Gareth Spence Crosses Community Divides Through Rap Music in Belfast
Gareth Spence, a 32-year-old loyalist rapper known as Young Spencer, walked the streets of Belfast’s Shankill estate in September, drawing honks and waves from neighbours while bridging deep sectarian divisions through his music, irishtimes.com reported. Spence performed at a sell-out August concert headlined by rap group Kneecap during the Féile an Phobail community arts festival in west Belfast, drawing praise and criticism alike for crossing traditional community lines.
Growing Up in the Shankill Estate
Spence grew up in a loyalist stronghold historically dominated by the Ulster Defence Association’s C Company, an area he describes as having a distinct reputation compared to other parts of the Shankill Road. Some people see you as coming from down in the gutter when you’re from this part,
Spence said. Despite growing up surrounded by paramilitary murals and the generational weight of the Troubles, he credits local youth workers, football coaches, and community workers with shaping his upbringing and encouraging him to question sectarian divisions.
Sharing the Stage with Kneecap
Performing at Falls Park during the Uppa Falls charity gig, Spence shared a bill with the Irish language rap trio Kneecap, whose members include Móglaí Bap, DJ Próvaí, and Mo Chara. The performance brought him before a nationalist crowd where climate activist Greta Thunberg and other fans wore the group’s signature balaclavas. As a proud British born and raised Protestant from the Shankill estate, I thought I’d died and gone to Fenian heaven for about two hours,
Spence said. While online critics accused him of selling out or chasing headlines, Kneecap member Mo Chara expressed mutual respect for the Shankill rapper, specifically praising his track P.R.O.D. and noting that Spence is authentically himself.
Rising Tensions and Future Generational Hope
Spence acknowledges that his music divides opinion on the Shankill Road, with some community members arguing he is insufficiently conscious of younger audiences watching his rise. Tensions resurfaced in Northern Ireland following the resurrection of the Drumcree parades dispute in Portadown. While walking up the nationalist Cliftonville Road during a standoff between Garvaghy Road residents and the Orange Order, Spence experienced firsthand the cultural divide when a motorist named Kevin pulled over to shake his hand. So I still feel confident in the future generation and its abilities – regardless of what happens politically,
Spence said.
Frequently Asked Questions About Young Spencer
What is Young Spencer’s background?
Gareth Spence, performing as Young Spencer, is a 32-year-old British Protestant rapper and school worker raised in the loyalist Shankill estate in Belfast.
Which music festival featured Young Spencer and Kneecap?
Young Spencer performed alongside Kneecap in August at the Féile an Phobail community arts festival in west Belfast during the Uppa Falls charity gig in Falls Park.
How have other musicians reacted to Young Spencer’s work?
Kneecap member Mo Chara stated that he respects Spence for being authentically himself and specifically praised his song P.R.O.D.
Related reading