Omar Musa is a Malaysian-Australian rapper and poet from Queanbeyan, Australia. He is the former winner of the Australian Poetry Slam and the Indian Ocean Poetry Slam. He has released three hip hop albums, two poetry books (including the recently released Parang) and appeared on ABC’s Q&A.
He is currently working on a play, Bonegatherer, to be staged in 2014. He is part of international hip hop group MoneyKat and his debut novel “Here Come the Dogs will be published by Penguin Australia in 2014. Omar will also be performing at TEDx, held at the Sydney Opera House.
Originally from Adelaide, South Australia – Candice Monique is a talented & unique singer/rapper/poet whose individual vocal and lyrical style draws comparisons to Neneh Cherry, Me’shell Ndegeocello, Lauren Hill and Erykah Badu.
It is this distinctive style along with her stage presence & artistic depth which makes her one of Australia’s most exciting & original new artists. After being discovered by Professor Griff (Public Enemy), Candice was flown to Atlanta, Georgia to record her first demo CD produced by Griff himself. There she worked with Atlanta’s Jason Orr (The FunkJazz Kafe) in 2003 and later returned to to the US in 2005 where she recorded with Neo-Soul Producer, Rich Medina in Harlem NYC.
Candice returned to her new home in Melbourne and formed her stunning five piece band, The Optics, whose first album, In My Soul, was released on Freestyle Records UK in 2010. The band are currently recording a second album for release this year on Freestyle.
Over the last 8 years in Melbourne Candice earned her stripes and became a staple crop vocalist on the local hip hop and soul scenes singing backing vocals for a host of Melbourne bands including Diafrix, SIB, Direct Influence, Carmen Hendricks, Saritah and Traffik to name but a few. She has featured in collaborations with many local Hip-hop artists most notably the track Goodbye Gravity with M-Phazes and Muph (of Muph and Plutonic), singing the hook on the lead single to the M-Phazes album Good Gracious which won an ARIA.
She also featured on a track called Me Vs World, on the latest album by Simplex, as well as appearing on Moneykat’s single Nothing Is Safe produced by Lotek and stars in their new video clip for the song. Candice is also the front-woman for Metals (Illusive Records) who’s latest single was a collaboration written with rapper 360, and producer Styalz Fuego. She has also collaborated with 1/6, Kojo (of Culture Connect), Motley, 14 year old prodigy rapper Soliloquy. Luka Lesson on their collaboration Killing Time and US rapper Louis Logic.
Candice Monique has just released a ‘name your own price’ mixtape titled Free Me: The Mixtape. We highly recommend you pick that up, either by following the link here or below. Also, be sure to check Obese TV: Episode 2 as Candice features on the artist ‘Spotlight’.
MoneyKat is a full blooded album- political, personal and poetic. The debut album from international duo MoneyKat, comprising Omar Musa from Australia and Mighty Joe from California, it spans a diverse range of musical styles and ideas.
With production from New Zealand’s Fire and Ice (Scribe, David Dallas), Australian producer Ishu, Mercury prize winning producer Lotek (Roots Manuva, Speech Debelle), Californian producer Count and US rock veteran Geoff Stanfield (Black Lab, Sun Kil Moon), this is an international album with rich sonic texture. The palate of sounds ranges from reggae Nothing is Safe to classic soul-sampled hip hop Each Footstep, Ordinary People to minimalist, grime tinged bangers Power is Violence. Added to that are guest appearances by Australian MC Mantra, soul singer Candice Monique and Californian MC Senbei.
With themes ranging from love to migration to materialism, MoneyKat tries to capture the light and shade of everyday life. Recorded over a year in Seattle, California and Melbourne, MoneyKat is a labour of love and the duo are confident they bring something fresh but universal to local hip hop.
Track listing: 1. Garden of Eden 2. Power is Violence 3. Nothing is Safe feat. Candice Monique 4. High Stakes feat. Mantra 5. MoneyKat 6. We Dwell (Interlude) 7. What If 8.Get Yours 9. Each Footstep (Atonement) 10. Ordinary People feat. Senbei Bonus Track: Journey
MoneyKat is an international hip hop duo comprising Omar Musa (Australia) and Mighty Joe (USA). After being sporadic collaborators for years, a highly successful tour in Indonesia spurred them into creating MoneyKat, a group intent on bring their soulful, personal, political and poetic style to ears and minds.
