Touted as being one of the most skillful females in the scene right now after her solid debut release Earthworthy in 2010 and The One Nighter mixtape in 2011. Kadyelle has supported and toured with such acts as Sage Francis, Ozi Batla, M-Phazes, Phrase, Illy, Spit Syndicate, The Tongue, Class A, Optamus, Muph & Plutonic, Seth Sentry plus many more.
Her newest LP The Theory of Everything features Ozi Batla, Thorts, Optamus, Dazastah, Hunter, Porsah Laine, Rachael Berry, Soma, Miss Karleena, Miss.She.ill, Rob Shaker and production from Rahjconkas, The Digital Assassin, Admin Beats and Ren Riz. The Theory of Everything is available now for a ‘name your price’ download. You can pick it up by following the link here.
Puppet Strings is the first single from Kadyelle’s new studio album, The Theory of Everything due for release in 2012. The track features SBX legends Dazastah, Optamus (of Downsyde), Hunter & Porsah Laine, along with Perth’s beloved Soma and freshly WA-settled veteran rapper from VIC, Thorts.
The two-part single reps production from The Digital Assassin (formerly of Blades) and Rahjconkas.Vocals and ‘Rahjconkas Mix‘ beat mixed by Aetcix. Touted as being one of the most skillful females in the scene right now, after her solid debut release Earthworthy hit shelves in April 2010 (and later as a free download on Bandcamp).
Kadyelle has supported and toured with such acts as Sage Francis, Ozi Batla, M-Phazes, Phrase, Illy, Spit Syndicate, The Tongue, Class A, Optamus & Dazastah, Seth Sentry, Muph & Plutonic, Layla, Hunter & Mortar, Phatchance & Coptic Soldier and a host of others. Stay on the look out for more information on the upcoming The Theory Of Everything release due soon.
Matt Beaton, Josh Gilmour and Kel Corbett all studied together at High School, Tafe and University, forging a strong friendship along the way. Between us we’ve had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients across various industries such as the Arts, Music, Fashion, Theatre, Editorial Newspaper & Magazine Design, Film, TV and Web/Multimedia Design.
After working for various design & photography companies around Perth, we established Treehouse in ’07 as a way to pool our skills and pursue the type of work we love to do. With a shared passion for music, this is one area we particularly focus our creativity on – download our free mix-tape featuring some of the best artists we’ve worked with. Treehouse offers the perfect blend of agency creativity and expertise, with the flexibility and personal touch of a freelance designer or photographer. Operating as a collective, we each have our own side projects, yet we’re able to offer a wide range of design & photography services under the one roof. This approach also allows us to charge much fairer rates than a larger agency.The Treehouse Collective Mixtape features some of Australias finnest artists including Hau, Ta-Ku, Bitter Belief, Ozi Batla, Forbes, Thorts, Phatchance, and many more.
Thorts has been putting in the hard yards since around 2005 and now has decided to “shed his skin” by releasing his collection of works over at his bandcamp page for FREE download. Not only can you pick up Thorts discography to date, you can also pick up a few rare gems, including a track featuring Hau and Ozi Batla with a beat by Admin. See what Thorts had to say about the whole thing below.
“I have uploaded all my previous albums onto my bandcamp page for free download. Basically I feel like I need to shed my skin and move on. I only have a few copies of my last album left and no copies left of the other albums so I figured why not. People are going to get them for free anyway, especially if they search hard enough, so I’m just making it easier for people to find the albums by putting them directly onto my bandcamp page.
I have also uploaded Field Trip (Thorts & Aeticix) self titled ep from 2004, Mankind (Thorts & V) – IIWII from 2007 and Thorts – Bleeding Heart Muzik from 2009. Also for free download is my 2010 digital release louder ACTIONS are NEEDED plus various tracks I have made over the years, just for fun. I have also just put up a track which features Ozi Batla & Hau with production by Admin for free and will also be putting up another track which features Kadyelle and Rachel Berry in the near future. I am currently working on an album with a French producer named Zoen but that won’t be finished until possibly 2012, that won’t be a free download but will defenitley worth the wait…” – Thorts
Get all of the albums mentioned above for FREE download over at Thorts Bandcamp page and check him out on his other links.
