Ricegum and Leafyishere featured him in their videos.
Fans took note of his lyrics, infectious hooks and also, songs
about vaping, tobacco and polo mints. By developing multiple
personas such as Yung Ghowl and Sulk Boi, he has been able to
create and produce a large volume of work.
He name is actually a collection of these personas and how they
all come together to make the music.
Does he actually vape or is it all for show as part of his many
personas? He said: “I started vaping as a hobby. I guess when
I saw the character Viper was into vaping on the show Hardy
Bucks back in the day and I had a few friends trying to give up
cigarettes so I got into it with them. I like blackcurrant flavours a
lot but don’t vape as much as I used to.”
He hopes that by using comedy, he can draw attention to the
more serious issues in his songs. “In my opinion, if you want to
get people to take note of your message then the best way to go
about it is through comedy.”
He has also turned his attention to tobacco and smoking with
the track, ‘Ná Caitheamh Tobac’ (Don’t smoke tobacco) which
appears on his recent album, Cork City Anthems. He was inspired
to write it after watching friends quit smoking. “I’m not a fan of
cigarettes. I started making music and realised that I never really
liked cigarettes anyway so vaping was the better option for me.”
Vaping has become big business within the music industry. A
study conducted by Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and
Clinical Practice and Johns Hopkins University in 2018 revealed
that brand placement increased from zero percent of videos with
combustible products in 2013 to 9.9 percent in 2017, this also
increased from 25 percent in 2013 to 87.5 percent in 2017 for
music videos with electronic products.
Several rappers and musicians now have their own vaping lines
including Action Bronson, A$ap Rocky and Professor Green.
The Weeknd also partnered with PAX Labs in 2015 to make an
e-cigerette that commemorated his 2015 North American Tour.
Craic Boi is now observing the same social distancing rules as
the rest of us and has had a series of cancelled gigs across
Ireland and in London due to the coronavirus. He said: “If I get
to Cork City before the end of the year at this rate I’ll be happy.”
“I started vaping as just a
hobby. I had a few friends
who were trying to give up
cigarettes so I got into it with
them.”
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