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While many other sites argue over who's the freshest down
under…is it Kylie, is it Holly, well with no flowery shirt intentions I have to give a shout to the Australian lyric master Brad Strut. This Australian bad boy has an LP out and a lot to shout about; once you check his stuff you wont give a Castle main four ex for anything else!
I'm just an everyday type of bloke who just so happened to fall for the hip hop culture in a big way. I'm an illegal alien. I'm a grand son of an English gentleman immigrant. Slowly but surely getting into their heads. Australian music is dominated by pop, dance and rock traditionally so it's just a bit by bit proposition as far as success. The Australian hip hop scene is a thriving one intent on delivering original sounds and concepts to this music we love. Nowadays we seem to get the acts (international) making their way down here. It's certainly opened up from the days of old. A few years ago there was only a handful of local releases available and now theirs more than you can care to count…
Before "AUTHENTIC" I had mainly featured on other peoples and crews releases. Names to check for, and I know they're over there the BONEY & STONEY EP, THE 183 COMPILATION, CULTURE OF KINGS VOL 1, THE FORMULA TAPE, TREM'S-AMATEURS 12", BIAS B'S-BEEZWAX LP, REASON -SOLID LP, NUFF SAID VOL.1 and a bunch of others, though their the main ones. Taskforce recently toured Australia and I can assuredly write it was a great success. They got good turnouts wherever they went. I just think that we can relate a lot more to the content and verbal twists that UK hip hop delivers. Unfortunately I didn't get to do supports for em, but luckily enough was able to put some music down in the studio with em. I think people should be proud of what they got in their own country, heads of a world class standard.
How big is the Hip Hop scene in Australia?
The
Oz hip hop scene has a deep-rooted history going back to the early days of the artform. All elements of the culture have been heavily represented. Things come and go but the core group of people who have done it in the good and bad times are finally getting some very overdue props and recognition. We now get most of the touring acts and in the last 12 months managed to get a nationwide hip hop radio show on air. Things are looking on the up with a lot of new groups, faces and sounds coming through ……… Yeah LYRICAL COMMISSION, HILLTOP HOODS, KOOLISM, DOWNSYDE, BIAS B, PROWLA, PEGASUS and a host of up and comers and others… I don't know about this biggest business but the names that tend to get mentions would be your Taskforce, Cappo, Louis Slippaz, Roots Manuva, Lilangryman, Ramson Badbones, P-Brothers, Deed, Jeh5t, Junior Disprol and a heap of other acts…like I said b4 we tend to relate closer with the themes and sounds of the UK as compared to the American lifestyle. DJ J-RED is a freakish individual who is a renowned party DJ in this part of the world. Forever working, forever skilled. He repped Australia last year in the vestax battles in L.A. and also repped for oz with his partner SELEKT in the DMC world team battles. He adds way more dimension to live shows and recorded tracks than your average. Somewhere in the middle. Suburban Australia is on some simple stupid stuff, whereas closer to the cities it gets a bit more rugged. We're more on some TWO HANDS type
shite! Other than the usuals, and all good heads know what those are. I like TOO $HORT, B.D.P, GETO BOYS, TIM DOG, EARLY ORGANIZED, JUST ICE, PHIL DA AGONY, MF DOOM, SELF SCIENTIFIC, AL-SHID, OUTKAST, THIRSTIN HOWL III, RACK LO, MR NOISE, PERCEE P, NECRO, NON PHIXION, J-LIVE, J-ZONE, GANGSTARR, DIAMOND D, LARGE PRO and way too many more. I got into hip hop in a similar way to many, the early breaking days led me into defacing public property which led me into rhymes and here I am. This local old timer called DEDLEE has just dropped his EP on wax and CD. It's called OVERDUE and it sure was, but the wait was well worth it and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Super tight wordplay, wit and grit! I got an e-mail from DJ FINESTYLER and he mentioned something about getting me over there. I'm on an emcee wage and have peeps to support so I can't really see my own pocket supplying it. A.T.M I'm really focused on bringing out the music. But I would love to get over your way and show you what I'm on about! O.K we got a LYRICAL COMMISSION LP dropping some time this year, the track with LILANGRYMAN on SFDB called "GOING WALKABOUT" and a new solo EP featuring TASKFORCE will be available early September on OBESE RECORDS. I'm still letting "THE AUTHENTIC" breath a little. Anyone I know who cares about what I do, To my girl TANIA DE SILVA, MY FAMILY & CREW, THE AUSTRALIAN HIP HOP MASSIVE, THE U.K HIP HOP MASSIVE HEADS WOLDWIDE who are contributing to the development of our culture. Let's show em what we're made of!!!!!!!! PEACE TO RIZ FOR THE SUPPORT AND PROPS! OUT!
© ukhh.com 2002
interview 0105 added
12.05.02 words Riz
Firstly, are you a criminal, an orphan, a Jacobite or just a guy who emigrated?
So Brad, you are making a bit of a name for yourself over in the UK, what's the scene like back in Australia and how successful are you there?
'
...
I'm just an everyday type of bloke who just so happened to fall for the hip
hop culture in a big way...'
So you have the "Authentic LP" out in the shops now in the UK, for those that have already played it to death, is there anything else we should be checking of yours prior to "Authentic"?
You have had some big UK names over in Australia, and you were the support for them right? How is the UK scene seen as down under?
Are there any other Australian crews we should check?
Who is the biggest UK act in Australia and how does UK Hip Hop go down?
Tell us about your DeeJay?
You have hooked up with SFDB Records have you not?
Tell us a bit about that? I'm meant to be on a 12" dropping soon by Lilangryman, but aren't too sure on the details. Do keep those ears peeled for the goodness. I'm hoping we can get that one out! "GOING WALKABOUT"
'
... A few years ago there was only a handful of local releases available and now theirs more than you can care to count...'
A bit of a daft question, but how does Australian Hip Hop face the whole topic of Aborigines?
It deals with it, but still not enough is done for their people. Look to me addressing this issue more in the future. On a recent tour to the nations capital I had a very interesting revelation. Too much to go into here but if you're interested do check the Zulu nation site-see" the message" and scroll to my letter. These people lived on this continent for 40,000 years in peace with the environment until one sunny day a ship sailed in and…let dream time live!
A true face of Australia, Romper Stomper or Home & Away?
Back to you, what Hip Hop do you listen to yourself and how did you get into Hip Hop?
What's in your Walkman right now?
Any plans to come to the UK?
What have you got in the pipeline?
Want to give anyone a shout out?
