The Rise of Dublin’s Hip-Hop Laureate
Flynn Johnson has become a distinctive presence in Irish hip-hop, combining introspective lyricism with unflinching cultural commentary. Raised in Blanchardstown, Dublin, he translates his environment and experiences into sharp storytelling and precise rhyme schemes. His work circles the estates of Dublin 15, turning local detail into songs that resonate far beyond it, marking him out as a compelling voice in modern Irish music.
Since releasing his debut EP In The Meantime in 2015, Johnson has built a reputation for honest, reflective writing. His work, described by Plastic Magazine as “unfiltered storytelling and profound societal insight”, has led international outlets to frame him as part of a new wave of European hip-hop. 2024 marked a pivotal year of artistic momentum. “Calen Made Me Do It” earned strong radio support, securing a place on DJ Target's Touchdown Tour on BBC 1Xtra, with RTE 2FM’s Beta Da Silva praising his narrative-driven lyrics and technical control.
His partnership with O’Neills Sportswear for the Dublin GAA 2025 Alternative Jersey campaign featured his spoken-word piece “We Are the Flame”, an ode to Dublin’s cultural legacy. Collaborations on tracks such as “MULA” with Wallfella and “Tree Sap (Remix’d)” with Curtisy underlined his reach across Ireland’s hip-hop scene, with Hot Press describing his flow as “Dublin’s answer to Ocean Wisdom”.
Johnson’s commitment to growth was reinforced by an IMRO scholarship to the International Songwriting Retreat, where he refined his craft. That development fed into “The Soundtrack”, released in December 2024, which explored the tension between societal expectations and artistic ambition and anchored his sold-out headline show at Crowbar Terrace, Dublin.
His debut album, THE GREEN BOX THEORY, arrived on 7 November 2025 via Golden Éire Records. The record fixes Dublin 15 in the mid-to-late 2000s, tracing the “children of the hill” who learn to find beauty in a place others tend to call broken. At its core is the green electricity box: meeting point, memorial and recurring narrator. Described by Johnson as “a love letter to the estate and a thank-you note for the lessons it taught me”, the album moves between themes of friendship, bravado, sorrow and survival. Singles such as “BLANK’D (feat. dib)” and “MURDER (feat. whoisdays)” trace heartbreak, rumour and reputation with a level of detail that has led press to praise his “brutal authenticity” and “keen social perspective”, calling him one of the most interesting voices in the new wave of European hip-hop.
Live and visual work now carries that world beyond the recordings, through intimate listening parties, in-store performances, and Green Box installations that bring the setting and symbols of the record into physical space. For Johnson, music is a way to document local memory and share it with others, one carefully written verse at a time.
Latest Release
THE GREEN BOX THEORY
A timepiece of Dublin 15 told through sharp storytelling and vivid local imagery. Rooted in mid-to-late 2000s estate life, the record moves between bravado, sorrow and survival, tracing the “children of the hill” who learn to find beauty in a place others tend to call broken.
Described by Johnson as “a love letter to the estate and a thank-you note for the lessons it taught me,” THE GREEN BOX THEORY navigates the estate’s guidance and its hardships, set against production shaped by the textures and memories of that era.
Live Performances.
Spindizzy Records — In-store Performance
To celebrate the release of his debut album 'The Green Box Theory', Spindizzy Records welcomes FLYNN JOHNSON for a very special in-store performance & signing.
Blanchardstown Resonance III — Draíocht Blanchardstown
A celebration of creativity and community, showcasing some of the most talented artists from Dublin 15.
Flynn Johnson: The Soundtrack — Crowbar Terrace
A night that brings together Dublin’s Hip-Hop community for an intimate, up-close experience at Crowbar Terrace.
Sound House Rising - The Sound Hose Dublin
An eclectic evening of exciting new artists showcasing the very best of rising Irish talent.
'November Medicine' Album Launch - Whelans Dublin
Hip-Hop artist Nealo takes to the stage at Whelan's, supported by Flynn Johnson, Wallfella, and Odd Numbers.
Press.
Beta Da Silva, RTÉ Culture
"The Dublin based MC is not to be messed with when it comes to his narrative-driven lyrics and unlimited rhyme schemes in any verse that he cooks up."
Hot Press Magazine
"Flynn Johnson could be Dublin’s answer to Ocean Wisdom, with a ridiculously precise, high-speed flow"
Damo Howard, Plastic Magazine
"A unique and exciting artist wielding a lyrical style built on a thoughtful philosophical approach that captures the essence of Dublin life through his own lens."
