Some of Australia’s best hip-hop artists have teamed up with NITV and Start VR for a powerful new track, Change The Date. With January 26 right around the corner, the conversation about changing the date of Australia Day could not be more relevant nor important. The track, which is not only powerful, but really great on a musical level, is bound to make people think twice before throwing “another genocide on the BBQ,” as Birdz spits.
The track and its accompanying video features some of Australia’s best talent with rhymes including Urthboy and Ozi Batla from The Herd, Thundamentals’ Tuka and Jeswon, L-Fresh the Lion, Nooky, Birdz (Nathan Bird), Kaylah Truth, Tasman Keith, both Erica and Sally of Coda Conduct, and Hau. The video is an impressive 360-degree affair put together by Sydney-based virtual reality studio Start VR in partnership with National Indigenous Television (NITV) and SBS.
Hip-hop has given a formidable voice to Indigenous MCs who are using their platform to spread the message and open our eyes to the life of their people. Last year in particular saw hip-hop jump leaps and bounds ahead in terms of really taking a stance, spearheaded by powerhouse duo A.B. Original and their phenomenal protest track January 26.
Change The Date is another big step towards educating the community to acknowledge that Aboriginal people consider January 26 to be a day of mourning for many obvious reasons. Each artist delivers a powerful verse, with no holding back or sugarcoating the message.
The video was released in conjunction with NITV’s Always Will Be Festival leading up to January 26th. Check out the video below, be sure to drag the video around the cypher to heck out everything going on. The lyrics to the track are also available on the SBS website.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4vf8uF1rq0
On the creation of the video, Start VR Managing Director Angus Stevens said, “when NITV reached out to us we immediately said yes. It’s exciting to be a part of something that you believe in and to be able to join the conversation by using our VR and 360 video experience to explore the debate to change the date has been fantastic.
“VR allows the viewer to really feel like they’re in the room with the artists, and this project encapsulates that sense of immediacy and intimacy,” Stevens added “It’s been a great experience to work with NITV and we can’t wait for everyone to check it out.”
Image: SBS
Coda Conduct have been travelling all over in support of their latest single Usually I’m Cool. Normally I would catch them in Melbourne, however I was overseas during their Grace Darling Hotel show and missed out. So I decided to hit the road and check them out earlier this month at the Transit Bar in their hometown of Canberra. Supported by local acts Genesis Owusu and Kirklandd, Coda Conduct delivered one of the most energetic gigs I’ve seen in Australian hip-hop.
Fresh off his Visions release and a killer performance at FashFest Kirklandd opened the gig with an earnest energy. Kirklandd is still a new face to many but he is well on his way to becoming a local mainstay. With slick Cam Bluff production and great lyricism, Kirklandd is a natural on stage – and immensely grateful, too. He clearly enjoys ever moment on stage, soaking it up, not taking anything for granted. The highlight of his set was a cover of Lupe Fiasco‘s Kick Push, said to have inspired the rapper along his own path.
Photo: Victor Tawagi
Genesis Owusu followed shortly after and to say I was excited would be an understatement. Genesis is one of the most exciting acts in the country right now, and it was my first chance to see him performing live. His genre-blending style and unique lyricism is what has been missing from the local scene. With a masterfully structured set, each track slowly builds in tempo as the audience energy continued to grow. The crowd lost it when Genesis’ brother, Citizen Kay, joined him on stage for a surprise treat, their supergroup two-piece The Ansah Brothers. All in all, Genesis seriously turned it up and showed The Transit Bar why he’s definitely not one to sleep on.
Photo: Sara Heaven
Closing out the night were the always incredible Coda Conduct. Sally and Erica opened their homecoming show with a remix of Shirley Bassey’s iconic Big Spender, before debuting some new songs, such as Rider, which gave an exciting taste of their upcoming sophomore EP. Banter was sprinkled throughout the set, both between the pair and with the audience; one of the best things about a Coda Conduct set is that they never take themselves too seriously, while simultaneously proving their deadly skills. The entire crowd got down during Click Clack (Front N Back), Coda’s anthem to the male posterior, and vibed along to the new single Usually I’m Cool. Coda seemed truly moved by the love and support from their native Canberra. During Knees High Erica ribbed her brother in the audience, saying, “it’s amazing people know the words to that song, my brother doesn’t and it’s about him!”
Image: Facebook
“We have one more song left and it’s a slow one,” Sally remarks, to yet more huge crowd cheers. Dewis, Coda Conduct’s longtime DJ, then points out that they haven’t done Pool Room yet. The atmosphere is electric as their catchiest and most infectious track kicks off with the familiar “C-O-D-A Coda Conduct, you think they’re ready for this?” The crowd scream the lyrics back at the group, while Citizen Kay, Genesis Owusu and Kirklandd lead the charge, turning it up in the front row. After a brief break and wild applaude, the crew return for a final encore track, proving that not only does Canberra turn up for its local talent, Canberra supports local hip-hop in a big way.
Coda Conduct are back, not only with an brand new upbeat single Usually I’m Cool, but also details of a national tour.
The video for their last single Click Clack (Front N Back) saw them pushing stereotypes as they gave some attention to the male booty. The simple video had male dancers getting their twerk on, while the girls Sally and Erica took centre stage.
This time, they have Jimblah helping them out with his smooth voice flowing in and out of the track. The duo’s rapping skills quicken the song’s pace, waking the listener up as the words run through their headphones. One half of the duo, Sally, hopes listeners can relate to the song’s themes. “It’s about those word-fumbling, clumsy, butterfly moments when you’re trying play it cool around someone you’re really into.”
This single, as well as the last, is a sample from their upcoming EP, for which they drew inspiration from many of hip-hop’s greats.
