Irish alt-rap duo Tebi Rex are signing off in style with their third and final album, Fin., out August 22. Among its highlights is the arresting single “And I’m Mad. ” featuring Becky McNeice.
The duo, comprised of Max Zanga and Matt Ó Baoill, have delivered two thought-provoking, theme-driven albums and a string of acclaimed singles and EPs, evolving from their alt-hip-hop roots into boundary-pushing artists unafraid to experiment and collaborate.
The production by Adam Redmond hooks you instantly with drilly, somber pulsing keys and a subtle drum-and-bass groove that creeps in beneath it. But it’s the spoken-word delivery—deep, reflective, and prophetic—that makes vulnerability sound effortlessly cool, as the artist lays it all bare.
Lyrics like “I’m mad the home I grew up in isn’t a home / It’s barely a house / More a quiet set of a show long over” pull you in, demanding your full attention.
The track feels carefully curated, channeling time passed, grief, and the process of letting go—all shaken together like a stiff cocktail.
On the meaning behind the track, Ó Baoill explains: “When covering endings, we’d be remiss not to speak on the topic of death. Unfortunately, we’ve experienced our fair share of loss… this is just two people grieving. Just the end. Just a song for Raph and Mam.”
“And I’m Bad” is the kind of song that lingers—it’s poetic, beautifully sad, and stunning in its delivery. It sets the tone for what promises to be a deeply detailed and affecting final album from Tebi Rex.
