POSSESHOT is a Melbourne based Hip Hop street label focusing on culture, art, truth and heart. Featuring the talents of Mr Muscles on the mic and Kharni on the beat, Posseshot released their first official release back in August of 2017 but they have been on the grind as Posseshot since 2011.
The release, titled PS1, featured Tornts, Alex Jones, and Diem with guest production from JUVE. Fast forward to 2019 where we have been treated to the release of the Posseshot Expansion Pack (PSX). This release capitalised on the buzz they crew established from PS1, pushing their outfit to new heights.
Having recently featured on the newest episode of the Beers Beats & The Biz podcast, Kharni and Mr Muscles gear up to drop their next project, PS2. The first taste from that album is out now and is titled Blood In, Blood Out.
“They said I’m like Trem Cause I’m fucking ill with the beats and the pen and my letters still connect”
Blood In, Blood Out is a dusty sample laden concoction that echos sounds reminiscent of the Melbourne underground. Kharni channelled it all on this one in as Mr Muscles levels up with a steezy, no’ fucks given approach to his verse. If this is any indication to what the rest of the album holds we are all in for a treat.
The rise of Sampa the Great has been spectacular to watch, having accumulated over 33 million streams collectively since her 2015 breakout, The Great Mixtape. Her second mixtape Birds And The BEE9 won the Australian Music Prize as Best Album Of 2017. Sampa capped off 2018 with her single “Energy”, which premiered via Zane Lowe’s show on Apple Music’s Beats 1, with the accompanying video hitting around 1.2M YouTube views to date.
Entertaining audiences across the globe, Sampa has won a wave of adoring fans with her live shows, performing across the country’s most iconic festivals, including Laneway Festival, Splendour in the Grass, Golden Plains, Sugar Mountain, Womadelaide, Vivid Live & more. Sampa recently returned home, performing her first African shows in Swaziland, Zambia and Johannesburg, before heading to Hobart this June for the iconic Dark Mofo festival and world-renowned Glastonbury festival in the UK. Keeping in the company of greatness, she has supported the biggest names in music including Kendrick Lamar, Ms Lauryn Hill, Thundercat, Hiatus Kaiyote, Ibeyi and Little Simz.
Straight off the bat with an all-consuming sound, “Final Form” is a lesson in hip-hop. An ode to her Zambian heritage, Sampa declares her greatness, with a unique sound that has become synonymous with Sampa The Great. Produced by Silentjay and mixed by Jonwayne, the new single sees Sampa take final form with her most impactful release to date.
‘Final Form’, is a triumphant single that sees the MC embrace the struggle of growing as an artist. Having just been named Zane Lowe’s World Record, ‘Final Form’ is Sampa’s first new music for 2019 and sees her fiercely delivered lyrics entangled with a warm, tightly wound beat.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the constant chatter around you about how ‘you are not there yet’, how you ‘might not make it’” Sampa says. “Final Form is about expanding yourself and calling out any negativity towards that growth process. As an artist I now recognise my in-between stage; sometimes it drops and sometimes it rises, but I love that I get to level up each second. I might even final form tomorrow.”
The ‘Final Form’ official video sees Sampa travel back to Zambia to explore the traditions and communities of her roots. Bridging the gap between the traditional worlds of Nyau dancers and modern Zambian youth culture, it was filmed in the run-up to her first ever shows on African soil, including her recent homecoming show in Zambia. “The video was inspired by the belief of having a spiritual exodus back to yourself.” Says Sampa. “We often as black people in the diaspora talk about the physical return to our roots but not so often about the spiritual.
‘Final form’ is meant to start that conversation. It was important for me to do this video in Zambia, the place of my birth and where I’m from, because if I am truly to become the greatest version of myself, I am going to start at the most me I’ve ever been, which is where I started from, where I grew up! I was born and raised between Zambia and Botswana. By a Bemba mother and Tumbuka father and to erase that by calling me anything but Zambian/African, is to erase my history, culture and essence. Everything I was born from.”
Having previously performed worldwide supporting the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Thundercat, Joey Bada$$, Hiatus Kaiyote, Noname, Ibeyi and Little Simz, in 2019 Sampa is set to play live at Glastonbury, Love Supreme Jazz Festival and with Sons Of Kemet at Somerset House in the UK, before performing alongside Burna Boy in New York’s Prospect Park on 19th July, with additional shows at Dark MOFO (Tasmania – alongside FKA Twigs, Kelsey Lu, Nicholas Jaar), Down The Rabbit Hole (Netherlands) and headlining Hip-Hop Collection (Paris) with more TBA.