Subsketch is a Sydney based Hip Hop artist (MC & Producer), originally from the Adelaide foot hills. The Subsketch story dates back to 2002 and the short lived group Def Before Dishonour. DBD were a 3-piece consisting of DJ Mula, MC Trubador & a then 17 year old Subsketch.
Arriving out of nowhere, performing alongside some of Adelaide’s best including Delta, Terra Firma, Hilltop Hoods, After Hours and more, DBD wrote and produced an entire album before throwing it away, breaking up and vanishing as quickly as they had appeared. Subsketch cautiously re-emerged as a solo artist in 2004 with an EP detailing those missing years, The Lost Demo. He followed it up in 2006 with The Spring Clean, as the name suggests this EP featured words and beats which had accumulated over the previous 4 years, even including some never before heard cuts from the lost DBD album. Then in late 06 Subsketch was introduced to a wider audience through winning the Hilltop Hoods Initiative, which in turn funded his debut album Cheaper Than Therapy. The subsequent Therapy tour saw him performing all over Australia alongside Thorts, Class A, DJ TR!P, K21, Koolta, Rapaport, Lotek and Apsci to name a few.
Being his second full length album, The newly completed Department Of Human Services was built on an ethos of lo-fi minimalist beats & outward looking lyrics. Recorded and co-produced by acclaimed film composer Mister Benjamin Speed, mastered by Neville Clark (Hilltop, Funkoars, Terra Firma) and featuring the distinctive artwork of Jordan Clarke; the Department is his most accomplished and cohesive work to date.It is available at www.subsketch.bandcamp.com in 2 options; as a free download, or for $20 (free shipping) you get the deluxe edition that includes
- The CD - 11”x17” poster designed by Jordan Clarke - Department Sticker - Limited Edition Spring Clean EP (2006) - Immediate digital album download.
Subsketch is currently hiding out in the inner west of Sydney, he has several new projects on the boil, priorities include booking shows, hosting his fortnightly podcast at www.subsketch.blogspot.com and completing his collection of classic universal monster movies.
aahh: 2010 saw the release of your debut LP Me, Me, Me & Him, The Secret Life of a Receptionist. What so far has been the highlight of this journey? Class A MC: The highlight of the journey was seeing it out and in JB Hi Fi. That was a big goal for me- to get it in stores. It was a very long and arduous journey and to see it finished, packaged and ready for sale was an amazing feeling. After the visit to JB, we then went and drank champagne and ate lots of dumplings to celebrate. The release date in general was pretty exciting, just knowing that it was finally going out into the world was a great accomplishment for me.
aahh: Where you going for the longest hip hop album title in history? Class A MC: haha um.. I just didn’t want something that was cliché or been done before and I wanted something that gave listeners an idea of what the album is about. There were a couple of strong themes throughout the album and I wanted to fit both of those in. It has caused some confusion, and radio dj’s not being able to get it right, but I wasn’t budging. Also, it reminded me of an Atmosphere album title so I liked it.
aahh: Your versatility on the mic has been described as one your strengths and it carries on through to the album with impressive fashion. Were your intentions from the outset aimed specifically on making a versatile album? Class A MC: Why thank you! Well I get bored with the same style, I like to switch things up a lot. I did want to show my versatility and to show all sides of my personality. I also didn’t want every track to sound the same. To keep it exciting, entertaining and diverse was the plan. I was just hoping it would all fit together and that it all wasn’t too different. I had to cut a few tracks to make it work, but I was happy with it in the end.
