No Hands

‘No Hands’ has been a staple of Kojaque’s live shows for a while, but the Dublin lyricist shied away from a public release due to the track’s personal subject matter. The new single and accompanying video reflect on the issues of masculinity and suicide as the Soft Boy Records co-founder delves into his childhood life after the passing of his father.

This is Kojaque’s first drop in 2021, prepping him up for a full-length solo album to land soon. ‘No Hands’ steps away from the trap-tinged sound of his Luka Palm collaboration Green Diesel, blending an almost spoken word style with a stumbling, nostalgic instrumental.   

The track focuses on the MC gaining the courage to ride his bike (and his life) without using the handlebars. He hopes his late father is proud of what he’s achieved, despite not being given the guidance that he longed for. In the self-directed music video, we see a young Kojaque crash, only to don his dad’s clothes and succeed in cycling with no hands. 

We learn of the struggles faced in striving to be a father figure too young - a '“juvenile veteran” trying to be a man when he was still just a kid. Though rife in grief and damning of religion, the message is ultimately positive, with Kojaque making do with what he has: hope, his mother and the pedals at his feet.