Channelling his now trademark street-gospel sound ‘Housing Trust’ – an ode to Eagle’s hometown of Adelaide – is an upbeat yet reflective track which sees Adrian juxtapose a troubled upbringing and struggling family life against the opportunities now afforded to him as an artist.
Co-written and produced by long-time collaborator Jerome Farah (the architect behind Kian’s debut single ‘Waiting’), ‘Housing Trust’ features Adrian’s signature soulful vocals alongside vibrant organs and hip-hop true percussion.
“I had the original hook in my head about 4 years ago when I first started back writing and recording voice notes. I was originally rapping it over Snoop Dogg’s “Gin & Juice” – when I got back in the studio with Jerome last year, I sang him the hook and he hears my melodies perfectly so he laid down the chords instantly. It all paired together like magic, as usual with Jerome. What is wild is I wrote down that ARIA line long before it even happened.”
“Housing Trust is about celebrating life and how far the process has taken me around the world and back. Unchaining myself from many years of dark years in those housing trust to also remaining strong in the same values and intentions as I’ve always had. Thankful reminder.”
A busy end to 2019 will see Adrian take ‘Housing Trust’ on the road, notably to Rod Laver Arena on August 9th in support of Hilltop Hoods, before touring with rising star Tones and I on her national EP tour in September and finishing on a whirlwind 21 date tour of North America with Hilltop Hoods in November and December!
ADRIAN EAGLE – LIVE
Friday, July 19th – NGV Fridays at National Gallery Of Victoria, Melbourne
Thursday, 8th August – Darwin Festival, Darwin
Friday 9th August – w/ Hilltop Hoods at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Saturday 17th August – Mackay BBQ & Beer Festival, Mackay
Adrian Eagle supporting – Tones and I ‘EP Tour’ – Australia
Friday 13 September – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide [SOLD OUT]
Saturday 14 September – Rosemount Hotel, Fremantle [SOLD OUT]
Sunday 15 September – Rosemount Hotel, Fremantle [SOLD OUT]
Tuesday 17 September – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Wednesday 18 September – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne [SOLD OUT]
Thursday 19 September – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne [SOLD OUT]
Friday 27 September – UOW UniBar, Wollongong
Saturday 28 September – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney [SOLD OUT]
Sunday 29 September – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
Friday 4 October – SolBar, Maroochydore [SOLD OUT]
Saturday 5 October – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast [SOLD OUT]
Sunday 6 October – The Triffid, Brisbane [SOLD OUT]
Monday 7 October – The Zoo, Brisbane [SOLD OUT]
Friday 11 October – The Northern, Byron Bay
Adrian Eagle supporting – Hilltop Hoods ‘Great Expanse Tour’ – North America
Friday, 8 November – Music Box, San Diego, CA
Saturday 9 November – The Roxy Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Sunday 10 November – The Independent, San Fransisco, CA
Tuesday 12 November – Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis, MN
Thursday 14 November – Middle East Downstairs, Boston, MA
Friday 15 November – The Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY
Saturday 16 November – Subterranean, Chicago, IL
Sunday 17 November – Cervantes, Denver, CO
Tuesday, 19 November – Doug Fir Lounge, Portland OR
Wednesday 20 November – The Crocodile, Seattle, WA
Thursday 21 November – Distrikt, Victoria BC
Friday 29 November – The Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver BC
Saturday 30 November – The Gateway, Calgary AB
Sunday 1 December – Coors Event Centre, Saskatoon SK
Wednesday 4 December – Le Belmont, Montreal QC
Thursday 5 December – Barrymores, Ottawa, ON
Friday 6 December – The Opera House, Toronto, ON
Saturday 7 December – Aggie Theatre, Fort Collins, CO
Sunday 8 December – The Metro Music Hall, Salt Lake City
Thursday 12 December – The Republik, Honolulu, HI
Adelaide’s own celebrated son, Claz returns for the long-awaited and much-anticipated sophomore album release entitled “Before I Forget”.
This 7 track manifesto reflects on a young man’s mind, travelling through physical and mental states of bliss, pain and hope. The listener is presented with a transparent perspective on Claz’s mental health and outlook on life, with an extended invitation to take a seat next to him on a journey of extreme equilibrium.
