Rapper takes a ‘craic’ at the States

An autistic Cork rapper and activist is calling on his fans to help him get to the United States and to the “birth place of hip-hop”.

Originally from Turner’s Cross and now living in Schull, Craic Boi Mental has been lighting up the music scene in Cork and beyond for over half a decade, gathering a small (but not so small) army of dedicated fans along the way.

Now, with over 180,000 followers on social media, he has set his sights on the USA where he says he wants to spread his message of inclusion and to inspire others.

A GoFundMe page called Help Craic Boi Get To America was set up at the start of this week and is already almost half way to its €2,000 goal.

Speaking to the Cork Independent, Craic Boi, who prefers not to use his real name, says he was surprised and delighted by the great response the GoFundMe campaign has received so far.

“It’s fantastic! I wasn't sure how it was going to go as I know everyone is trying to get back on their feet again financially after the pandemic. So it really means a lot that people are getting on board to support,” he said.

When he crosses the Atlantic, Craic Boy says he wants to focus on the east coast for his first US tour, suggesting the ambitious performer plans to return again.

He said: “America is huge. I think for my first US tour, I’m going to focus on cities in the east coast such as New York, Chicago and Boston. New York fascinates me and I can’t wait to play a show there as it’s the birth place of hip-hop.”

Craic Boi’s music, while certainly humorous, explores many serious themes such as gender issues and racism, as well as his own experiences with autism.

“People resonate with my music because it expresses my unique experience. Many autistic people connect with it because they can relate. As I grow older, I’ve seen how many people connect with it and it inspires me,” he explained.

To those who experience discrimination in their own lives, Craic Boi said: “Find like-minded people and find your community. Keep your head up and try to recognise that there's positivity in the world too.”

As was the case for many musicians and performers who rely on live shows both financially and mentally, Craic Boi said the lockdown was difficult for him but did allow him to get work done on some new material.

He said: “It was rough not being able to do gigs for my fans but being in lockdown, I had a lot of free time to focus on being creative, so I put out a lot of new material. Right now I’m working on my next album called ‘Neurowavy’. It will be a conscious record with catchy tracks as usual!”

All going well, Craic Boi Mental is aiming to embark on his first US tour this spring and says, although he is confident Irish rappers could do well overseas, he will always live in Ireland.

He said: “No. I love Ireland! So I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. But it’s nice to go and see the world as well. Hip-hop is global now, so there’s definitely opportunities for Irish rappers to gain a following in the US.”

Craic Boi has also just joined the Cameo app which allows users to request personalised video messages from their favourite stars, so if any Craic Boi Mental fans want a personal happy birthday or Valentine’s Day message, he is happy to help.

To make a donation and help Craic Boi Mental get to America, visit gofundme.com and search Craic Boi.