A New Dublin Rap Era Is Here Forget waiting for a seat at the table
Elzzz and Young Iz are building their own.
The two heavyweights of Ireland’s rap scene have collided to unleash “Sharks and Fishes”, a cold, confident flex from the heart of Dublin. It opens with a bite: “Tell me why I should swim with the fishes when deep down I know I’m a shark” — a line that sets the tone for the duo’s mission. This is more than music. It’s movement, it’s momentum, it’s Dublin hip-hop in its most fearless form.
Elzzz, already making history as the first Irish rapper to secure an official #1 album, is rewriting the rules. With his Nigerian-Irish roots and boundary-pushing sound, he’s leading the charge for a generation that won’t be boxed in. A founding member of the Gliders collective alongside Travy and Sam Fallover, Elzzz blends street sensibility with global flair — his tracks weaving cultural identity, community spirit, and razor-sharp lyricism into something unmistakably now.
From underground circles to mainstream charts, Elzzz’s presence is undeniable. His music resonates with first-generation Black kids in Ireland, delivering raw honesty and cultural commentary with style and finesse. Critics call him “visionary.” Fans call him “the voice.” We just call it the future.
Young Iz, meanwhile, brings his signature storytelling to the table. A viral force in his own right (“Outside“, “War In The Club“, “Glurpings“) and a master of emotionally charged bars, he doesn’t just rap — he paints in feeling. Balancing vulnerability with swagger, his sound is intimate but anthemic, personal but universally resonant. His bars? Unfiltered. His energy? Unmatched.
Raised in a multicultural Dublin that’s still finding its voice on the global stage, Young Iz is pushing the envelope of what Irish rap can sound and feel like. He isn’t chasing trends—he’s creating his own soundscape a genre-fluid style that resonates far beyond Ireland.
“Sharks and Fishes” is their link-up moment — unapologetically bold, layered with meaning, and pulsing with the kind of hunger that defines a cultural shift. With slick production from Liam Harris & Slippery Haze, clever lyricism, and a message rooted in self-belief, the track is a blueprint for the new wave rising from Ireland’s capital.
This isn’t just a song. It’s a line in the sand.
Dublin, are you listening?