aahh: We don’t tend to see many female emcees in Australia with such character and style, what was it that lead you into this wonderful world of hip hop? Class A MC: I started getting into hip hop about 10 years ago when I heard it on community radio for the first time. I fell in love with it and the rest is history. I was already into Snoop Dogg and Salt N Pepa and Biggie etc. I started writing and kept it a secret for a while and I finally revealed my rhymes at an open mic and started hanging out with local emcees Fatty Phew, Thorts and crew who nurtured my skills and helped me create my music. I went to an all girls private school so nobody in my school was into Australian hip hop (except for a couple of girls). I hung out in town after school with the other rappers and kept the rapping pretty quiet for a long time at school. It wasn’t until I moved to Melbourne that I started meeting other female emcees, which was great.
aahh: Subject matter was obviously an important aspect on this album. Did you have any challenges in presenting an album that didn’t isolate the larger male audience? Class A MC: Yeah I was a bit worried that boys might not like the album, but I can’t help what I write, it’s all personal experience. I try to write songs that everybody will be able to relate to, but this album was very specifically about my life as a receptionist and my relationship with boys. I knew girls would definitely be able to relate to it, but I do think there are songs that guys can enjoy as well. Everyone can relate to being stuck in a job they don’t want to be in and fantasising about a better life.
aahh: Is the sexy receptionist we hear about on the album a bit of a persona/metaphor or more of a true representation of who you are as a person? Class A MC: haha no, I’m not really a sexy receptionist. I really was a receptionist, but I was a massive nerd. I guess I can be very girly and I suppose sexual at times, but I was that bored that I just came up with some fantasies of the milkman etc. I can be a bit of a daydreamer.
aahh: You worked closely with some of the finest producers in the country on this one, including BVA, Dly Thomas and M-Phazes. In your point of view, is it vital in the creative process to be able to have that back and forth interaction/relationship with your producers? Class A MC: Yes, absolutely. I only worked with producers who are my friends as well so it makes it an easy and enjoyable process. I like working with producers in their studio and throwing ideas back and forth. That’s what works best for me and I think you get the best result from working that way. I lived with Akouo at the time, M-Phazes came over and recorded “So Bad”, and me and Dyl would talk on a regular basis about the tracks. Thank god for the internet for the times where you can’t get together, especially working with BVA (who lives in Adelaide). We became good friends after the album as we spoke so much. There was a lot of interaction between myself and the producers.
aahh: With such a range of tracks on the album, from straight up hip hop to funk and electro what were some of the most enjoyable tracks for you to record or write? Class A MC: I really enjoyed ‘So Bad’ with M-Phazes, that recording processing was fun as hell. He challenged me so much and was wouldn’t settle for anything that wasn’t the best. We ended up with a great product and in the end, that track was one of my favourites. Fitzroy was pretty enjoyable to write too, I went for drinks with Akouo during the day (he made the beat), came home and wrote the song in a fairly tipsy state. It was a beautiful sunny day, and I was high off life in Fitzroy. Writing Break It Down was also memorable, as I was at a holiday house with my mum and sister and best friend and just reflecting on the year and where I was at. I was at the end of the album writing process and realising how important music was to me. That was pretty special.
aahh: Everyone wants to know, have you scored the milkman yet? Has he heard the track? Is there a milkman? Class A MC: No I haven’t. haha. After I left reception, I didn’t see him again. The new receptionist fell in love with him after I left, and now he isn’t working there anymore. I don’t think I’ll ever see him again, which is fine. It was just a fantasy! We were joking around saying we should send him the track but I decided against it, I think he might be scared of me if he finds out.
aahh: You recently went Wildside with The Tongue on his album tour, which also featured Spit Syndicate. Even more recently a few shows with Syntax. What have these tours been like? Class A MC: It was so much fun! I brought Rachael Berry and DJ Mathmatics with me for a lot of it and we had a ball. Me and Rach were like two schoolgirls on an excursion, very excited and loved doing the shows. I’d have to say Joyride would have to be one of the funniest guys on the planet, loved getting to know the boys. Brisbane, Melbourne and Freo were the highlights, they went off. Doing shows with Syntax is enjoyable as well. He is a very funny man.
