Author: Jim Steps

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Purpose Live On BKS

Jim Steps

Purpose, the restless yet calculated mind behind the now infamous If the City Had A Voice mixtape series, is hardly a new face in the Australian Hip-Hop scene. With the roots of a freestyle/battle rapper, he represented Adelaide successfully nationwide early on, leading him to the US with coveted spot in the Scribble Jam MC tournament at 17.  In short, Purpose was a wordsmith before he was legal. March 1st saw Purpose release his highly anticipated self-produced debut LP Where It Starts through MGM. The record, which takes an honest look into the mind of a multi-faceted young man, features singles We Will Be … Continue reading Purpose Live On BKS

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Coin x Akouo – Letters To The Sun

Jim Steps

Letters To The Sun is a soul/hip hop duo featuring Perth MC Coin (The Stoops) and Tasmanian producer/DJ Akouo. Their debut self-titled album is out on the 22nd March 2013 (today), through Obese Distribution. Originating from two of the most musically isolated parts of Australia, Perth Coin and Tasmanian DJ/producer Akouo have been quietly building a cache of sounds that blend neo-soul, backpack rap and eclectic rhythms. The duo draw inspiration from a range of influences, from hip hop producers such as J Dilla, Pete Rock, Hitek, Exile and 20Syl to neo-soul figures like Amp Fiddler, Erykah Badu and Common. As a … Continue reading Coin x Akouo – Letters To The Sun

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Mute X Roleo – first single ‘Monkey’

Jim Steps

Monkey is the first single off the collaborative effort from Reverse Polarities founding member Mute MC and Daily Meds producer Roleo. The song has already been getting love on triple jand is a prime example of what happens when two crazy people come together to create at Big Village’s HQ, Hibernian House. Roleo’s driving Afro/Jungle style beat meets Mute’s eccentric ragga style flow, screaming and chanting exaltations to life. Due for a late April release through Big Village the self-titled project is a collection of songs combining the crunchy, synth heavy beats of Roleo with sharp, introspective and heartfelt lyrics from Mute. … Continue reading Mute X Roleo – first single ‘Monkey’

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P.Smurf – The Story So Far

Jim Steps

Today, March 22 Big Village will release the debut solo EP The Story So Far from Daily Meds front man P.Smurf. In the lead-up P.Smurf has been streaming a song a day on soundcloud before the record goes in stores and online. This sun drenched 7 track EP is a testament to the last 8 years of hard work the Sydney MC has put into mastering his craft, and it shows. During The Story So Far P.Smurf goes into depth on what makes him tick, both as a person and an MC. Splicing his trademark spit-fire lyricism with tales of love, … Continue reading P.Smurf – The Story So Far

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Purpose breaks into ARIA albums chart with independent debut ‘Where It Starts’

Jim Steps

Monday morning Purpose took to social media to advise fans his debut project has yet again proved larger than it’s bedroom roots, becoming the #18 highest selling Australian album on the ARIA charts week ending 8th of March and #12 across the Urban charts. A huge feat for a debut album, let alone one without the benefits of label support and funding. Below is footage of him performing to a warm reception at the coveted Clipsal 500 concert on his albums release day, March 1st. He will be taking his talents on the road yet again in April/May. In the meantime … Continue reading Purpose breaks into ARIA albums chart with independent debut ‘Where It Starts’

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Deuce Kicks – Suburbs In The Sky

Jim Steps

Suburbs In The Sky, Deuce Kicks’ second EP, is testament to Deuce Kicks’ growth as artists – both individually and as a duo. The EP sees Deuce Kicks backing away from the relentless and aggressive sound of their first EP, Bats & Blisters, and exploring different sounds and themes.  The result is an introspective, honest and most importantly, a vulnerable body of work that stunningly balances the struggle of personal hardship with the ambitions and dreams of two young men. Droopy is a hip hop-based music producer from Melbourne, Australia with a thick, textured sound and subtle soulful undertones. At … Continue reading Deuce Kicks – Suburbs In The Sky

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Tonight: Music Publicity 101 – Why Your Press Release Sucks

Jim Steps

Every muso has a story – but how to tell it? MusicNSW delves into band bios, killer press releases and strategic publicity campaigns in our next free workshop, to be held on tonight at Café Lounge, Surry Hills. “Music Publicity 101: Why Your Press Release Sucks!” brings five of Australia’s best music and media experts together to share knowledge: what does a publicist do – and do you need one? Why having a story matters; how to ensure your photo isn’t an embarrassment; why a publicity plan is a must-have for your release/tour + more. Panelists include: Stacey Piggott: The … Continue reading Tonight: Music Publicity 101 – Why Your Press Release Sucks

