Zimbabwean-Irish rapper God Knows is set to release his highly anticipated debut solo album A Future of the Past, coming 26th September 2025 via narolane records. Following the momentum of previous singles The Art of Alienation, The Observer, and Misplaced Empathy, the album is “like the first chapter of a new book, by God Knows.”
Sitting on a bank of over 50 tracks, God Knows says selecting the final track list was “a bittersweet endeavour,” shaped by a desire to tell a coherent story. Blending almost every style of music he loves, God Knows describes the album as containing “albums within this album.” Throughout, the MO remains the same: “collaborating, experimenting, learning new tricks and most importantly growing.” Though born from pain, the project was ultimately made in freedom and love.
Lead single It’s Been A While is a family affair, where eldest sibling God Knows is joined by brother Godswill “Dreddy” Jonas on the hook, while youngest brother Godwin produced the track. God Knows little sister “Omgjojo” features elsewhere on the album on the track 18 Inch War & Eternal.
Speaking on the lead single, Godwin says “I remember having a conversation with God Knows and my cousin Darryl about the title after I made the beat and that’s when the title came to me – “It’s Been A While”. For me, it’d been a while since G had done a solo track and a Grime/Drill tune where he proves to the Irish Scene and the world why he is where he is today. It’d been a while since we did a track together.”
Dreddy adds “we’ve been making music a long time, back when there was two people and the bartender at the shows. From churches, pubs, industrial estate buildings, parties and in between. So for this one we wanted to have fun and give the energy that we get from the shows right back into music, turn up and have a mosh pit in the sound systems!”
The album is labour of love shaped by influences and contributions from Zimbabwe, New York, Dublin, Shannon, West Africa, and beyond – capturing the artist’s expansive creative vision. MuRli, executive producer of the album says the project meant “giving God Knows a canvas wide enough to paint the truth as only he can.”
He continues “Over time, as I lived with these songs, the work became about building a world around his story; guiding the listener through entrances, exits, and even the hidden passageways between them. Every crack and every filling was shaped by his vision; my role was simply to frame it so that his voice could echo fully. As the author, he draws from his own inspirations; for me, as the producer, the inspiration was always him. So I listened, I observed, I studied, and I applied.”
Carving a bold and deeply personal path, A Future of the Past will be released Friday, 26th September, via narolane records, and is set to be one of the year’s most compelling and essential records.
Stream A Future of the Past now:
ABOUT GOD KNOWS
Known for his vividly honest lyricism and electrifying energy wherever he sets foot, God Knows has elevated Irish hip-hop to exponential levels.
In 2020, God Knows’ debut solo EPs ‘Who’s Asking? Vol. I’ and ‘Who’s Asking? Vol. II’ saw him bring together the country’s most exciting, influential and progressive artists for a project that saw one of Ireland’s foremost music journalist Nialler9 commenting, “The ‘Who’s Asking Remix’ is one of the best things to come out of Ireland’s music scene in years. The heat of it is undeniable.” Elsewhere, The Quietus wrote that God Knows “stands proudly at the helm” of Irish hip-hop.
As part of Rusangano Family, God Knows was the recipient of the Choice Music Prize for 2016’s ‘Let The Dead Bury The Dead’ – the first ever hip-hop record to win the prestigious ‘Album of the Year’ award.
Although God Knows leaned into his mentorship role fully, it was only a matter of time before he was ready to truly step into the spotlight he engineered. As one of the two founders of narolane records, God Knows is getting ready for the most prolific period of creativity of his life.
In 2022 God Knows made his narolane debut with the release of ‘Glory’, featuring Irish singer Senita. As a collective, narolane’s creative output conveys their ethos with surety, authenticity and unapologetic ambition. That ethos is to be true to what is right, what is excellent and what is unexpected.
This commitment to excellence has caught the attention of the world’s most revered cultural commentators and music media, with the NME, NPR, France 24, The Irish Times, The BBC, The Guardian, RTÉ, The Fader, Vice and The New York Times all turning their attention to this revolutionary collective.
Follow God Knows:
Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify | Apple Music