aahh: We saw a spontaneous twitter battle between you and 360 earlier last year. Do you get many rappers wanting to battle or trying to spit bars at you when you’re out on the town or whatever? Class A MC: Haha yeah that was fun. There needs to be more of those. I’ve only had a couple of people trying to battle me when I’m out, but I’m a lover, not a fighter. I don’t really like battling, I don’t like dissing people for no reason. I can with 360 because he can handle anything and we give each other shit all the time anyway. If anyone tries to battle me out I just find it funny, I’m just out to have a good time really.
aahh: Without sounding to cliché, even though the question is cliché as fuck. What would your words of wisdom be to any young female looking to push their skills further or even just to start writing some raps? Class A MC: Just be yourself, make the music you want to listen to. Be proud of what you do, don’t be too hard on yourself and work really hard. Don’t let haters get to you, prove people wrong. If you believe in what you’re doing, you can hold your head up high and push your music to as many people as you can. Oh and be patient!
From humble beginnings as a radio spitter in the late ’90s, through to his work as producer and emcee alongside Thorts on the duo’s debut Field Trip in 2004, Aetcix has always done his own thing. Now after almost seven years of being ‘Pretty much done with it bro’, the Hungry Human emerges from hibernation to drop his debut solo release One Fell Swoop.
Produced entirely by Geko, and featuring a guest appearance by the one and only Fatty Phew, One Fell Swoop is a vicious and hate-filled five track banger written and recorded during what Aetcix refers to as ‘The worst four weeks of my fucking life’.
Relative new comer to the scene Sparts, joins G-Force, following his successful debut release Clouded, to bring you a free offering of straight spitting madness to go with your summer beverages.
Featuring guests Mol One, Haunts, Maundz and Thorts plus a mix of exclusive beats from WIK, Blazin Marty and Xcise, plus a few jacked favs, ensures Powerlines bangs from start to finish.
Here is a remix that Interalias made for the track Gutless Wonders by Force & Sparts.
If you havent already, download Force & Sparts -Powerlines -Mediafire link here.
Entirely produced by Geko, Crate Cartel Radio encompasses everything good about independent local hip hop. This release includes a stellar line up of guest emcees, strategically picked to add multiple elements of class to this impressive sonic backdrop. Over these 13 tracks, you can find some of Australia’s most renowned and respected veterans including Bias B, Bigfoot and Ciecmate, alongside exciting and anticipated local emcees Kings Konekted, Maundz, Jake Biz, Fatty Phew and many others. We caught up with Geko recently to talk about his upcoming release Crate Cartel Radio, two new aditions to the Crate Cartel roster, a surprise new release from way back and lots more.
You started really getting involved in hip hop, digging, rapping and producing back in the late nineties, what was it that first influenced you into the world of hip hop?
Well I grew up with joints like ‘Mama Said Knock You Out’ on the radio and having those film clips on TV and stuff, so that was probably my first exposure. I had a friend who put me onto Wu-Tang’s ’36 Chambers’ and also ‘The Chronic’ when they came out and I was always listening to hip hop after that. Late teens I got into graff and stuff. Probably got into the crate digging thing when I was listening to Loot Pack, they were always talking about it. I loved that Quasimoto album too. Other albums that need to get a mention that received quite a caning around that time would be ‘Smif’N Wessuns’ The Shining and Screwball Y2K. Too much stuff has been influential to mention. New stuff now seems to influence me a lot. I’m a fan of alot of music.
When you say you’re a fan of a lot of new music, do you mean within the realms of hip hop, or do you draw your influences from other genres also?
I was talking mainly about hip hop. Obviously I listen to a lot of different genres in the process of digging and making beats. One day when I’m an old man, I plan to sit on my porch and give my record collection the listening to it deserves. For now I have to admit I often just listen for samples. If I’m playing music in the car or if there’s a new release I’m anticipating, it’s mainly been Hip Hop.
Have you been listening to much Australian Hip Hop lately, if so who do you enjoy listening to?
