Words by Declan Whelan // Images by Fletcher Crebert (left) and Shaq Azhar (right)
A whole handful of local talent.
Talakai
“I did my 10,000 hours and then some, so if you think I’ma let it slide you’re dead wrong, I’m headstrong, my first tape sounds like a best of, and I’ma keep on working til there’s no list I’m left off.” Known for stacking cleverly constructed bars, Talakai talks facts on his new one ‘Me You Them Us’. On the track, Talakai switches things up from a calculated, more subdued flow to then pepper the mic as he takes aim at part-time rappers and those trying to tap into hip hop’s current ascendancy. Having debuted the track for live audiences on tour with Chillinit recently, the song seamlessly transforms from the turned up call and response featured at the end of the clip, to a more measured execution on the recorded version. Check it out below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0QzVsdywv8
Pistol Pete & Enzo
Hailing from Campbelltown, Pistol Pete & Enzo have been putting in work for a minute, posting up hard-hitting track after hard-hitting track on Youtube over the last few years. Their new song ‘Damn Ma Bra’ featuring Beezyfromthearea is more of the same and gives a big nod to 50 Cent, putting a South West Sydney spin on his ‘03 classic ‘Wanksta’. The new track seemingly picks up where ‘Split Screen’ left off, as a party track pairing menacing bars, Futurama wordplay and bouncy production. Don’t sleep on Pistol Pete and Enzo, who as well as putting out heaters, are redefining club VIP dress codes to include tracksuits and TN caps one music video at a time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ttk0BSbkQlE
Yibby
Having just dropped his debut EP Lost in Translation, emerging Sydney rapper Yibby is showing his true colours. The dynamic project intertwines his technical rap style with sonically diverse production, from traditional 808s and snares to guitar sequences, flowing chords and soulful hooks. His sound is reminiscent of and falls somewhere in between artists like Smino, J.I.D and Chance the Rapper with an international feel, and that in itself is a quality that could stand to be one of his biggest assets. In the same breath, Yibby’s is a unique and really exciting voice on the local scene and was recently added as the support for Arno Faraji’s Sydney show at the Lansdowne in August. Event info is available via the link, check him out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APFGdkuPWJQ
Kid Pharaoh
First things first, Kid Pharaoh is low key sitting on one of Australian hip hop’s most underrated features in recent times, having had Mick Jenkins jump on a track back in 2017. Stepping into 2019, he’s coming correct with the same thoughtful wordplay and mixing it with some Neptunes/Dr Dre style synth on his new track ‘Gold In My Veins’. The track really hits its stride around the minute mark as Kid Pharaoh celebrates his Egyptian heritage while also calling out rappers stunting a lavish lifestyle. All-rounder Kid Pharaoh produced the track, rapped on it, then directed and starred in his own film clip. Win, win, win, win. Watch the video for ‘Gold In My Veins’ below and hold tight for more new music on the way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCV73BxYqIw
Indighost
“A proud larrikin rapping about rapping and lapping these clown amateurs”. Having released his debut album Illumination just a few weeks ago (old school style, the project is available to stream via bandcamp), Canberra rapper Indighost has laid down a marker for what’s to come. The album’s feature track ‘Up & Away’, is typical of Indighost’s golden era inspired style, rhyme-slinging a mixture of introspective and playful spirited bars and gliding over the track’s airy production. The project also features a guest verse from Canberra/Queenbeyan OG Omar Musa for good measure. You can watch him bar up in a recent freestyle below or get deep on Illumination via bandcamp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmS1qLrStlY
