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Dublin, Ireland, is known to be a hub for many things: buzzing pubs, a thriving tech-house scene, great craic—the list could go on. TraviS & Elzzz are on a mission to add rap to that list with their latest project, Doghouse.
The duo are the founding members of the Gliders collective, a key part of the effervescent creative scene in the city, whose members include stylist and strategist TJ Meggison, music producer Liam Harris, and videographer Sam Fallover (who has worked with the likes of BXKS and Blanco). The project’s immersive production—handled entirely by Liam Harris—provides a canvas for the two rappers to paint a vivid picture of their journey, catapulting you into the depths of the Doghouse that they’re describing. “Being an artist is hard enough, but being an artist in Ireland without the necessary network is tough,” TraviS tells Complex UK. “All of that creates the best talent, though.”
From the onset, their determination is evident: Doghouse opens with “30 Days & 30 Nights”, acknowledging the toil they’ve experienced to get to where they are today, underscored by a determination to make their dreams come true. The repeated refrain of “we’re really gonna do this” embodies the unshakeable confidence TraviS & Elzzz demonstrate throughout the set, as they speak with a certainty that suggests they have already arrived at their desired destination spiritually, the physical reality is just playing catch-up.
Tracks such as “Notice Me” showcase this sentiment, with the lethargic instrumental capturing the toll that the grind has taken on their psyche in the doghouse. They also enlist the support of fellow torchbearers in the Irish music scene—Monjola, Sello and Reggie (the latter also featured in the Gliders cypher)—a testament to the community being cultivated in the country. Lead single “Blockbuster”, which received widespread applause from the likes of Jme and Tiffany Calver, was a triumphant declaration of arrival at a preordained destination of greatness with little regard for those who have doubted the pair, again complemented flawlessly by an instrumental which feels like the sonic representation of an eruption. And while they know where they’re headed to, TraviS & Elzzz are still firmly aware of where they’re coming from, with “Naij Blood” paying homage to their Nigerian roots.
Last year, their Full Circle project became the highest-charting domestic rap album in Irish history. This time round, TraviS & Elzzz have been in the doghouse and are ready for the world to hear them. As TraviS puts it, “Dublin ain’t the only thing in the doghouse—the whole world is.”
4/5