Nah not really so much. I struggle to find the time to check for much new Australian stuff. I copped the Kings Konnected mixtape which was nice and I was feeling that L-Flows & Verb-Ill mixtape. But that’s probably around three years ago now. Maundz – Mr Nobody lives on my car’s passenger seat at the moment. Been swapping between that and Cappo Genghis, and a year on, Cormegas Born and Raised gets a bump every couple of days still. Also from a couple of years back Ciecmates Pre-Emptive Strike Mixtape – probably the other one I got into, the first half of that was especially epic.
Your first official release was back in 2006 with Raven on the “We Are Animals” 6 track EP. It was also the first release to carry the now familiar Crate Cartel logo. What’s been the main evolution at Crate Cartel since that time?
Well it got better. It was more of a production name originally and raven said to put it on because he also liked it. It really kicked of when I started working with Fluent because he’s a pretty hungry dude and proactive the way he goes about getting things done. Discourse jumping onboard for the graphics keeps everything looking nice and consistent. Most importantly we’ve grown the team and it’s now settled at Raven, Fluent, Maundz, WIK, and myself. It’s a good crew and everyone involved is motivated, working and improving everyday.
Two huge names in WIK and Maundz. We hear that Maundz is working on his next album, which will feature full production from WIK. Did you just have to have these two dudes on board?
Yeah. I put a gun to their heads haha. Nah they are both good blokes, we all get along well and I think it’s mutually advantageous. That’s it though we don’t need anyone else!
2009 was a big year for the Crate Cartel, releasing your entirely self-produced debut album ‘The Crate Cartel’ and also Fluent Forms – ‘The Furnace’. Were you happy with the response to these albums?
My album didn’t really make a lot of noise but the feedback I got from it had been mostly positive. Thats really what you hope for with your first solo. You have to build it up. The Furnace got a really good response. Kind of put us on the map as a label.
June 18 this year will see your sophomore production album Crate Cartel Radio drop. Is production taking a front seat?
Well I’m still rapping on it a fair bit. But not on every track. I definitely see myself as a producer firstly and I’m more comfortable behind the boards. I’ll always write verses but I plan to focus more on production in the future.
Tell us a bit more about the concept behind Crate Cartel Radio and what you’ve wanted to achieve by releasing this album?
The concept was formed from wanting to do an album where I didn’t rap as much originally. The whole radio idea is sort of a nod to radio shows like The Formula, that were really important in getting good hip hop to us before the internet came along.
Crate Cartel Radio has been pushed as an album that encompasses everything good about independent local hip hop. What do you find are the most important aspects of good local independent hip hop?
Well, primarily independence. This album doesn’t have any work other than the guest features outsourced. The artwork, mixing, recording, video clips, mastering and production is done in-house. With the team we are working with its as professional as those people out there throwing huge coin at their projects, if not more so. We are building our reputation on our skills not on marketing campaigns or support slots for overseas artists etc. Hopefully in the future all that comes our way because of the hard work we put in early.
Killer cover for crate Cartel Radio, it’s already had such a great response. Do you think it’s important to have a professional looking package when all things are said and done?
Haha. Funny you mention that because it was a last-minute switch. Yeah definitely good to get a professional graphic designer to do your cover ideas. Even if the artist has a drawing, a photo or a good idea, you really can tell if the person that’s done the final layout knows what there doing.
Tell us in a few short words how you’d describe your production style?
Shit. Id say It’s a mixture of classic hip hop production styles I guess. I’ve just tried to break off elements of all the producers that influence me and that melting pots my style. It sort of changes from time to time anyway.
Some big names have put their hand up to be on the album including Bias B, Fluent Form and Maundz, just to name a couple. Whats it like being able to call on guys like these to help out on the album?
Well its new because I haven’t been making noise as long as a lot of the people featured on the album. 2 years ago I couldn’t have reached out to a lot of them, they wouldn’t have known who I was. I’m honoured to have worked with every single person on the album. Everyone of them is talented and really came with some top quality shit. Good people too. Hopefully I’ll work with everyone more in the future.
Now the first video clip from the Crate Cartel Radio was released early last week – Titled Memories featuring Fluent Form, filmed by Discourse and Heata. Tell us a little about the clip, where it was filmed and how long it took?
