Author: Jim Steps

Obese Records

Vida Sunshyne & Chasm – Move (Album Artwork)

Jim Steps

He is Chasm, Sydney-based producer-extraordinaire who made his mark in 2008 with the Triple J feature album debut Beyond The Beat Tape. She is Melbourne-by-way-of-Ghana’s Vida-Sunshyne, and the enigmatic voice featured on both Beyond The Beat Tape and Astronomy Class’ Pursuit of Happiness. Together they are an electric collaboration of musical talent; one half behind the boards, creating the template for a limitless sonic foundation. The other, centre stage; creating the connection between performer and listener. The pair have created Move, the brand new album that traverses the global spectrum of soul, reggae, and hip hop. It is a combination … Continue reading Vida Sunshyne & Chasm – Move (Album Artwork)

Obese Records

Dialectrix – Live for MTV

Jim Steps

With sturdy hip hop anthems, rapid fire lines and infectious beats, Sydney based MC Dialectrix is one of the impressive emerging acts on the aussie hip hop scene. Hailing from Sydney’s Blue Mountains, Dialectrix started his career at the tender age of 15. While his first encounters with hip hop were back yard party shindigs, it wasn’t until he teamed with DJ Platter Push, DJ Codeks, MC Immune and MC Joe New, to form the Down Under Beats Crew (DUB Crew), that he honed his swagger-infused freestyle sets that are currently commanding audiences around the country. One of the newest … Continue reading Dialectrix – Live for MTV

Obese Records

Plutonic Lab smashing up the scene

Jim Steps

The 2009 Mercury Prize winner has been announced – Speech Debelle’s album Speech Therapy. The album features two singles, “The Key” and “Better Days” – both tracks co-written and produced by none other then the great Plutonic Lab. Congratulations to Pluto for this massive achievement. His production work on the album has been described as “like no hip hop record you’ve ever heard” (Dazed & Confused) and “A pleasurable point of difference in modern hip hop” (M8). “The Key” was named single of the week in both NME and the Sunday Times. Plutonic Lab has just completed work on the … Continue reading Plutonic Lab smashing up the scene

Illusive Sounds

Armed To The Teeth Tour – Bliss N Eso

Jim Steps

As we heard the other day Bliss n Eso would like to announce that they are taking time out of the recording of their fourth studio album to showcase their highly praised live show across the USA. Below you can find the dates. The Sydney trio has been confirmed to play shows in 15 US cities alongside Canada’s biggest hip-hop act, Swollen Members. After their hugely successful Flying Colours Live Tour the guys put a halt on playing shows to focus on getting the new album done. But an unrefusable offer coming directly from the iconic Canadian group will see … Continue reading Armed To The Teeth Tour – Bliss N Eso

Illusive Sounds

Flying Colours Clothing Preview

Jim Steps

Flying Colours Clothing officially launched over the Flying Colours Live Tour and has gone from strength to strength. Reports are that new stock has arrived and the long awaited FlyingColoursClothing.com will open its doors this week!! Stay tuned for more news when it comes to light. If you want to know what’s happening in the Bliss N Eso camp before everyone else, sign up to the guys mailing list. Check above for a preview of whats to come. Flying Colours Clothing officially launched over the Flying Colours Live Tour. We’ve just recieved new stock and the long awaited FlyingColoursClothing.com will … Continue reading Flying Colours Clothing Preview

Class A Records

Kings Konekted – Trails to the Underlair: The Prequel

Jim Steps

I have to say we have slept a bit on this release.  So to make up for it were giving you a bit of a post from the guys myspace page. There has been a great response from everyone who has peeped this album and for a mixtape release, we think it’s a huge effort. The buzz on ozhiphop.com has been huge and some big head including 360 think these guys are ‘fucking good’. If your well familar with Kings Konekted you can catch the guys in Fortitude Valley, Queensland, at the Junilee Hotel October 24th. Prue Product, Vapor Ink … Continue reading Kings Konekted – Trails to the Underlair: The Prequel

Crackhouse

Headstrong Company – Out Now

Jim Steps

At the stage where Australian hip hop is reaching a broader audience than ever before, Visions (MC), Kahs (MC), Cheech (MC/Producer), Omega Beats (MC/Producer) and davidL (DJ) have formed Headstrong Company to spread their collective message of truth, belief and how to make every minute count. If you like rapid fire flows, intricate wordplay, thumping beats and tech scratching all combined to send a message with a meaning, look no further than Headstrong Company’s self titled 14 track debut. 2Biz had this to say about Headstrong Company’s latest offering: “The The last five years have been spent perfecting this masterpiece … Continue reading Headstrong Company – Out Now

