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1XTRA NEWS: THE REAL TALK OF THE STREETS
Hip hop down under
Aborginal crew Local Knowledge

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Rap's the No1 sound for young Aboriginal people in Australia.
They've connected with US rappers not only for their lyrics but also because they share the same colour skin.

And now young Aborgines are using hip hop to tell their own stories.

1Xtra travels from the projects of Sydney to the outback in search of the new sound of Australia.

It's rare to hear Aboriginal voices in mainstream Australian music, so can any of these MCs break through?
Have you ever heard Aboriginal hip hop? Can hip hop down under make it into the mainstream? Can Aboriginal hip hop have its own sound? Or is it just following US style?

Sarah Patrick - MIZ
Hi this is Sarah, I'd like to thank the islander for mentioning us Torres Strait people. The Indigenous Intrudaz are probably more Torres Strait in terms of identity as it's made up of my little brother, our cousins and an aboriginal friend of our family Zenny Bonner. The Intrudaz won the Indigenous Music category at the MusicOz Awards last year in December. Part of their prize was to get their album recorded. MIZ is also recording their album this year so next year's Stylin' Up Festival is going to blow up. We may not make it out to the UK but we definitely intend to leave our mark on the Australian music scene which is mostly run by old white rock dinosaurs. So watch this space. MC_ MIZ

Udinna Gohtowardie (Jacksonvile, Florida)
I think that most Aboriginal hip hop doesnt even rap properly. I mean they aint even rapping about whats real. They are churning up hatred and racism, and then expect white people to buy they records and be famous, 80% of the Australian market is white. I heard a track on Australias online tripple J or H or something and it was awful. They talked about Abo hip hop and I thought that sounds like they wanna say the N word but dont have the guts. When a real Indigenous group comes out that is willing to put they're money where their mouth is then it will have a better chance to go world wide. I was surprised that your Doco didnt mention the well known Aboriginal rapper named Komayn'e who does a track on rapper Napoleons new album and even appears in the film clip. I thought that was better rhyming, the delivery and the lyrics are an solid attempt to put Aboriginal affairs and Islam firmly on the map of White Australia, through hard hitting political gangster music. (ReLLiK)

nungawarrior
aboriginal rap is da aussie hip hop future wid mc bruthah boyz like me we'll make diz country

Lynl Vibe
I really like this look at aboriginal hip hop. I'm not sure that "aboriginal hip hop" will do more than carve it's own nitch but that's what all music does. Exist in it's own space and time for what it is. The didgeradoo works well with heavy bass lines and hip hop beats. I'd like to hear more.

boogie d
anyone know where i can get my hands on some Aboriginal hip hop on the web or something? I'm guessing you can't by it here in Wales?!

bex
Aboriginal hip hop is definitely going to take off maybe not in Australia but if the beats are good enough these crus will make it. It's just that people have high expections of hip hop now and if they hit their mark they can make it anywhere.

sarah
I really liked this story - I never even knew there was Aboriginal hip hop. The story here reminds me a bit of what's happening with hip hop in places like Africa ... they follow US style a lot - but I guess that's just because they identify with any black culture and America dominates. I can't believe American rap has reached the Australian desert! I'd like to get out there and see what's going on with my own eyes ...

jrap
I never heard any aboriginal hip hop before but the stuff in this sounds pretty good. Not sure it will make it out of Australia and over here to the UK though. We've got so much of our own to get through.

The Islander
Great doco - loved it but Indigenous hip hop also includes us Torres Strait Islanders (the second Indigenous group in Australia, so where were the Indigenous Intrudaz?) and where were the black women MC's?

Some great ones out there, Ebony Williams, Little G, MIZ, MC Dizzy. The women are just as angry as the black men!!!! Plus there's heaps of great Indigenous groups in regional Australia like the United Natives in Cairns and the Stray Dogz out of Rockhampton.

If you're ever in Brisbane you need to check out Australia's only Indigenous hip hop festival, Stylin Up. In the Brisbane suburb of Inala (which has similiar problems to Redfern) around May/June each year.

This festival encouraged the MC Murriz to get into hip hop and their idols were the Indigenous Intrudaz who also grew up in Inala and just supported U.S artist Method Man during his Brissie leg.

It's going to be a long time before Indigenous music gets its place in the mainstream. Racism is still very prevalent in this country and you can see it on a day to day basis!



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