It’s all just filmed around our way. It was shot over 2 days. But then the editing took a lot more time. A lot of work went in. Heata’s a professional he’s got his craft on lock and gets the job done real efficiently. And Discourse is a mad talented dude. This and the Every Step clip are his first clips he’s been involved with so you can see he’s got something.
What should people expect from Crate Cartel in the next few months, we hear some big things are in the works, Raven’s new album etc?
Yeah. Ravens album next. Ravenous 2010. He’s got it all recorded so wrapping that up next. It will be coming out later this year, as the title suggests. Maundz albums out now obviously, it’s a classic, he did Mr Nobody before we were working closely but he’s Crate Cartel fam from here on in. Fluents staying busy on collaboration’s and pre-production for his next joint well underway.
Also I just found out today we might have an opportunity to put out the Field Trip album that was completed several years back but never saw light of day.
That’s some exciting news regarding the Field Trip LP, how did this opportunity arise?
I’m friends with Aetcix. I mention that he should put it out sometimes when we catch up for a beer. His relenting, it’s a dope album. Thorts was still on a raw tip then and all the productions tight. Would have done really well if it had gotten out at the time as It was a notch above other shit at that point.
Any final words?
I’ll be touring this album with Maundz and Fluent Form, hopefully Raven. Crate Cartel Radio/Mr Nobody Tour. We’ll have more details soon on that. cratecartel.com Merch coming soon man. There will be merch for this album. But our whole catalogues up there basically. Yep. Even just dropping the clip I’ve had a great response so big ups to all the people checking for us. Crate Cratel Radio June 18th!!!. Peace.
You can pre-order a signed copy of Geko’s - Crate Cartel Radio by following the link here.
Entirely produced by Geko, Crate Cartel Radio encompasses everything good about independent local hip hop. This release includes a stellar line up of guest emcees, strategically picked to add multiple elements of class to this impressive sonic backdrop. Over these 13 tracks, you can find some of Australia’s most renowned and respected veterans including Bias B, Bigfoot and Ciecmate, alongside exciting and anticipated local emcees Kings Konekted, Maundz, Jake Biz, Fatty Phew and many others.
Female emcee Kadyelle is set to release her highly anticipated albumEarthworthy. The album has been described as 16 tracks of mutual masturbation……. featuring Thorts, Esvee, Class A, JP, Morgan Macmanus, Nikkita, Lady Lash, G-Force & Butler Yeats. Production by Proph1, Xcise and Crytearia.
This is what Kadyelle had to say about the Earthworthy LP release:
My LP “Earthworthy” is out in March/April 2010 and I am currently taking orders from those kind enough to help us fund the process.
It features some tasty raps from Thorts, Esvee, JP, Class A, Nikkita, Lady Lash, G-Force, Butler Yeats and Morgan Macmanus. Production is by Proph1, Crytearia and Xcise. The album also has two film clips associated, ‘Anybody Like Me’ and ‘Diluted Shadows feat. Thorts’, both filmed and directed by Amaneal. Both clips feature on the WA released DVD “Unsigned Hype”, which is put out by ummm CTV Australia I think and should be out late this year. Features some WA folks… Thorts, Dyvers, Hunter and others.
Distro is yet to be announced but you can purchase the CD for $10 by emailing kadyelle@live.com.au Tracklist:
1. Earthworthy
2. Diluted Shadows ft. Thorts
3. Anybody Like Me
4. Lonely ft. G Force
5. I’m Gone
6. Undergrowth ft. JP & Esvee
7. A Good Life
8. Lie to Me ft. Morgan Macmanus
9. Boredom & Laziness
10. A Good Man ft. Lady Lash, Class A & Nikkita
11. Seven
12. Biding Time ft. Butler Yeats
13. Your Eyes Reveal
14. Solitude ft. Thorts
15. And So We Pray
16. Palms to Horizon
Kadyelle has also released 3 songs off the album for free download (320kbs MP3s) here. If you like it, make sure you pick it up.