Obese Records

Gully Platoon – Nothing To Lose Film Clip

Jim Steps

The brand new Gully Platoon video for the track “Nothing To Lose” has premiered on the official Gully Platoon MySpace page. The explosive video was filmed and directed by Artifact (Dialectrix, Astronomy Class) and goes where no aussie hip hop video has gone before. The video drops Gully Platoon in the middle of a heated battle between the forces of good and evil; punctuated by explosions, gunfire, deception, and some heavy mutha fukin artillery. The video is the first in an epic two-part visual accompaniment to the album, The Great Divide. The second, for the track “Bank Job“, will debut … Continue reading Gully Platoon – Nothing To Lose Film Clip

Uncategorized

11th Annual Revolver MC Championship

Jim Steps

This Thursday (September 17), Revolver Upstairs are proud to present the 11th Annual Revolver MC Comp. Eleven years of unsurpassed talent battling their skills for a heavyweight title that has been held by such greats as The Tongue (NSW), Bias B (VIC), Justice (VIC) and Delta (SA). The winner prize pack is valued at over $8,000, and consists of cash plus a flight voucher, goods from sponsors including McKenna Bourban, Revolver Upstairs, Triple R, All Of The Above, Burn Crew, Chapel Tattoo, Colonel Tan’s, Factory Sound, Final Outline, Fur, Implant, Inpress, Madman, Obese, Ozhiphop, Razor Paint, Seven Milligram and Sneaker … Continue reading 11th Annual Revolver MC Championship

MGM

Anon Speak – Conventional Emporium

Jim Steps

  Thanks go to Brad for keeping us in the loop with this one, if anyone else has any info that you’d think we’d find interesting, send us an email. Hailing from Melbourne, emcee Lakonic and producer DJ Fokus united in early 2008 to try and create a project that would not only delve into early 90’s boom bap, but combine it with a post modern, futuristic spin to concote a sound that would stand the test of time. The result is Conventional Emporium; Anon Speak’s debut LP. Described as having epic soundscapes and thought provoking lyrics, Conventional Emporium pushes the hip-hop … Continue reading Anon Speak – Conventional Emporium

Illusive Sounds

Bliss N Eso United States Tour

Jim Steps

It’s has been a massive year for Bliss N Eso, and it’s only getting bigger. Twitter peeps were given an exclusive link to a website announcing that Bliss N Eso will be touring the USA. The great news didn’t stop there. Bliss n Eso have halted recording duties on their new album to go on this tour. The guys had been working on their fourth album in a secret recording studio in the Victorian bush (we have seen some Twitter pics of this secret studio) but when they received a call from Canada’s biggest hip-hop act, Swollen Members, asking if they’d support … Continue reading Bliss N Eso United States Tour

Illusive Sounds

Pez & Seth Sentry – triple j Interview

Jim Steps

If your lucky enough to be able to sleep in on weekdays, then you would have missed Tom and Alex from JJJ, chatting to Pez and Seth Sentry. Currently Pez is at the half way mark on his national tour featuring Seth Sentry, 360, Hailey Cramer and DJ Matik. You can peep the audio from the interview here, or go to the triple j page here and check out the streaming audio there. You can also check out some pics snapped by Kate Griffin from the Melbourne Prince Of Wales show, 28/08/2009 (like the one above) here. In other triple j, aussie hip hop related news Urthboy, El Gusto … Continue reading Pez & Seth Sentry – triple j Interview

Major, Uncategorized

OZ Hip Hop.com Phrase Competition

Jim Steps

Phrase kicks off his national Clockwork tour this weekend in Wagga and Griffith and ozhiphop.com has 3 pairs of tickets to give away to each show. All you have to do to is email slatecomps@ozhiphop.com and tell them in 25 words or less “what PHRASE would you use to describe the music of PHRASE?” Be sure to get there early to catch support acts such as Illy, Snob Scrilla, Optamus (Downsyde) and the ever-present DJ Flagrant. If you’ve forgotten, dates are as follows: September 4: Wagga, NSW @ The Capital Saloon Bar September 5: Griffith, NSW @ Gemini Nightclub September … Continue reading OZ Hip Hop.com Phrase Competition

