2011 is almost over so to celebrate The Funkoars are putting on the biggest after work Knock Off Party of the year! After their stand-out performance at Sprung Festival, The Funkoars are back to officially launch their ARIA Chart topping new album The Quickening along with an all-star cast of some of the best Hip-Hop artists Australia has to offer!!
These are two knock off parties you do NOT want to miss out on! Check out the full dates below and be sure to enter the competition below to win a double passes to both shows. 2011 Knock Off Party – 22nd Dec – Runaway Bay Tavern, Gold Coast Featuring The Funkoars, Coalition Crew, Tommy Illfigga & DJ Butcher (Crate Creeps), Death Stars & DJ Flagrant (Video DJ Set). - Tickets available through Moshtix 2011 Knock Off Party - 23rd Dec – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane Featuring The Funkoars, Lazy Grey, Coalition Crew, Tommy Illfigga & DJ Butcher (Crate Creeps), Pure Product, Death Stars & DJ Flagrant (Video DJ Set). - Tickets available through Moshtix
We have 3 double passes to giveaway for each show going to six lucky winners. All you need to do to enter is send us an email to allaussiecomps@gmail.com with your name, the show you want to go to, mobile number and the answer to this question: What will be the first thing you do when you ‘Knock Off’ for 2011.
Winners will be contacted on their mobile the morning of the show.
Following the success of Sydney’s Come Together earlier this year, Brisbane is set to host the all-Australian hip hop festival Sprung in October. Clockwork Entertainment are bringing the largest, all Aussie Hip Hop lineup to ever hit Brisbane. The Festival is an all ages gig and will be held at Brisbane’s 8000 capacity Riverstage venue on October 15.
For its inaugural showing, festival organisers have managed to nab Drapht, The Funkoars, Illy, Pez & 360, Phrase, M-Phazes, Resin Dogs, Joelistics, Lowrider, Mantra, Diafrix, Lazy Grey and Pure Product. Along with the main stage, Sprung is also putting on a second stage to host 8 finalists from the Real Talk Battle League competition. Get more info on that here.
Sprung will take place at Brisbane’s Rivertage on Saturday October 15.
DJ Butcher (born Alexander Steffan – 31/10/1987) is a long-time producer hailing from Beenleigh in Queensland Australia. Starting his hip hop career in 2000 in his parents garage freestyling with the likes of Toddy Montana and Truths he quickly equipped himself with a set of turntables, a computer and a stack of records.Through the early years, DJ Butcher had a knack for chopping breaks and samples from dusty records and inserting them into his own beats, giving him the nickname “The Butcher”. As time flew by the name stuck and now as a respected deejay he has honed the name and made it his own.
The Early Years (1999-2002): With much influence from Australian Hip Hop Artists such as Hilltop Hoods, Lyrical Commission and Lazy Grey and a long young history of graffiti, at the ripe age of 12 he started wishing to produce music himself. After failed attempts at becoming an emcee, as a longtime musician he found a stack of his parents records and started going through them. After a few years of making beats on Sound Forge 1.0, he soon discovered Fruity Loops in 2002 and later moved onto Sony Acid Pro. After recording a few garage bangers with childhood friend Toddy Montana and brother Truths, he realised that hip hop was no longer a genre of music, it was a lifestyle.
Hip Hop Took Place (2003-2006): After discovering the new program “Acid Pro” DJ Butcher’s production started moving to a new level and in 2004 decided to compile an album with Toddy Montana forming a two man crew named “Two-Ill”. Soon after completing the 16 track album “The Social Distortion of the Adolescent”, DJ Butcher turned 18 and broke onto the gig scene. At this point, he realised his lack of lyrical ability and love for deejaying, soon after he got a set of decks out of storage that he received as a gift many years before and started mucking around with up-fade scratches (as his mixer did not have a crossfader). Doing his first show at “The Shark Bar” at Miami on the Gold Coast on February 2006 his music was first heard by other members of the hip hop community.