“This EP was about revisiting a lot of early 2000s hip hop that we loved, and bringing that inspiration into the present. Click Clack had some massive Missy Elliott vibes, but Usually I’m Cool has influences from artists like Ciara, Usher and Nelly. We wanted it to be confident and soulful, so the decision to ask Jimblah to come on board was a no-brainer,” Erica says.
The dates are as follows:
August 27th – Cream Festival, Canberra
September 7th – BIGSOUND, Brisbane
September 9th – Plan B Small Club, Sydney
September 16th – Grace Darling, Melbourne
September 22nd – On Notice Festival @ Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Liverpool
October 7th – Transit Bar, Canberra
October 8th – Sad Grrls Festival @ Factory Theatre, Sydney
October 21st – Rocket Bar, Adelaide
Listen to Usually I’m Cool below.
Image: Pilerats
Hip-hop duo Coda Conduct have been on our radar for a few months now, but it has been a long time since we have heard any new material from them. Thankfully, the wait is finally over, with the two ladies dropping a brand new clip today for their single, Click Clack (Front N Back).
Taking the decades-old notion of rap videos focussing on the female butt and turning it on it’s head, Coda Conduct have flipped gender roles and are seizing the moment to celebrate the male booty. With a clip starring one of Sydney’s best male dance crews, as well as triple J Breakfast host, Matt Okine, the clip is an extremely fun take on your standard rap video – and will have you dropping it low in no time.
With their deft lyricism, Coda Conduct draw heavy influence from the likes of Missy Elliot with this percussion-led number, teaming up with upcoming producer Jayteehazard for production duties. Sally & Erica (the two halves of Coda Conduct) have made a name for themselves with their quick wit and unstoppable senses of self, and this once again shines through with Click Clack.
By taking the exploitation that women’s bodies often face in rap videos and making it work for them, this tongue-in-cheek track and clip are perfect examples of why we rate these two ladies so high – and why the rest of the country is slowly catching on to.
Take a look for yourself below to see some almighty booty work, and keep your eyes peeled for any future releases from the ladies here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb4zf7wfruA
Image: Screenshot
Statik Selektah – In The Wind Ft. Joey Bada$$, Big K.R.I.T and Chauncy Sherod
We were getting a little impatient in the lead up to the release of Statik Selektah‘s Lucky 7 album, but thankfully this week, that wait is now over. In The Wind is another track taken from that record, and like its predecessors, is another shining example of just how incredible Statik is. Blending so many elements and whipping them into a groovy, blissful, hip hop storm is no mean feat, but Statik goes about about it in such a way it looks almost easy.
Youngs. – Serasan Shakes
Slow but fast, gentle but powerful, Melbourne band Youngs. have dropped a doozy with Serasan Shakes. Hypnotic in the way it soars and crashes, it’s a promising release from a very promising band. The frenetic beats are reminiscent of acts like Seekae, but the vocals and melodies distance the band from too strong a comparison, and put them in a league of their own.
LIR – Chasing
Melbourne and Tel Aviv are pretty different I would imagine, but the best of both worlds have combined in the new duo, LIR. Chasing is their debut single and as far as debuts go, this one is very special. The layered vocals, the frenzied loops, the dulcet tones of Liron Tru and the fed up lyrics swirl together to create a glitchy, unpredictable but totally enthralling track that I just can’t get enough of.
HANA – Avalanche
Having received support from Lorde, Grimes and Lana Del Rey before releasing your second ever song is no mean feat, but when it comes to HANA, you can understand why. It also helps that Blood Diamonds is your boyfriend as well as your producer. The two clearly work superbly together, with this track really speaking for itself. Crisp but muffled drum beats, the intricate production and HANA’s feather soft voice – Avalanche is a total dream.
cln – Found
Cln is definitely an up and comer that deserves your attention – and with tracks like Found, he’s bound to get it. One of the better producers to pop up in this post-Flume world, Cln’s work is delicate, meticulous and considered, and it’s this thought and care that he takes with his tracks that make them what they are. I’ve got both my eyes on this guy!
The Ocean Party – Guess Work
In my opinion, The Ocean Party are one of the best bands in Australia right now, so any new music from them is pretty much guaranteed to be good. Guess Work marks their return to the scene after dropping one of the best albums of last year, Soft Focus. With lyrics that sing of “feelings of guilt and disenfranchisement of living in an age of globalization and drone warfare,” and such precise guitar leads, poignant keys and a drum beat that carries the track, Guess Work is one hell of a way to mark their return.
Major Leagues – Someone Sometime
Brisbane darlings Major Leagues are definitely not wasting any time accumulating a loyal fan base with their dreamy tunes, and rightly so. The serene vocal harmonies, the fuzzy guitars and hard hitting drums might seem like something you’ve heard before, but there is something special about this band that keeps them separate from the pack. They’re about to go on tour as well as performing at BIGSOUND later this year, and I insist you go along to see them in action!
Ta-Ku – Down For You Ft. Alina Baraz
It’s basically a given that any song that Ta-Ku releases will end up in many a “Best Songs” playlist, and this one is no exception. Down For You is taken from the prolific producer’s latest EP, Songs to Make Up To, and it makes us want to do more than that! The gorgeous vocals from Alina Baraz and Ta-Ku’s exceptional as always production make for another outstanding track.
Coda Conduct – Paint it Gold
Canberra/Sydney hip hop duo Coda Conduct have only just come onto my radar recently, and I am so glad they did. Sally and Erica can rap, and they can rap really good. Sally makes their beats too, and their EP released in March Butter Side Up is one of the better releases I’ve heard this year. Paint It Gold is so much fun, delivered with high energy, dynamic production and a spotlight on just how much these two ladies have going in. I am predicting very big things to come from these two!