At the forefront of the new surge in Irish urban music are Tebi Rex, a hip-hop duo consisting of Max Zanga and Matt O—whose recent back-catalogue glides through genres, ranging from bouncy, dubstep-lite pop to heavier alt rap tracks. The band have expanded the idea of a concept piece to their debut album, The Young Will Eat The Old, centering around how we are destined to be better than what came before us but also doomed to fall prey to their same mistakes. Inspired by Greek mythology, and the growing interest in Ireland’s music scene, the duo closely examine the potential for their own bleak future should they misstep in these early years of recognition.
LISTEN TO “THE YOUNG WILL EAT THE OLD”
A story in three acts, the album take us through the journey of the heady rise, to the characters’ crippling egotism, and eventually to the final crushing low. Max says—“It falls in three acts so there are versions of ourselves that are much further along in their lives. Essentially, it’s a hesitant prophecy.”
It is this level of artistry that has made the duo one of the most acclaimed names on the Irish music scene, with a string of high profile festival appearances and accolades such as being named one of 2FM’s Rising 2019 acts. The self-declared ‘best live Irish hip-hop act’ also made their UK debut this year at the Great Escape and are due to take to the stage in October for Ireland Music Week where previous line-up acts have included Fontaines DC and Kojaque.