Fall of Two-ill and Growth of Pure Product (2006-2008): Soon after starting shows in 2006, DJ Butchers older brother Truths joined Two-Ill and they started doing numerous shows around South-East Queensland supporting any act that would have them. Forming a solid fan base Two-Ill was set for big things until in early 2007 Truths left for England for a year and the crew eventually died. As the crew was dying DJ Butcher became a local at a hip hop night in the Valley where he met the likes of 4th Degree, Tendancee and Marvel who had already established themselves as “Pure Product”. Bandless, DJ Butcher was chipping away at his deejay skills and was adequate to start getting into some more serious business. Soon after meeting Pure Product, DJ Butcher did one show with them at Uber (West End) as a favor; months later, he became Pure Products official new deejay and worked on “Eviction Notice” and various other projects.
Rise of Crate Creeps, Eloquence and Truths and Rainman (2008-present): After doing hundreds of local and interstate shows with Pure Product, DJ Butcher started jamming with longtime friend Eloquence (from Winnie Coopers) and they soon decided to work on an album again. Soon after, again, Truths joined and they became “Eloquence and Truths”. Pumping out a demo EP “ET EP” they sold 100 copies and 200 downloads in one week over a SEQ tour supporting The Funkoars. Now almost completed a full length album, it is sure to bust onto the scene. The album was completely produced and engineered by DJ Butcher. The Crate Creeps. After collaborating with fellow producer and long-time friend Tommy Illfigga (aka Tom Thum), they sparked a chemistry and with a similar production style decided to collaborate and create a production team which would be called “The Crate Creeps“, now working on a full length album featuring US, AUS and UK’s best emcees, the album is set to be revolutionary on the Australian hip hop scene and will mean big things for both members.
Now just working to perfect his scratching and production techniques, DJ Butcher has become loyal to three crews Eloquence and Truths, Pure Product and friend/Emcee Rainman. Furthermore aiming to work on another compilation project aside from Crate Creeps to attempt to break the American scene. DJ Butcher is set to become a major player in the hip hop scene in the coming years so don’t sleep!
In anticipation for the debut Vegas Aces release V.A.ALL.DAY (Feb 4th) your good friends in VA and Born Fresh have decided to host a sexy little competition. Cam Bluff is fast becoming a new go-to-guy for production (Spit Syndicate, The Tongue, The Optimen, Pure Product, Raven etc) and we want you to put him to the test. Basically we want you to submit a sample/sound for Cam to flip and make an exclusive beat out of. The sample can be anything – an old or new song of whatever genre, ad music, movie score, a beatboxing parrot, whatever you think would make for a slammin’ signature Bluff beat.
The most creative submission will have their sample used in an exclusive Vegas Aces song and will receive a Born Fresh prize pack consisting of Vegas Aces – V.A.ALL.DAY, Seven EP, Crate Creeps – It’s About That Time, Prophet Rayza 6 Books EP, Pure Product – Eviction Notice, and the last personal copy of Tommy Illfigga’s Unfiltered. So start entering your samples to jeremy@bornfresh.com.au (feel free to send mp3′s, wav’s, links to sounds/music, YouTube links etc) for your chance to win! V.A.ALL.DAY
So now after many paths traveled Karsniogenics is heaps proud to announce the official release date for the long awaited debut album from The Statesmen, aptly titled Drama To The Finish.
Available at all good stores including JB-HiFi and iTunes, the album drops November 19th, through new distribution partners Obese Records. To fire it up a little the guys are dropping the next joint free in the coming weeks so keep yo ears to the tweet street for that one. In case you missed the first single download Whatever The Cost feat. Lazy Grey you can steal it guilt free below.
To many Brisbane locals, The StatesMen’sSean B & Dcide (aka DJ Dce), are synonymous with the city’s hip hop scene. They’ve not only spent 18 years collectively on radio and behind the boards with 4zZz’s PhatTape Hip Hop Show, but have also appeared as artists on a wide array of Australian Hip Hop releases, many since revered as pure classic’. Two years in the making, The StatesMen’s debut album, Drama To The Finish authentically defines the process for these two pioneering creatives, as the road here has been brutally long and seen many adventures, all of which are wrapped up in this graphic body of work.