With contrasting accents, styles and tones, they are a dynamic musical partnership. Their debut album MoneyKat, recorded in the USA and Australia, will be released March 9, 2012 through Obese Distribution. The first taste of the album comes in the form of the track High Stakes feat. Mantra with production from Ishu.
Many people would recognise a money cat statue, painted gold with a waving paw, as a common feature of Asian grocery stores and restaurants. Traditionally, a money cat is supposed to bring monetary wealth and prosperity into a business. International hip-hop duo MoneyKat, comprising Omar Musa (Australia) and Mighty Joe (US), seek to flip that idea on its head.
Both MCs had solo careers before this collaboration. Musa, the Australian Poetry Slam Champion in 2008, released World Goes to Pieces in 2010 as well as touring in France, China, India, the UK and as support for the legendary poet/singer Gil Scott-Heron in Germany. Mighty Joe released the Golden EP in 2010 and the Elevated EP in early 2011 and featured on the soundtrack to documentary Oakland: My Home, My Prison and My Freedom as well as soundtrack to internationally released video game College Hoops 2K7.
With the full MoneyKat LP still a few months away, Musa and Mighty Joe thought it’s be good to give the heads some free music to enjoy while we wait hungrily for the debut album.MoneyKat will release their debut album MoneyKat in March 2012. You can grab a copy of the free download below.
Tracklisting 1. The Music Scene 2. Fast Lane 3. City Lights 4. Sisyphus 5. Live from the Neon Address 6. What We See 7. Shouts! 8. I’m Good 9. Danger 10. Drive 11. Easier 12. Nothing is Safe feat. Candice Monique (Paranaudio Remix)
Each Footstep (Atonement) is the debut music video from international hip hop duo MoneyKat, MoneyKat comprising MCs Omar Musa (Australia) and Mighty Joe (California) are based in Melbourne and hope to take their unique brand of poetic, socially conscious hip hop to the world.
The film clip for Each Footstep (Atonement) was shot by music video director Vis Pajori on the wintry streets of Melbourne in the early hours of the morning. Produced by New Zealand production team Fire and Ice (David Dallas, Scribe), the song is a soulful meditation on perseverance and self-betterment. MoneyKat will release their self-titled debut album in August this year.
MoneyKat is an international hip hop duo comprising Omar Musa (Australia) and Mighty Joe (USA). After being sporadic collaborators for years, a highly successful tour in Indonesia spurred them into creating MoneyKat, a group intent on bring their soulful, personal, political and poetic style to ears and minds.
With contrasting accents, styles and tones, they are a dynamic musical partnership. Their debut album MoneyKat, recorded in the USA and Australia, will be released in mid 2011. Many people would recognise a money cat statue, painted gold with a waving paw, as a common feature of Asian grocery stores and restaurants. Traditionally, a money cat is supposed to bring monetary wealth and prosperity into a business. International hip-hop duo MoneyKat, seek to flip that idea on its head. Says Musa, “some people see our name and assume that we are some sort of bling group. Really, we are the complete opposite.” Adds Mighty Joe, “the idea behind MoneyKat is that we are hoping to bring true wealth and prosperity into peoples lives- positivity, empowerment, knowledge of self.” Mighty Joe and Omar Musa met at university in Santa Cruz, California. What began as a sporadic musical partnership blossomed into a fully formed group after a successful tour in Indonesia. Says Mighty Joe, “the tour really hit home to us what a worldwide phenomenon hip hop is. We wanted to represent the idea that our accents, styles and stories might be different, but our struggles are the same.” Both MCs had solo careers before this collaboration. Musa, the Australian Poetry Slam Champion in 2008, released World Goes To Pieces in 2010 as well as touring in France, China, India, the UK and as support for legendary Gil Scott-Heron in Germany. Mighty Joe released the Golden EP in 2010 and the Elevated EP in early 2011 and featured on the soundtrack to documentary Oakland: My Home, My Prison and My Freedom as well as soundtrack to internationally released video game College Hoops 2K7.
MoneyKat will release their debut album MoneyKat in September 2011.
The first single from MoneyKat – Nothing Is Safe feat. Candice Monique (Prod. Lotek)