Elefant Tracks

Wordplay feat. The Tongue – September 10

Jim Steps

Seldom seen in the southern latitudes, Elefant Traks wordsmith The Tongue will be coming down from Sydney for one very special Wordplay. He won’t be doing any other gigs this trip, so this is your only chance to catch him. And this’ll be The Tongue with a Wordplay twist, doing an all acappella headline set. The Tongue has had four substantial Triple J hits in the past couple of years, and is the only out of town MC ever to win the Revolver MC Battle, this tells you that he’s witty, complex and incredibly quick on his feet. Get on … Continue reading Wordplay feat. The Tongue – September 10

Amphead

Levelheaded – The Spice Of Life Tour 09

Jim Steps

Levs One, is off on The Spice Of Life Tour. The tour will hit 4 big venues, Adelaide, Geelong, Melbourne and even Tassie gets a show. The tour kicks off in Adelaide on October 9, with After Hours and Illequipt in support. Crossbred Mongrels, Social Change plus Citywide supports in Geelong. Melbourne’s show will feature Crossbred Mongrels and Social Change. Hobart will rip the roof down at the Brisbane Hotel, with Reason and Social Change, all ages.  If you haven’t already, make sure you grab a copy of The Spice Of Life, the album features Headlock, Reason, Trials, Train Of … Continue reading Levelheaded – The Spice Of Life Tour 09

Golden Era Records, Major

Still Standing Tour, Pre-Sale Today!

Jim Steps

It’s Hilltop Hoods, newsletter time…. Fresh from their sold out Australian tour, the Hilltop Hoods take no time to kick back and relax. Instead they are getting themselves ready to hit the road again for an extensive run of dates, undertaking a massive 8 week National tour. The Still Standing tour coincides with the release of the single of the same name. This tour sees the HOODS hitting more regional areas and catering to more all age crowds. Still Standing will have a digital and physical release Friday the 18th of September and will feature a remix from Suffa. The … Continue reading Still Standing Tour, Pre-Sale Today!

Golden Era Records, Major

Still Standing Tour – Hilltop Hoods

Jim Steps

Hilltop Hoods have announced a dates on the Still Standing Tour. We will see the Hoods hit 23 locations around Australia including the Homebake Festival. The guys will be appearing right across the nation, with stop offs including Cairns, Mildura, Broome, Perth and Launceston. Here is the list of full dates: DARWIN: Friday 16th October – Discovery Nightclub (O18) BROOME: Saturday 17th October – The Mangrove Resort Hotel (O18) PERTH: Sunday 18th October – One Movement Festival (O18 Unless accompanied by a legal guardian) SYDNEY: Friday 23rd October – Hordern Pavilion (Lic All Ages) WOLLONGONG: Saturday 24th October – University … Continue reading Still Standing Tour – Hilltop Hoods

Butterthief

Phat Tape: Social Change and Fat Pockets

Jim Steps

In the lead up to the long awaited release of the full length Social Change album V.High.P, Funkwig and DJ Snair of Social Change have created their first Phat Tape under the name Fat Pockets. On the 09.09.09 (cool little date) Butterthief will release Fat Pockets online for a FREE download, yes people free. The Phat Tape is a Funkwig Production and features exclusive music and  some big guest appearances by Social Change, Crossbred Mongrels, Dialect, K21, 2Biz (Common Cause) and Mesha (Taylor Made Tactix). Everyone in Melburn can catch Mata and Must, Social Change feat. Funkwig and DJ Snair, … Continue reading Phat Tape: Social Change and Fat Pockets

Elefant Tracks

Horrorshow – Inside Story

Jim Steps

Elefant Traks is proud to announce details for Inside Story, the second album from hip hop wonderkids Horrorshow. Inside Story is the follow up to Horrorshow’s much loved debut album, The Grey Space, and will be released on October 2nd. The first single Thoughtcrime (Doin’ My Think) has been well received on radio and the accompanying music video will be hitting screens shortly. The new single is now available for FREE download from http://www.horrorshowcrew.com and also for a limited time, the Triple J website. Horrorshow will be supporting Urthboy across the country on his upcoming Spitshine Tour (Sept-Nov). To get … Continue reading Horrorshow – Inside Story

