Tony Konstone is one half of Tallaght rap group Hare Squead, along with his childhood friend Lilo Blues.
The duo recently collaborated with vocalist Shauna Shadae on a new single, Late Night Flex, ahead of their long-awaited debut album which is due later this year.
We caught up with Tony to find out why Tallaght was the perfect place to grow up, and where to go for the best Korean food in town...
Home is...
I live in the south side of Tallaght, with my family. I kind of grew up there – 12 years old is when I moved there and started getting into my own type of groove and finding myself in life, basically.
I moved to Ireland when I was two and lived in Lucan, and that was a completely different vibe. Lucan is a bit more of a classy, suburban city, and then Tallaght is this mad, energetic, explosive city with a lot of energy and character.
It was a different vibe getting into that, and I felt like it suited me because I had a lot of character as well. I fit in very nicely.
How I get around the city:
My go-to would be private transport, like taxis or driving, or the Luas. I'm in the middle of the bus and Luas, so it's so handy to get to town. They're both a 10-minute walk from the house.
I prefer taxis, because it's just quicker and more convenient. More private, more comfortable. But the Luas is fast enough and cheap as well.
The best place in the city for a date:
I'm a nature person, so I like to go on walks. There's a reservoir, Bohernabreena – it has an amazing view and a calm lake and stuff like that.
When I'm in the city I'm so loud and energetic but man, I love that peace sh*t. Just take some time and meditate. I'm even going to Santorini in a few days, just to relax.
My favourite pub in the city:
I wouldn't be too much of a pub person. It's not that I hate the vibes, it's not my vibe.
Pyg is cool, it's like a drink and cocktail vibe. I wouldn't go there for a proper night out, but for pre-drinks or if I'm trying to have a chill with a few friends – a few friends DJ there as well.
Mostly I go to wherever my friends are DJing. And Pyg has two-for-one cocktails as well, so...
My favourite restaurant in Dublin:
There's a place called Han Sung – on your way to Ha'penny Bridge and Jervis, there's an alleyway, and there's a little Asian market with a restaurant in the back, and there's amazing food there.
Definitely give that place a hit, it's a top spot. The chicken mayo there is amazing. They put a crazy-ass Korean barbecue sauce on it – oh, sh*t! And an egg on top, shaped like a heart. That’s how much they mean it.
My go-to café or coffee shop:
K.C. Peaches, that's actually a sick spot. It's on Dame Street, beside Centra. They have nice hot chocolates and sandwiches – the BLT is nice in there.
I wouldn't be too familiar with coffees outside of what my mom would buy – I’m more of a tea guy.
Where I get my exercise:
Before music, I was athletic as f*ck and into sports. Obviously, with doing music, you kind of have to be in the studio, and you can't be playing sports and making music at the same time. So I kind of slowed down on exercise, but I go to the gym and I skate.
I go to Energy Fitness at Citywest. I just work on everything, no specifics. Just a few weights.
My favourite shops:
I'm gonna plug my guy Tola Vintage. I always get nice pieces over there, like t-shirts or shirts or jeans. If I'm looking for something unique, I always get it over there.
My favourite place for a haircut:
I used to go to a barbershop called Willy's Barbers in Tallaght, or Designer Cuts – they're my two go-to [barbers]. But throughout the pandemic, they've been locked off and people doing home service and stuff, and they've been charging crazy prices – 50 quid for a trim, that's what it got to.
So I started trimming my own hair, and I'm kind of getting good at it. I've been practising – it's mostly through TikTok, they give decent tutorials.
There was one trim that I did that was a low cut and a decent fade, and the boys were like 'Who did that?' and I was like 'Myself!'. I'm the next barber in town.
My favourite place in Dublin to get away from it all:
My mom's back garden. [Just recently], even though there were sirens and stuff – it is Tallaght! – I was like 'This specific area right here is peaceful as hell'. And I just appreciated that moment.
My favourite place to let my hair down:
Wherever my mates are DJing – Button Factory, Tramline. Shout out my boy Kenzo, my boy Lui Rwego (pictured below), Oliveyolive – he's a hot DJ in the techno scene.
The last live event I went to:
I went to an amapiano event [in Button Factory]. It's sick as hell, it's house music but they have Afro vocals on top and Afro samples, stuff like that. There's a couple of Afro rhythms, but most of it would just be common house music. It blew up from South Africa.
It was my first African event, so it was good to experience it. It was packed, them lads get wild! It was intense, they were just dancing and drinking and I was like, 'Oh sh*t, that's their vibe!'. My vibe is more of a shoulder bop.
Dublin's best kept secret:
You come outside of Ireland and there's no rolls, bro. Just a basic sandwich with chicken inside it. You realise how valuable of an asset chicken fillet rolls are to Irish society, and we need to copyright it and then bring it to the world. Chicken fillet rolls, 100%.
