BARKAA is a Malyangapa, Barkindji woman from Western New South Wales, now living in South West Sydney on Gandangara land. Music to BARKAA has been part of her journey to express herself, the truth and issues impacting First Nations people. Since her 2020 debut single, “For My Tittas”, BARKAA has swiftly climbed to the top as one of the most respected voices in (so-called) Australian hip-hop.
Having already scored a triple j feature album with his stellar debut album ‘Made For This’ You can’t deny JK-47 is well on the right path for a bright future. The man is on a mission to touch the hearts & minds of those not just from his home country, but all around the world. A mission he will achieve.
In just three years, singer, songwriter and rapper Hinenuiterangi Tairua – aka A.GIRL – has blown up on the local hip-hop scene, leading the new guard of young artists exploding out of Sydney’s west. Inspired by the likes of SZA and Jorja Smith, A.GIRL’s silky-smooth vocal delivery and hard-hitting beats powered her breakthrough singles “Play” and “2142”, and she was swiftly named Next Big Thing at the FBi Awards, won triple j Unearthed’s festival slot at Listen Out.
DOBBY is a rapper, composer, producer and drummer. He proudly identifies as a Filipino and Aboriginal musician, whose family is from Murrawarri and Ngemba lands (Weilmoringle, Brewarrina NSW). He has performed extensively locally including PARRTJIMA Festival (NT), BIGSOUND (QLD), OzAsia Festival (SA) and Sydney Opera House, and internationally in Germany, UK, USA and Netherlands, as well as, recently performed alongside sister BARKAA for the 2021-22 New Year’s Eve Fireworks.
Steeped in the Word of The Mother and packing a punch of Hip Hop politics, Hot Brown Honey is an extraordinary collective who spin tradition on its head, going above and beyond to challenge boundaries and embrace the power of the Matriarchy. Equal parts social activism & phat beatz, a stellar posse of phenomenal Global First Nations women smash stereotypes in an unapologetic celebration of our similarities & differences. Fighting the Power Never Tasted So Sweet!
Kobie Dee is a Gomeroi artist from Maroubra in South Sydney, Bidjigal Land. With an innate gift for storytelling and connecting with young people, Kobie Dee is one of the exciting new voices in Australian hip hop. Kobie was signed to Bad Apples Music in 2019. As an artist, Kobie is deeply engaged in his community through performance and community work, and his passion for his culture and people is inspiring new generations.
Simply the Hottest DJ in Australia!
Mike Champion is an Australian Born (South African Heritage), singer/songwriter/performer whose distinct sound lives at the intersection of R&B, Nu Soul, Hip Hop and Nu-Funk. His insightful lyrics reflect his “young boy, old soul” storytelling approach to songwriting, while his uniquely silky vocal tone and cross-genre sound prove that you can be innovative and accessible all while staying true to your own artistic vision.
Born and bred in Sydney’s west to an Egyptian family, Nardean began her musical exploration at the age of 22. After a few short years of exploring her voice, she has cemented herself as a force to be reckoned with. Nardean effortlessly traverses rap, singing and poetry in a genre she describes as “post-hop;” influenced by hip hop, while also drawing on elements of neo-soul, electronica, glitch and RnB.
Hometown pride runs deep for 26-year-old rapper Tasman Keith, whose music is indebted to giving back to the community that raised him. From syrupy 90s West Coast synths, to neo-funk, skittering trap hi-hats and emotive R&B, his music defies categorisation, but his message remains hard to ignore
Passionate Sydney based HipHop/ Soul & experimental artist, whose aura aims to protect the culture of HipHop and it’s art form through her music & music mentorship programs. mirrah reflects authenticity as an artist who invites you in, through her strong lyrical messages of self-empowerment, positivity, and unity as a rhymer & singer. Also her actions as a Youthworker and music mentor equally compliment her brand.
MC Trey (Thelma Thomas) has over 20 years’ experience as a hip-hop/ soul artist, with nominations for Urban Music, 3D, Jack Music Awards and an ARIA with Foreign Heights. She has performed locally and internationally, offering a unique style of melodic and insightful rhymes and delivery about life, love and her experiences. Lyric-writing began in Fiji at primary school, while listening to reggae, island music and whatever was on the radio, till she fell in love with HipHop in the early 90's.
