After a six-year hiatus, the B-Town Warriors have returned with the anthemic ‘B-Town Biz’.
The tune sees the crew spit searing bars over triumphant horns and rattling bass drums. The five MC’s preach lyrics detailing honest accounts of their hardships and how they square up to any adversity looking to keep them down. While ‘B-Town Biz’ might be an introduction to some, the collective has been trailblazing its way through the Aussie indie music scene with a slew of hard-hitting releases.
Founded in their hometown of Bourke in Western NSW, the group comprises mainly of First Nation teenagers and OG charity organisation Desert Pea Media, who create their amazing visuals. This fruitful connection has led the B-Town Warriors to release their debut single ‘People of the Red Sunset’ in 2016, dropping onto spot rotation on Triple J and attracting international media. The crew went on to release four other songs including the 2018 banger ‘Thundercloud’ that won a National Indigenous Music Award, earning a segment on Channel 10’s ‘The Project’.
In the wake of the release of ‘B-Town Biz’, we caught up with Jemmah Knight, OG B-Town Warriors member and MC!
Firstly congratulations on ‘B-TOWN BIZ’! How does it feel for the track and music video to be out?
I was so thrilled to be given the opportunity to do another song with desert pea. I loved every minute of it and I love our new banger. I’m pretty sure the whole community loves it too I hear it everywhere I go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVq8BwO8CZ4
Taking it back to the beginning, how would you describe growing up on Bourke?
Growing up in Bourke has a lot of challenges. But it’s what you make of it. I loved growing up here.
How did all of you get into music?
I have a lot of musicians in my family. But the first time I actually got into music when desert pea media first came out here and we made our first song people of the red sunset.
I loved the whole process of it. The writing. Recording and then making the music video.
What was it like experiencing the success of ‘People Of The Red Sunset’?
It was an unreal experience seeing how viral people of the red sunset went. We put Bourke back on the map!!! The amount of shares and views we got was unbelievable. The whole community was so proud of us!!
Can you talk about the process of bringing ‘B-TOWN BIZ’ to life? From ending the six year hiatus, songwriting, and working with producers ‘IZM’ & ‘Hazy’?
After 6 long years we finally got to write and create a new song with desert pea media ‘Btown Biz’. Our relationship has always been strong with tob and the crew. But getting back into it was the best feeling ever. It was the same vibe as last time we just got straight back into it to write a banger.
Why do you feel rap is such a powerful way to tell your stories?
I think rap is a powerful way to tell your story because it’s what people are into these days. It’s the new way to get the message out.
Do you have any plans you can share for 2024?
Keen to do all this again next year!!
Special thanks to Jemmah Knight for taking the time to chat! Make sure to follow Desert Pea Media here or contact them here.