Claz may ring the bells of familiarity from his sonic cult classics on youtube such as ‘Visions Of Happiness’ and ‘Living In The Meantime’ that date back to 2011, yet he still remains stubborn in being a prominent figure in the Australian hip-hop scene. Although a lot of his music stems from the beginning of the decade, Claz’s debut album came to fruition in 2017.
‘The Beautiful Distraction’ was released on all digital platforms, refurbishing listener’s memories and gaining a large handful of new fans, with the album itself claiming feature album of the week of it’s release on ‘The Hip Hop Show’ on Triple J.
Claz’s sound would best be described as butter on raisin toast, smooth with a generous sprinkle of soul and wit, leaving you with a bittersweet aftertaste that will have you reflecting on the future, past and present.
Once a very productive musician, an involuntary hiatus imposed itself upon Claz. The epitome and almost ‘nail in the coffin’ of this hiatus came in May 2018, in the form of an ironically unlucky and unfortunate diagnosis of hyperacusis, an extreme sensitivity to sound, particularly in the high and low-end frequency sound range. In short, every musician’s worst nightmare. This brought not only Claz’s musical aspirations but an entire life to a complete halt. An incurable condition with no promise of recovery, at first was depicted by Claz as an omen that a career in music was not meant for him.
“Not only did I face the thought that I’d never make music again, but I saw that this was the end of my social life, and essentially life itself”, Claz explains.
Months passed as Claz attempted to adapt to life with these new restrictions, and it seemed that time in a studio was no longer a tangible option. But as they say, time gradually heals all. In Claz’s situation however it wasn’t physical healing, yet a mental one. Knowing his limitations he eventually found ways of adaptation. Whether it was lowering the volume level in the headphones, or finding appropriate methods of coping, Claz slowly started to get back into the process of creating.
This progress of healing and adaptation was given a large boost when he endeavoured on a month long trip from the bottom of Australia in Adelaide to the top of it in the Daintree rainforest, an hour or so north of Cairns. Seeking inspiration, the distraction of being on the road, and living outside of a suitcase whilst exposing one’s self to beautiful scenery and experiences, Claz returned back home with a long lost hunger back in his belly.
“Hailing from Adelaide, at one point his local notoriety was so great that you couldn’t walk down Hindley Street without seeing a Claz sticker plastered to a stobie pole. And with his 2017 debut album The Beautiful Distraction culminating in a packed out launch at Adelaide’s Rocket Bar, it seemed that the hills of his hometown couldn’t contain the buzz much longer. The Claz that sits in front of me, however, is a different man. After that launch, life enforced an involuntary hiatus that saw him go through a flurry of mental and physical health problems. But after some much-needed soul searching on a bus-based voyage through Australia, he’s returned with his upcoming album Before I Forget.” Explained in a recent Acclaim Magazine write up.
Having recorded three tracks prior to encountering problems with his ears, Claz returned back to the studio to complete a project that had once seemed lost. The three songs that had been recorded previously, detailed the man’s philosophies on life and flirted with the unknown whilst attempting to find understanding within it, along with pondering on past memories before his conscious mind lets them go. The following four tracks that were created post trip outlay the tribulations experienced, lingering dark thoughts, all the while projecting newfound wisdom and outlook on life.
Against all odds, Claz has proven time and time again his dedication to his craft, and this is showcased throughout the whole album. Distributed through Sydney record label Low Key Source, take the extended open invitation into his mind and listen to the album. Before I forget…
After a two-year sabbatical following the birth of his daughter, Brisbane Producer/MC Calski has returned with the release of ‘All Coming Back’. Featuring fellow veteran Brisbanites, Jake Biz and Lazy Grey, ‘All Coming Back’ is a heavy soul-infused boom bap reflection on times past, appreciation of the present delivered with staunch ambition.
‘All Coming Back’ will be released on 12” vinyl, complete with clean edit, a Capella and instrumental, through OG Australian Hip Hop label Hydrofunk Records. The single is out on Saturday April 13 to co-incide with Australian Record Store Day and includes the banging B-side track ‘Larry Sengstock’. Calski doubles down with Jake Biz and Lazy Grey on features. Both tracks will be available on the forthcoming album set for release later this year – stay tuned for details.
