Unveiling Ireland's Rising Hip Hop Talent: McJordan Richardson Amartey

Short Bio

My full name is McJordan Richardson Amartey. I am a hip-hop artist. I produce and perform my own music. I was born in Ghana and raised in Ireland. But since childhood, I've had to move quite frequently so I don't have a singular place I identify with. That's why my sound is so different. It's just me. I am no singular place and culture, I am an accumulation of cultures. This speaks through my music.

I’m often regarded a jack of all trades and when it comes to making music, I take it as a compliment. I’ve been blessed with many talents. Rather than let some die to cultivate one, I’m growing them all to maximise the potential God has given me. I write, produce, mix, and master my own music. Growing up in church gave me the push to develop a lot of the skills I use now. I sing, play bass, piano and drums and they all lend to my exciting, raw and unique production style.

My main musical influences are D’Angelo, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Cam O’bi, Tyler The Creator, Chance The Rapper, Kirk Franklin and Jacob Collier. All of these artists have redefined the possibilities in music. From D’Angelo’s use of loose time to Kirk Franklin and Chance The Rapper’s use of hip-hop to produce music that glorifies God. My biggest lesson is that anything and everything is possible. I’ve been guided to ask what’s really important, “what do I want to do?’”.

My answer is everything, eventually. Right now, I’m melding musical genres and tropes with honest, relatable lyrics to produce music that has and will continue to make me cry. My music is different to what’s popular, it can be really surprising, but what it’s the industry needs. It’s a reminder that all things are possible, genre should be a guideline not a box and truth is the most important thing in your music.