“I feel like I give my hip hop community an authentic bridge between our Australian interpretation of the art form and a respect and knowledge of where the culture originally derived from in the US” Lee Monro Lee Monro could teach you a thing or two about the art of evolution in the Australian Hip Hop game. The Sydney based emcee has survived the winds of reinvention and change in an industry that in itself still strives to solidify its place in the global Hip Hop community.
Recognized worldwide as Australia’s premiere female Turntablist DJ D has been dubbed the first lady in a number of arenas, with a reputable career as a DJ/Turntablist since 1998. Having played her first gig in 1988, DJ D has played most major cities around Australia and has been touring internationally since 2004. DJ D is also known for her achievements in the DMC World DJ Championships,having placed 4th in the national Australian finals in 2021 as the only female competitor.
The Wicked Bandit has been collecting records and curating playlists for community radio for the last 6 years. She created The Cut, a hip-hop show first heard in Sydney on Eastside Radio that was syndicated nationally across Australia on the Community Radio Network. She is now the host of The New Style on Sydney's 2SER. She is a lover of all styles of hip-hop and the music that feeds into the genre.
The O.G. on the decks. Second to none!
Hailing from the bustling City of Blacktown, which sits right in the heartland of Western Sydney, artist and producer Isaac Puerile (pronounced Pew-rile) has long been a pioneer in his own right within the Australian rap scene.
DJ Juzzlikedat AKA JuzzOne was a keen collector of wax at 14 years old. Witnessing the evolution of Hip Hop, his passion for Funk and Jazz inspired him to travel through the many era’s of black music from the late 60′s to more recent digital sounds. As a beat maker/producer, he also has couple of of release on Inner Tribe Records and play bass and drums for the Blu Collective (Blu Collective Records) and has been spinning records in Sydney for over 20 years.
DIOLA is a name that has circulated Australian music industry over the last 10 years, ranging from spoken word/hip hop artist, joining a revolving door 7 piece jazz/funk outfit called 5 Coffees as MC/singer/guitarist, to later co-founding tastemaker soul/hip hop record label Low Key Source, DJing and as a radio presenter on FBi radio (2016-2018).
"Get It Done" (G.I.D) is a collective of Artists residing in Guildford in Sydney's Western Suburbs. KING KILLAH, KAYZA & 61EEPY, bring a versatile edge to not only the Australian music scene, but also the worldwide stage, collaborating with producers in the U.K. Having unofficially released music which circled locally in 2018, G.I.D have since been steadily working, finding their own unique blend of Australian Hip-Hop & RNB.
Esky is a multi-disciplinary artist, arts mentor, and community organiser based in Western Sydney. Through his art he shares stories of struggles, resilience, having fun, and growing up with migrant parents. Esky is the Program Coordinator at arts/youth organisation, Street University Mt Druitt, and arts collective, opnsrc.co. Esky has worked alongside various artists from across Sydney. Notably, working with the Capital Zee, ONEFOUR, MC Trey, 6POUND, Clarissa Mei, Spvrrow, Astro High and more.
Monks and Deej Aye join forces in project ‘The Idealistics’ bringing highly skilled lyricism the table with punching tracks with powerful lessons to learn behind each barre, as they entangle rhymes and switch flows with ability and intention, while adding elements such as beatboxing and freestyling to their performances, and overall amplifying the voices of the western Sydney community.
At just 20 years of age, Acosta is one of the country's most captivating voices. The South African/Argentinian artist comes from the hip-hop hotbed of Mount Druitt, and began producing beats as a teenager. He later progressed to singing, realising that he had a voice and a story worth sharing with the world. After frequent brushes with the law in his younger years, Acosta began focusing on music and has caused a significant stir since his first official releases in 2020.
P.Smurf is an acclaimed Australian Hip-Hop MC, label manager at Scratches Records and co-founder of Sydney Independent Hip-Hop label, Big Village Records. While establishing strong repute through his collaborative projects Daily Meds, Reverse Polarities and Sketch the Rhyme, Smurf, as he’s colloquially known, has remained an integral part of the Hip Hop community for well over a decade.
Born into the raw ruggedness of South Auckland, New Zealand, with a Rapper/Producer Father from early New Zealand underground Hip-Hop group 'Savage Poetz' - From Boy to Man, Mrvz rooted himself in both local and overall Hip-Hop and has found his ground in his music today lifting up, celebrating and displaying the area of Western Sydney, Australia. His track 'My Way' has become a bit of an anthem for Western Sydney.