“Both tracks were written during late 2017 early 2018 after the birth of my first child. With Jake and Lazy already being Fathers there was plenty of heavy conversation, advice and stories being shared and the gravity of the situation led to the theme of All Coming Back, where these guys could share some insight into themselves and their lives beyond being Hip Hop artists. B side Larry Sengstock is some straight up Brisbane represent shit! Lazy and Jake just brought in a book of back and forth bars they’d written together over the demo beat I sent. No chorus, no hooks, just a banging beat with some iron heavy bars. It’s a good way to compliment the A side which is a more serious track with the standard 16 bar verse, chorus, 16 bar verse, chorus, 16 bar verse, chorus format”. – Calski
Calski has been a consistent presence in the Hip Hop community in Australia since the early 2000’s. Known for his unmistakable production and thoughtful lyricism, Calski is also a mix engineer, DJ and multi-instrumentalist, playing bass, keys and guitar.
The lyric video combines both tracks. The first two verses of All Coming Back with the first part of Larry Sengstock.
Having supported the likes of Ghostface Killah (USA), Public Enemy (USA), Total Eclipse (USA), The Herd, Urthboy, Mantra, Spit Syndicate and Joelistics, Calski has long been considered a peer amongst Australian Hip Hop greats and attributes his style to the influences of Pete Rock, 9th Wonder, DJ Premier, Black Milk, Apollo Brown and more.
Calski Feat Lazy Grey & Jake Biz 12” vinyl single ‘All Coming Back’ / ‘Larry Sengstock’ available now in limited numbers here
Anything you need to know about Smiley you can find out from his lyrics. The Perth emcee has always let his music do the talking; communicating in crystal clear, brutally honest terms. From his philosophies to his politics – from how he feels about cops, to how he feels about the community – it’s all there.
Produced by multi platinum, multi Juno Award winner Rob The Viking, Stick Up Kids is quintessential Smiley – viciously up-tempo and relentless – giving him all the room he needs to spit with precision and impunity. Dark and shady as only Smiley can do it, Stick Up Kids is raw, real and sinister. But versatility is the key to Smiley’s successes.
Colliding skill and tenacity, Smiley has always been a legit contender. Proudly carrying the torch passed down from exalted artists like Downsyde and late icon Hunter, Smiley is the next heir to the throne in Perth’s hip hop lineage – a challenge he has risen to with gusto. Brash, free-thinking and relatable, Smiley typifies the wave of new artists that are currently ushering in an exciting new era of the genre.
“Dream big, chase that, dig deep ‘cause I live for the lottery.” Talakai enters 2019 on the same high he left 2018, with a huge and heavy release.
Lottery, features dirty, dense production and heavy lyrics however, in Lottery Talakai brings the bounce, with an echoing, resonating hook which carries an underlying message of persistence and positivity. Renowned for heavy bars, razor flows and pine point delivery Talakai is at the forefront of the Australian Grime scene. After touring late 2017 off the back of the “Get Bodied” viral video series Talakai has been on the come up, playing sold out shows around the country and making cheeky appearances on Triple J’s Hip Hop show.
Far from the young kid coming up locally in the Newcastle scene Talakai has taken the movement nationally, oozing bravado and lyricism to rival the countries best. Gearing up for a huge 2019, Talakai sets his sights on the top with his debut EP in the works. With 2019 off to a blazing start, you can catch Talakai supporting ChillinIt on his sold out The Ashes “Women Weed and Wordplay” Tour throughout March, April and May.
Red Bull Music continues its studio rap series ‘64 Bars’, sharing a second Australian episode with South West Sydney rapper, B Wise. The series showcases 64 bars of razor-sharp raps – no bells, no whistles, no hooks from trailblazing artists.
First created at Red Bull Studios, Auckland, ‘64 Bars’ recently launched in Australia with an episode from Brisbane independent artist, Jesswar. Grounded and deep-thinking, B Wise jumps into the ‘64 Bars’ booth to deliver sharp-witted verses with a meaningful message. Following last year’s acclaimed debut album Area Famous, that was recently named FBi SMAC Record of the Year – B Wise has leapt from strength to strength, sitting at the forefront of the local hip-hop landscape with hard-earned perspective and experience.
The 64 Bars project was first founded at Red Bull Studios Auckland with David Dallas, as a simple method of having handpicked MCs hit the booth and lay down 64 bars. The series launched to critical acclaim with Brooklyn-based world-renowned rapper Talib Kweli and has since travelled the globe with regular episodes from Japan and now Australia. Taking rap back to basics, 64 Bars gives audiences the chance to hear their favourite artists flex the skills that launched their careers, and places a firm eye on rap’s upcoming best voices.
Tune in to Red Bull Music & Culture for the latest episodes of 64 Bars.
aahh: Compared to your previous two releases, how do you see ‘silence’ the album representing your evolution as an artist?
