Belfast rapper Jack Bashful releases 'Look No Further'
On the hunt for some refreshing new Irish music? Look no further. Belfast rapper Jack Bashful returns with a venomous yet honest display on his latest outing, produced by Moon Paw Print & artwork by Cormac McNiece. It released on all streaming platforms 22nd May.
Jack Bashful has gathered a cult following in the Belfast scene, receiving co-signs and commendations from fellow artists like Leo Miyagee and Steve Loc while being featured on The New Éire editorial playlist on Spotify with his Marcus Woods collaboration “Target Acquired”. His friend and frequent collaborator Moon Paw Print is also developing a good reputation on the fledgling scene, with his material being featured on major Irish platforms such as Nialler9 and RTÉ 2XM.
Bashful follows up his most recent EP “Molotov”, with a new meditative single “Look No Further”, opening up on frustrations that come to the boil over the twinkling, ambient soaked production by Belfast producer, Moon Paw Print. In the opening bars to “Look No Further”, Bashful is direct with the listener as he spits
“These last few months have been particularly taxing”
true to form he attacks the beat with a pacy flow over a piano looped trap instrumental. It’s clear he’s got an ax to grind as he fits right in the pocket of the beat rapping,
“They don’t like it when I’m being honest/ I tried being cocky said I should be modest/Told to act the baddest/ I was told to only care about social status”.
The track was written and recorded in recent weeks, which comes as no surprise as the urgent and emotional delivery of the track reflects the thoughts of someone going through the difficulties and restrictions of a global pandemic.
“I suppose the idea of writing a song like this came from a worry I had that people might think I’m a one-dimensional rapper who can only thrive through one style. I also think the situation that we are in may have affected my ability to be hopeful for the future, which might have provoked me to be more honest about things. This has been a wake up call that we shouldn’t take things for granted and that we should be honest with ourselves. That is what led me to reflect in the way that I have, and I feel that it has shown another side of myself as it goes against the machismo stereotype of hip-hop and proves that I can be sensitive too. There are a lot of honest sentiments in this track, which is something that I usually try to steer clear of in the fear of sounding insincere or attention-seeking. I still wanted to maintain a high level of wordplay and multi-syllabic rhyming while staying true to the feeling of the song.”
Have a listen below!