Welcome to Episode 20 of The Joe Irish Podcast! In this special episode, host Joe Irish sits down with the one and only Black Paddy (Fabio David) for an incredibly candid and hilarious conversation about life, comedy, immigration, and everything in between.

Black Paddy, a Nigerian-Irish content creator with over 700,000 TikTok followers and half a million Facebook followers, opens up about his journey from arriving in Ireland at age 14 to becoming one of the country's most beloved social media personalities. The conversation covers his recent charity cycle around Ireland for Jigsaw mental health, navigating online trolls and controversy, and his transition from viral videos to stand-up comedy.

This episode doesn't shy away from tough topics - racism, immigration debates, online bullying, and the reality of being a public figure in modern Ireland. But through it all, Black Paddy's infectious humour and genuine warmth shine through, along with some absolutely hilarious stories from his early days in Blanchardstown.

Plus, get the exclusive announcement about Black Paddy's upcoming solo comedy show "How Did I End Up Here?" at The Laughter Lounge on March 12th!

Follow Black Paddy on social media and grab your tickets when they go on sale!

Timecodes

00:00 - Introduction & Welcome
01:10 - The Origin of "Black Paddy" vs "Fabio David"
02:00 - Black Paddy's rap career origins
06:00 - Comedy vs social media content
07:37 - Cycling around Ireland for charity
11:34 - Getting stranded in the dark in Kerry
13:53 - The business of being an influencer
15:15 - Political protests and being caught in the middle
18:39 - Black Paddy's philosophy on racism
21:22 - Dealing with online hate and being "the poster boy for racism"
24:13 - The mental health impact of online bullying
26:18 - Learning to ignore trolls and negative energy
30:48 - TikTok going downhill
32:25 - Arriving in Ireland at age 14
33:17 - The accent shock and moving to Blanchardstown
35:11 - His father's death in Nigeria
36:14 - Feeling at home in Ireland
38:40 - First comedy gigs and finding the Irish sense of humor
41:23 - Plans to bring Irish audiences to Nigeria
44:08 - Egyptian family connections
48:56 - ANNOUNCEMENT: "How Did I End Up Here?" comedy show - March 12th at The Laughter Lounge
49:28 - Discipline differences between Nigeria and Ireland
51:03 - HILARIOUS STORY: The "This is not f*cking Nigeria" story
58:13 - Year of the Horse - prosperity ahead
59:24 - Call for podcast sponsors & episode wrap-up

Joe Irish kicks off the first episode of 2026 with a high-energy studio session alongside co-host Sherin and special guests Clueless – the fast-rising Irish rap duo from Wexford that’s been blowing up online.

From a viral TikTok clip and just 35 followers to thousands overnight, Clueless break down how one catchy hook, raw lyrics, and DIY production sparked serious momentum. The lads talk friendship, freestyling for the craic, recording tracks at home, upcoming gigs, and their first big Dublin shows.

Along the way, the conversation dives into Irish rap culture, creative freedom, social media virality, live performance nerves, industry advice, cancelled culture, inspirations like Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg and Kanye West, and what it really takes to build something from nothing.

Unfiltered, funny, and full of belief — this episode is about backing yourself, staying consistent, and riding the wave when it comes.

🎧 New music dropping
🎤 Live gigs booked
🔥 2026 energy activated

Timecodes / Chapters

00:00 – Chaos, intros & kicking off 2026
00:32 – Introducing Clueless: Wexford’s rising rap duo
01:17 – Studio vibes, co-hosts & first guests of the year
01:51 – The viral clip that stopped Joe scrolling
02:27 – Comparisons, influences & Irish TikTok culture
03:20 – “Ones to Watch” & first major Dublin gig
03:57 – Growing up together & early freestyles
05:01 – How the song actually came together
06:07 – Lyrics, hooks & happy accidents
07:10 – DIY beats, learning production & no formal training
08:13 – First live shows, ticket sales & nerves
09:18 – Advice on gigs, stage time & consistency
09:43 – Big goals: EP, festivals & long-term vision
10:37 – 2026 mindset, momentum & leaving baggage behind
11:34 – Lyrics breakdown & viral caption confusion
12:49 – Did they expect it to blow up?
13:35 – From 35 followers to thousands
14:38 – Family reactions & unexpected fans
15:30 – Recording at home & releasing music fear
16:08 – Musical influences & rap inspirations
17:14 – Concerts, crowd energy & live performance
18:13 – Dream collabs & Kanye talk
19:40 – Industry talk, fame & accountability
21:17 – Comedy, cancel culture & artistic freedom
23:29 – Favourite lyrics & creative process
25:02 – School, work & balancing real life
26:24 – Day jobs, money & chasing music sustainably
27:24 – Social media, visuals & DIY marketing
28:51 – Preparing for shows & performance setup
29:45 – Upcoming gigs & backstage plans
30:21 – Sneak peek at unreleased music
31:22 – New track reactions & feedback
33:24 – Getting paid, early gigs & industry lessons
35:06 – Irish rap scene & coming up locally
36:36 – Tonight’s show & what’s next
40:15 – New release dates & future projects
41:09 – EP plans & recording going forward
42:11 – Final thoughts, momentum & sign-off

Join us as we wrap up an incredible year with laughs, Christmas stories, and unforgettable podcast memories! From behind-the-scenes tales to festive family mishaps, this episode has it all. Special thanks to ACTIVE LAMS for supporting the show.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome & Episode Introduction
02:18 - Looking Back at 2024 & Episode Lineup
03:45 - Behind the Scenes: The Lams Sponsorship Story
06:00 - Favourite Guest Moments & Highlights
09:12 - Jimmy's Halloween Story & Mary's Face Smash
11:10 - Guest Recap: Drug Dealer Stories & Funny Moments
13:05 - The "Follow Me" Hashtag Discovery
14:20 - Collab Drama & Black Party Video Stories
16:03 - Getting Back on Track
17:10 - Christmas Stories Begin
19:06 - Growing Up in Jobstown: Christmas Traditions
21:15 - The Drunk Driver Crash Stories (Heavy Content)
24:19 - Dad's Christmas Attic Fall & "Jingle Bells"
26:07 - Apple Pie Disaster: Eating Christmas Dessert Early
28:31 - Mam Dressing as Santa Until Age 25
31:04 - Annual Santa Party Tradition with the Family
34:05 - Christmas Away: Cruises & Canary Islands Stories
36:09 - House Party Memories & Singing Stories
37:14 - Kids & Christmas Pressure
39:08 - The Secondhand Playstation Story
40:06 - NOW Albums & Generational Differences
41:08 - Being Grateful vs Ungrateful at Christmas
43:01 - Eddie Murphy Ice Cream Joke Gone Wrong
44:07 - Finding Presents Early & Ruining Surprises
46:44 - The Grinch vs The Grouch Confusion
48:23 - The Missing Socks Mystery
49:33 - Socks on Hands in the Snow
51:20 - Kids Won't Share Clothes Today
52:07 - Ozzy's Chilli Disaster Story
55:03 - 2024 Wrap Up & 2025 Plans
56:25 - Future Guests: Eilish O'Carroll, Medicine Lady & More
57:20 - Monthly Phone-In/Text-In Format Idea
58:27 - Thank Yous & Christmas Wishes