Major, Peepshow Entertainment

Funkoars, Phrase, Vents – Live @ The Gov

Jim Steps

  Just a reminder for those in Adelaide. After selling out The Hangover Tour nationwide the Funkoars are back with the Malfunction Tour. With 2 shows left of a 28 show tour and two massive special guests, Phrase and Vents, this is sure to be huge! Phrase has just dropped his highly anticipated release Clockwork and will be performing with DJ Flagrant and also a live drummer. Be There! Vents only appearing at shows marked * Friday 28th August / THE GOV – 18+ – Adelaide Saturday 29th August / THE GOV – A/Ages – Adelaide* Myspace Homepage Facebook Twitter … Continue reading Funkoars, Phrase, Vents – Live @ The Gov

Major

Astronomy Class – Phrase @ Pyramid Rock Festival

Jim Steps

Astronomy Class’ busy year continues with a series of shows coming up. For the sixth year in a row, the Pyramid Rock Festival will return to Phillip Island over the New Year.  The line up was unveiled today on Triple j and included none other then Astronomy Class and our good friend Phrase. Others on the bill include The Cat Empire, Blue King Brown, Bluejuice and the Bumblebeez. Stay tuned for more announcement’s, maybe in the aussie hip hop arena. Pyramid Rock Festival is a camping festival that runs from Tuesday 29th December 2009 until Friday 1st January 2010. Get … Continue reading Astronomy Class – Phrase @ Pyramid Rock Festival

Obese Records

Cross Bred Mongrels – Certified Wise

Jim Steps

After a long time, Adelaide’s Cross Bred Mongrels are back with a new joint dubbed Certified Wise. Named after the famous crew which has bred some of Australia’s most successful and widely known artists, Certified Wise is the crowning achievement for long time Adelaide hip hop figurehead Flak. In a distinguished career of building hip hop in Adelaide, Flak was responsible for the early development of such luminaries like the Hilltop Hoods and The Funkoars. And now with long time collaborator and partner-in-rhyme Flee, Flak continues the Certified Wise’ legacy firmly entrenched in the annals of Australian hip hop history. … Continue reading Cross Bred Mongrels – Certified Wise

Obese Records

Thundamentals – Move It Up

Jim Steps

Explosive Blue Mountains crew Thundamentals are debuting their brand new single Move It Up on August 28th @ Club77 in Sydney. This infectious song is the first single to drop from their anticipated debut full length album Sleeping On Your Style (due September 18th). After the success of their 2008 self titled EP, Thundamentals embarked on tours across the country playing shows with Pegz, Spit Syndicate and Dialectrix before embarking on a massive 2009 tour with Astronomy Class. Sleeping On Your Style was produced by Thundamentals’ own DJ Morgs and Tommy Fiasko. Sleeping On Your Style was produced by Thundamentals’ … Continue reading Thundamentals – Move It Up

Golden Era Records

Hilltop Hoods In Ralph

Jim Steps

The guys from Hilltop Hoods catch up with Luke Anisimoff and Ralph magazine this month for a quick beer and a chat about aussie hip hop. Read below for a little grab out of the article, which you can check out in full here. DJ Debris: He goes to me, “I wanked in Pressure’s bed.” I go which one, and he says the one next to the door, and I go, “That’s my bed, you f–khead.” You can also check out an old interview with the guys if your interested here. Continue reading Hilltop Hoods In Ralph

Major, Obese Records

Phrase and Illy VIC show

Jim Steps

Head down Geelong way to catch Phrase and Illy live! The guys will hit the Grovedale for a great night of aussie hip hop. Saturday, Aug 22nd. Featuring Citywide Krew. Get yours on! In other news releating to Illy, you can check out some vids via the MTV website. In the first one Illy drops some acoustic mellow rhymes with his track Pictures, check it here.   You can also peep an exclusive interview with Illy via here. Continue reading Phrase and Illy VIC show

Uncategorized

ON THE UP 2 – TONIGHT

Jim Steps

Back this winter to bring you some fiery, lyrical goodness, ON THE UP 2 once again showcases another plethora of Melbourne’s fledgling wordsmiths! Triple J Unearthed competition winners Low Budget bring it back to the underground off the back of their performance at Splendour in the Grass, as well as highly innovative emcee Blunted Monk, Anon Speak, G Force and Doesa Ive on Friday August 21. Hosted by Grinny n’ T and with resident DJ Blazin Marty spinning wax from 9pm to 3am, this is an absolute must for fans of lyrical hip-hop or those who’ll enjoy some warm beats … Continue reading ON THE UP 2 – TONIGHT