Sean B’s first love for hip hop sparked deep within during his early days growing up in Melbourne. In the late ‘80s, the emcee recorded his first tapes with DJ Idem as the crew Positive Direction before moving to far north QLD where he established Cairns’ first hip hop radio show on 4CCR in the early ‘90s. After laying down roots in Brisbane in 1995, Sean promptly joined DJ Katch at 4zZz radio station and continued to host its PhatTape show for just over a decade, earning it the title of Australia’s longest running hip hop show. It was during this thriving time in the river city that Sean honed his production skills and was equably encouraged by the results – he was instrumental in the beginnings of the well renowned and commercially successful Resin Dogs.
In 2000, he further flexed his flair producing and appearing on releases from underground kings including Lazy Grey’s and Brad Strut’s debut albums, to many guest spots on various compilations since. A seasoned digger and traditionalist at heart, Sean’s true depth as an artist is explored and expressed throughout Drama To The Finish, with both his skills on the mic and on the beats delivering the solidarity you’d expect from a veteran player such as Sean B.
With a history crossing borders of graffiti to designer to producer and DJ, Dcide (aka DJ Dce) needs little introduction to most aus heads in the know these days. He’s spent the better part of his conscious life devoted to hip hop, period. Dcide’s early days consisted of prolific writing alongside some of Australia’s finest pioneers, to being somewhat instrumental in establishing some of today’s more infamous crews. Since directing his talents to djing and production as his creative hip hop outlet after becoming a fulltime Art Director/Designer in the late ‘90s, Dcide’s musical credentials and prodigious output speak for themselves. Just take a peak at his comprehensive discography to date as proof. He joined 4zZz’s PhatTape crew in 2003 and 7 years on remains as the Executive Producer and Co-host. Add to that designing over 15 album covers, countless promotional artworks in print and online, plus Director/co-owner of Karsniogenics, its apparent Dcide is not shy of bringin’ ‘n’ maintainin’ the heat the ‘K’ name is well known for. Coming fresh off the release of Lazy Grey’s critically acclaimed ‘The Soundtrack, The StatesMen’s – Drama To The Finish is the next installment in an already healthy career for this Australian hip hop all-rounder.
Throughout their long and respective roles in hip hop, Sean B & Dcide have gathered a loyal fan base, appearing alongside international and national acts of the highest caliber, such as Ghostface, GZA, MOP, EMC, Lord Finnesse & Roc Raida, DJ Jazzy Jeff, The Liks, Tim Dog, Kool Keith & Kutmaster Kurt, Jean Grae, Lyrics Born, Black Eyed Peas, LoopTroop, Swollen Members, Scribe, Hilltop Hoods, Koolism, Bias B, Lyrical Commission and The Hospice Crew plus many more.
With their state of affairs well in order, The StatesMen are set to ‘blam the shitta outta yo speakers’ early 2010 with their epic debut album Drama To The Finish; featuring guest appearances from Lazy Grey, Bias B, Jake Biz, Bigfoot, Miss Brown, Marvel (Pure Product), Milesago and Marvin Brown.
For now, you can enjoy the free download of Whatever The Cost feat Lazy Grey, grab it below… Make sure you check out the guys webpage here. Stay tuned for more!
Tracklist: 1. Drama To The Finish (intro) 2. Whatever The Cost – feat. Lazy Grey 3. Phat Tape Radio (interlude) 4. Come One Now – feat Milesago 5. Phat Tape Radio 2 (interlude) 6. Rip The Cut 7. Read Between – feat Bias B 8. Soul Provider 9. The Lost & The Fiends 10. Brothers Corrupt – feat Lazy Grey, Bigfoot, Jake Biz 11. We Don’t Play (interlude) 12. Wake Up – feat Marvin Brown & Lazy Grey 13. Highly Slept On – feat Marvel (Pure Product) 14. Skit Like A Kite – feat Miss Brown 15. So What’s Ya Fate 16. In Conclusion (outro)
If you haven’t heard the name Cam Bluff of late, then you surely haven’t been paying enough attention. 2010 has seen Cam Bluff produce some of this years most impressive beats with no intention of slowing the pace. We take a deeper look into the past, present and future of this amazing producer.