Menace: Brother, I was hoping that the fans could answer that question for me. Since you’re asking me though, you listen to the first album, the second album and then the third one. From that, you can see the evolution. It’s maturity bro. I had to mature with my life experiences and what’s going on at the moment and that is portrayed in my music. I’m the MENACE and you all know it now! MGR.
aahh: On the title track SILENCE you state that “you like silence but can’t stand it” can you elaborate further on the ideas behind this track and the title of the album?
Menace: It’s me saying I like to be alone but it’s going be the death of me… I self destruct in different terms, it means a lot on a personal level. I actually got a beat from Oagz called “Serenade Of Silence”. I made the album from that beat and that idea.
aahh: How do you see independent artists such as yourself shaping the future of hip hop in this country?
Menace: We are the future of Aus Hip-Hop. We have so many talented artists making moves. From Manu Crooks heading to the USA and us collaborating with UK artists. We have helped shape it whether people accept/or like it or not! We carve lanes and inspire people in the local scene!
aahh: There have been numerous positive comments we’ve read about the beat selection on the new LP. What was your process for choosing the beats on the album?
Menace: I’ve been in a dark place over the last year Jim. This includes stuff with my family and myself. I needed to get a lot off my chest. The beats I picked touched me, to be honest. Deep dark and melodic.
aahh: You’ve opened silence with a small intro, can you tell us more about this and how it relates to the wider concepts on the album?
Menace: In simpler terms, it means “We stay silent, if a problem arises, me and my family take care of it, we don’t speak out to others, stay silent” – Mitchos The Menace!
aahh: What’s next for Menace?
Menace: I have a really big year ahead. 2019 will change a lot of lives, I’ll be giving 100% in everything I do! Keep your eyes peeled, you might even catch us overseas! MG201L7 .
You can purchase the latest LP from Menace – ‘Silence’ here. You can also cop the latest merch here.
“Turquoise Prince is fast gaining notoriety for his irreverent humour, irresistible charm, and explosive live show” – All Aussie Hip Hop
Turquoise Prince is back with a stellar new single titled Some Nights. The upbeat track, which premiered on Triple J’s Home & Hosed program, is the first official offering since the much-celebrated release of Lighter, however in the interim the Canberra-bred MC/rapper (who was recently named as one of YouTube’s Artists To Watch in 2019) has successfully kept his growing legion of fans satisfied; releasing the cheeky banger Eric Banas and the hard-hitting street track Concussed a special collaboration with buzzing rapper ChillinIt.
Some Nights offers something different. The dreamy yet club-ready garage beat provides a canvas for Turquoise to lay himself bare with musings on a lost love. “It’s a song that’s close to my heart, I wrote it when I was in a sad place, everyone’s been there.” Introspective and vulnerable, this is a side of Turquoise that is always there, often hidden behind a tough exterior, but never forgotten.
His music journey started with a diss track about his Year 7 teacher Mrs Gupta, eventually graduating to rap battles against his Canberra classmates. And whether those early battles resulted in praise or punch-ons, Turquoise was addicted to showmanship. Today, Turquoise Prince is an artist that critics still find impossible to categorise, and one who thrives on unpredictability with catchy, colourful results.
His breakout single Like Your Friends is upbeat R&B at its best, while the mesmerising Lighter takes things down to a lounging tempo. Hard-headed bangers alongside underground stars (ChillinIt, Mitchos Da Menace) feature Turquoise rapping with a Tongan warrior mentality, and collaborations with local hip-hop heroes (Horrorshow, Hau) have proven that this young shark can easily swim with the veterans.
Turquoise is steadily carving out a name for himself as a live performer, having already tackled some of the biggest stages on offer (Groovin’ The Moo, BIGSOUND and Spilt Milk) and taking on national tours with electronica stars Boo Seeka and rap staples Spit Syndicate. March 2nd will see him headline the One Day event One Day in the Capital on his home soil in Canberra alongside Sophiegrophy and Joyride.
2019 looks to be Turquoise’s biggest year yet, with a handful of singles, big-name collaborations and gigs in the works; and he’s determined to keep everyone on their toes. “I might drop some R&B tracks, I might drop some hard tracks,” he says. “I don’t know, I can’t even tell you what I’m having for lunch.” No matter which route he takes, it’s easy to see that Turquoise Prince is quickly working his way into Australian music royalty.
Catch Turquoise Prince Live:
Sat 2 March – One Day In The Capital, Canberra
W/ Joyride, Sophiegrophie & More
Event Info Here
