In recent years, the name Kneecap has started appearing in media outlets around the world. They are not an ordinary band: they rap in Irish and English, use sharp humour, challenge expectations and have turned hip-hop into a way of exploring identity, culture and memory in Northern Ireland. But to understand why Kneecap exists — and why they attract so much attention — you first need to understand Belfast. And, in many ways, you also need to understand the city’s sense of hum