Past Cam Bluff born (18/02/1989) grew up in Kwazulu Natal (South Africa). Cam was always surrounded by music and heavily influenced by the country’s culture and people. He was constantly surrounded by music having both an aunt and grandma who were both music teachers. He was always into sports and from this, found hip hop through skateboarding videos.
After migrating to Australia in early 2001 he continued his involvement within the skateboarding scene and grew more interested in hip hop music and the production behind the genre. In his last year of school, He stumbled across a program a mate had accidentally given to him called Fruity loops. During lunchtime, whilst still at school, Cam’s mate would show him how to use Fruity loops. This is where he leant how to compile loops and to structure drum patterns.
As time passed, he later on bought himself an akai mpc2000xl after learning about the long relationship and history involved with drum machines and sampling. Keen to learn more, he then equipped himself with a turntable and records which he had bought from local thrift stores. He soon started sampling early 70’s soul/funk records, drawing inspiration from the likes of Pete Rock/CL Smooth, DJ Premier and J Dilla to name a few. Later on in 2007 he made the switch back to a computer based program called Ableton live 6, using his MPC now as a midi controller as well as a beat machine. He shortly attended sound engineering classes in early 2008 learning about the techniques involved in mixing the music he was creating.
Around the same time, Bluff started working with a couple of emcee’s from Adelaide, Purpose and Motive (Pagen Elypsis/Afore Mentioned). After sending countless amounts of beats, he managed to secure a track on their Afore Mentioned – Red October release which dropped in 08.
He later met DJ Butcher through Butchers cousin (who he was producing for at the time), Keen on working with local rappers, he soon was introduced to Publik Relationz which complied of Mr Hill and Seven, (winner of the M-Phazes comp 2010). Work on an EP quickly began. During Cam’s time working with PR, he met 4th (Pure Product) who quickly became interested in working with him. Publik Relationz EP unfortunately did not see the light of day, though Cams sound did manage to catch the ears of local rap icons, The Optimen.
After creating a bit of a buzz in late 2008, Cam Bluff was signed to Red Tape Entertainment, thus beginning a new chapter in his music career. This sparked big things for him, being given the opportunity to remix a track for the The Optimens work of art The Out Of Money Experience, which dropped this year.
During 2009 Cam contributed production towards Spit Syndicates – Exile, and Pagen Elypsis’ – One Way Ticket which both dropped this year. He also managed to secure two tracks on Rainman’s album (yet to be announced), as well as a few on Pure Products new album (due later this year/early 2011).
Present Cam is currently working with fellow Red Tape Renegade, 4th (Pure Product) on the Vegas Aces EP which is near completion, closely being followed by an album. Hit up Vegas Ace’s Facebook here to check for upcoming gigs/shows. He is also working with former Queenslander resident and rapper Syntax (Trace Elements), working on a full length LP. Old mateSeven (Born Fresh Records/winner of M-Phazes comp) debut EP is out now and features production from himself and DJ Butcher to name a few. Cam also produced a track on The Tongue’s – Alternative Energy LP, also out now. You will also be able to find production in the near future on Raven’s (Crate Cartel) new album Ravenous dropping 2010. Afore Mentioned – The 11th Hour album with the bulk of production being handled by himself and also Prophet Rayza’s – 6 Books dropping soonish. Red Tape Entertainment is also working on a Red Tape remix project, which will feature production by Bluff, and others on the Red Tape Entertainment label.
