negro Impacto || RíRá || Ruby Ivy || Strange Boy || Sweetlemondae
DJs
Aoife Nic Canna || Arveene || Bé || Ben Bix x Little O || Billy Scurry || CC || Daddy G || DJ Flip || DJ Mek || DJ Tu-Ki || Glen Brady || Handsome Paddy || Hewan Mulugeta || Mango || Moving Still || Nightmares on Wax || Queen Beatz || Stevie G Soundsystem || Tee Cardaci
CONVERSATION & MOREBreakdance from Northern Soles Crew || District Presents: The Future of Irish Music || Graffiti from Rask & Sums || Hip Hop Karaoke || Paint & Sip with Simba || Talk: From Hip Hop to Bass || The Story of Irish Hip Hop: The Music, The Culture, The Community
Hennessy joins Ireland and the rest of the world in marking the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop this year, with celebrations held across the globe to honour every aspect of hip hop culture.
Legends of hip hop talent have name checked Hennessy in their lyrics and artistic displays over the last half-century, from Biggie in the 90s to Drake, Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar in more recent years. On this milestone, Hennessy raises a glass and acknowledges how 50 years ago, hip hop gave a voice to a generation of talent in the South Bronx that felt distant from society and used it as an outlet of expression. More recently, hip hop has become one of Ireland’s most loved music genres, thanks to a group of pioneers who proudly convey Irish culture through their art.
These prodigies created the platform for an explosive new generation of artists, who are fearless and daring in their music, to burst onto the Irish hip hop music scene. Members of this new era will take to the stage in Ballinlough with Hennessy this June, kicking off on Friday with the critically acclaimed JyellowL, who’s debut 2020 album D|vision reached No. 2 on the official iTunes album charts and was nominated for Irish Album of the Year at that year’s RTÉ Choice Music Prize Awards. Joining him on the opening night celebrations will be a talk From Hip Hop To Bass: Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra (A/V Show), Aoife Nic Canna, Ben Bix, Executive Steve, American house and funk DJ Tee Cardaci, Irish DJs Aoife Nic Canna, Handsome Paddy and RíRá, British DJ and Massive Attack star Daddy G, jazz and soul artist Hewan Mulugeta, Limerick rap star Strange Boy andhip hop fanatic Arveene.
Not only can festival goers enjoy amazing beats and tunes in the Hennessy Hip Hop House, revellers are also treated to four incredible headliners along the Hennessy Music Trail over the weekend. On Friday, one of the leading lights of the Irish music scene, Kojaque can be found on the mainstage, along with Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra, the Godfathers of drum and bass. Iconic Irish rap star Denise Chaila, whose worldly performances have been making waves internationally and is not one to be missed, performs on Saturday; while Sunday’s music trail treasure sees RTE Choice Prize Song of the Year 2020 nomineeGemma Dunleavy, take to the stage to show the world why she is the rising star of the Irish urban scene.
Saturday starts off with conversations and panel discussions from emerging Irish voices with District Presents: The Future of Irish Music, graffiti from Rask & Sums (TdaKlann) and breakdance from Northern Soles Crew. Hip Hop Karaoke will provide major fun afternoon vibes, while Arveene hosts The Story of Irish Hip Hop with amazing guests such as Kojaque, Glen Brady and Rask later in the day. Beginning the day’s musical offerings is Dundalk duo Negro Impacto, Irish award winning DJ Mek, Dublin rapper Nealo, rising Irish act Ruby Ivy, Chicago born house DJ Queen Beatz andI.T.F World Scratch Champion DJ Flip. Later in the evening, Irish sensation Aby Coulibaly takes to the stage, while Glen Brady, Nightmares on Wax (DJ set), God Knows and MuRli and Dublin MC and DJ Mango will get the crowds dancing into the night.
Last but not least, Sunday sees an eye-catching lineup with panel talks, graffiti, breakdance, workshops, Paint & Sip and a conversation hosted by Cork’s Red FM Stevie G onHip Hop’s influence in Art, Dance and Fashion. Sweetlemondae kicks off an exciting final day, while later in the evening rising rapper and songwriter Celaviedmai brings the energy with her live set. After dancing all day long to performances from DJ Tu-Ki, CC, Bon Voyage, Moving Still, Tee Cardaci, Stevie G Soundsystem, one of Ireland’s best known DJs Billy Scurry will close a perfectly served weekend for Hennessy at Body & Soul 2023, keeping crowds dancing into the early hours.