Future Bluff is proving to be an immense competitor in the hip hop scene, already working with some of the most well-known artists around the nation, and is quickly working his way up in the industry as a respected beat maker/producer. Keep an eye and ear out for him, there’s much more to come.
Interview with Cam, more about his Vegas Aces EP with 4th coming soon.
This month theJudy Breaks Competition teams up with Brisbane’s Hip Hop labels Born Fresh Records and Red Tape Entertainment to bring together a collective of Queensland bred emcees, turtablists, beat boxers, DJ and beat makers. Taking place during Valley Fiesta, this FREE event includes some of Brissie’s best.
Performing on the night will be: The Optiment
Eloquence and Truths
Prue Product
Seven
Vegas Aces
Prophet Rayza
Hosted by The Crate Creeps.
Set Times:
4:00 Prophet Rayza
4:30 Seven
5:00 Vegas Aces
5:30 Eloquence and Truths
6:00 Tommy Illfigga/Crate Creeps
6:30 Pure Product
7:00 The Optimen
In celebration of this massive event, the Born Fresh crew and the Red Tape Entertainment have joined forces to release The Born Renegades Mixtape, FREE for download. Grab a piece of that greatness here.
ALSO ON FRIDAY NIGHT (night before): Tom Thum (beatbox extraordinare) will be on the Valley Mall stage at 9pm
Then Hermitude are playing at 9.30pm ON FRIDAY NIGHT!
Brisbane Sounds is pleased to announce the next showcase in their series of spin off events to showcase Brisbane’s diverse music artists. The Brisbane Sounds Hip-Hop showcase will take place at the Hi-Fi in West End on Saturday 9 October and will offer a tasty selection of Brisbane’s finest Aussie hip-hop artists that includes the amazing crew The Optimen launching The Out of Money Experience, the esteemed talents of Rainman and fresh newcomers Vegas Aces as well as more guest DJ’s that are yet to be announced.
The Optimen
The Optimen or The OPees to their friends have quickly become one of the buzz bands in the Brisbane and Australian hip-hop movement not least due to their recent banger The Out Of Money Experience and intense live shows which have seen them climb the hip-hop ladder to new heights.
2010 has been an exciting year for The Optimen which has seen them become one of only 60 artists to be featured at leading Australian music conference, BigSound in early September as well as playing packed out interstate tours around the country. This is a hip-hop band that thrives dropping beats in their live show and who is set to take Australia by storm over the coming months.
Rainman
Billed as ‘a watershed in local hip hop’, Rainman has attracted some hefty praise since releasing his debut album Fire in the Belly. Rainman has been hailed as ‘Queensland’s best kept secret’ with ‘an eloquence for song-writing rarely seen in hip hop’. Rainman is a regular performer in the local hip-hop scene and has appeared as a feature artist on the Triple J Hip Hop Show and his music was selected for the Rhythm and Poetry DVD – a documentary detailing the evolution of Australian hip hop as well as having crowd favourite Australian Story music video appearing nationally on Rage. Rainman has played alongside Grandmaster Flash, Ice Cube, Z-Trip & Soup (Jurassic 5), Jungle Brothers,The Herd, Hilltop Hoods,Michael Franti, Urthboy, Muph n Plutonic and TZU. Rainman is now working on his next album with some of Australian hip hop’s most well regarded producers including Chasm, DJ Bonez, Count Bounce (TZU), El Gusto (Hermitude) & Sammsonite (The Optimen).
Vegas Aces Vegas Aces are a buzz band when it comes to the hip-hop scene and is a collaboration of 4TH (Pure Product) and producer Cam Bluff who has produced for The Optimen and Spit Syndicate amongst others. Vegas Aces are about to release their debut EP for FREE which was entirely self produced with vocals by good friend and extremely talented emcee, Seven. The group have already started work on their full length album which was recorded and mixed by Sammsonite of The Optimen and are excited to be able to share some of these tracks with hip-hop fans on October 9.
It all goes down on October 9 at The Hi-Fi in West End. Tickets are $12 plus booking fees or $15 on the door and are available from http://www.thehifi.com.au, tel 1300 THE HIFI (8434434) and all regular outlets.
Following on from the shining release of their sophomore album The Out Of Money Experience in April, Brisbane’s The Optimen are hitting the road this July/August and taking their tunes to the nation on the official album launch.
A five-year sojourn that culminated in one of Australia’s finest-hip hop releases this year, The Out Of Money Experience has been robustly received. The Optimen are getting ready to blast off on the long awaited Album Launch Tour. Taking in the East-Coast and Adelaide (Sorry Perth, we owe you!), The Optimen are taking to the road, bringing brand new tunes from The Out Of Money Experience, plus old favourites from their earlier releases.
The Out Of Brisbane Experience Friday July 16 – FBi Stolen Records Gala Ball, Gaelic Theatre, Sydney
with Koolism, Thundamentals, Ozi Batla, Daisy Meds, Phatchance feat. Coptic Soldier, Loose Change and Katalyst (DJ SET)
$12 supporters / $17 non supporters / $22 on the door.
All proceeds go to FBi Radio. Saturday July 17 – Transit Bar, Canberra
With D’Opus and Roshambo
$10 Entry | 8pm Friday July 30 – Beach Road Hotel, Sydney
With Undertow, Gabreil Clouston and Edseven
FREE | 8pm Friday August 20 – The Espy, Melbourne
With M-Phazes Saturday August 21 – The Rocket Bar, Adelaide
Details TBA
More dates to be announced soon. Stay tuned.
Though the title might sound like a desperate plea for help in these trying times of economic uncertainty or, more predictably, the ‘old as the ages’ cliché of the starving artist, The Out Of Money Experience is really anything but. This much-anticipated sophomore album by The Optimen (The OPees to their friends – and they will take all the friends they can get) is the result of work: hard work.
Featuring some of their favourite emcees, both from Australia (Tommy Ill, The Archetypes, Pure Product, Adverse, Lazy Grey and Rainman), two international legends in the field – Jehst (UK), Phil The Agony (USA) – and local Brisvocalists Laneous (Mr Laneous) and Kel (The Kelly Gang), The Out Of Money Experience is galvanized by its strength of guest appearances, not stirred into a turbulence by them as can be the case.
The Out Of Money Experience displays a far greater diversity of sounds and assortments of instruments than ever before heard on an Optimen record, but the album isn’t only advanced and progressive in terms of its production values and musicality. It is also the most diverse work that The Optimen have released topically.
Indeed, for The Optimen, the last five years in the culmination up to this sophomore release have been a journey of epic proportions – and for the listener that’s what The Out Of Money Experience brings – it’s a journey.
Off the back of the success of Geko’s Crate Cartel Radio (in stores now) which features the likes of Maundz, Fluent Form, Raven, Jake Biz & Bigfoot, Bias B, Fatty Phew & Luke Mac, Kings Konekted, Ciecmate and Aectix, Geko will make his travels up to Brisbane to release the album along side fellowCrate Cartalians Maundz, Raven and Fluent Form.
Alongside the already massive line-up, the production duo The Crate Creeps (DJ Butcher & Tommy Illfigga), off the back of there eagerly awaited album release – July 9th, will be releasing there album with an EXTREMELY live show incorporating as many people from the album as humanly possible (including local hero’s, The Optimen, Pure Product, Rainman, Yuin Huzami, Kings Konekted, Haunts (Choose Mics), Robby Balboa, Clinic n Proclaim (The Archetypes), Adverse, PieEmc3e. The set will incorporate a lot of beat boxing, scratching, live looping, sampling and possibly some MPC/MPD action.
Furthermore (thats right, theres more!), the night will be supported by 750 Rebels Jake Biz & Bigfoot who will be performing tracks of his EP Purgatory, and also a support slot by Melbourne veterans B wiv Deece.
August 21st, 2010 price $13.
Be there, or miss one of the biggest parties this year!