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P-Money – The Professional feat. Roc Marciano

Jim Steps

Late last month, Auckland, New Zealand producer P-Money kicked off his US assault with the track Welcome to America, his first feature and the lead single off his U.S. debut album. With a string of platinum albums and number one singles to his credit, P-­Money has become a household name in New Zealand. Now he joins stable mate David Dallas as the latest Kiwi to sign a deal with the renowned New York based label that has distributed projects for 9th Wonder, B-­Real of Cypress Hill, Talib Kweli, De La Soul, Buckshot, Pete Rock & Smif N Wessun, Sean Price … Continue reading P-Money – The Professional feat. Roc Marciano

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April77 Creative – A77 letterpress cards

Jim Steps

The new A77 website is live! April77 Creative has updated their branding and added a bunch of fresh work to the portfolio, plus the new site is viewable across all mobile devices. In celebration April77 is releasing a set of limited edition A77 letterpress cards. Printed on 600gsm Crane Lettra, imported direct from the United States, Lettra is the premium choice of paper stocks for letterpress around the world. The designs featured on each card are unique extensions of the April77 diamond brand and also present the first printed application of the updated A77 colours. A limited quantity of the … Continue reading April77 Creative – A77 letterpress cards

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Realizm – The Remixtape

Jim Steps

re·al·ism/ˈrēəˌlizəm/ Noun: 1. The attitude or practice of accepting a situation as it is and being prepared to deal with it accordingly: “a new mood of realism”. An obscure lyricist and producer from Adelaide, Australia. After his debut verse on the original critically acclaimed Battlehoggs Official Mixtape Volume 1, Realizm has been steady on both the live circuit and in the studio. Performing alongside long time collaborator K21, he has shared the stage with acts such as Jedi Mind Tricks, Celph Titled, Ill Bill (Non Phixion), Evidence (Dilated Peoples), Brad Strut, Funkoars and more. Studio wise, the past 4 years … Continue reading Realizm – The Remixtape

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Mind Over Matter – Real Life feat K.I.K.I

Jim Steps

Emerging from Sydney’s vibrant hip hop community in 2006, the duo known as Mind Over Matter quickly established themselves as artists to be reckoned with. Through their highly lauded mixtape For Our Hip Hoppers, they successfully built and earned a loyal fan base nationally. In 2008 Mind Over Matter released their debut album entitled Keepin’ It Breezy to industry wide praise, culminating in a nomination for Australian album of the year in triple j’s J Mag. With the success of this debut combined with their pre-established following cemented by back to back outstanding releases, MCs Willow and Smiles Again have … Continue reading Mind Over Matter – Real Life feat K.I.K.I

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Chance Waters signs worldwide publishing deal with Universal

Jim Steps

I Forget, Sorry!’s favourite loud shirted comic book nerd has just signed a worldwide publishing deal with Universal, which nobody could have expected, including him.  To celebrate 12 months which included his first top 100 single, top 50 album, Like A Version, 2 entries in The Hottest 100, Unearthed J Award nomination, #7 in the RAGE! top 50, a record deal with Permanent/Shock and now a worldwide publishing deal with Universal (deep breath) Chance is going to hit the road on the Infinity Album Tour with fellow I Forget, Sorry! members Mind Over Matter (who, by the way, just had their new single … Continue reading Chance Waters signs worldwide publishing deal with Universal

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Sketch The Rhyme – Adelaide Fringe

Jim Steps

Featuring visual artists, hip hop MCs and a full live band, Sketch The Rhyme is a brilliantly unique game show where freestyle rapping meets fast paced illustration and live animation in a number of hilarious improvised games, inspired by Pictionary, Celebrity Heads and Mr Squiggle. Sketch The Rhyme is a fresh, fast and funny interactive hip hop game show where speed drawing meets freestyle rapping to the sounds of a live band. Inspired by Mr Squiggle and Pictionary, this game-show-with-a-twist is made up of a series of playoffs between the artists and the rappers. The artists speed-sketch pictures relevant to a … Continue reading Sketch The Rhyme – Adelaide Fringe

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Seth Sentry – Science, Shooters & SXSW

Jim Steps

2012 was a massive year for Seth Sentry… three high-rotation singles, an album debuting at #6 on the ARIA charts, triple j’s feature album of the week and Channel [V]’s Oz Artist Of The Year award… but seeing as though he got to kick off 2013 by driving a DeLorean and currently on his North American Tour, this is already the year to beat.  aahh: How have the last few months been in comparison to this same time last year? Seth Sentry: Oh last year I was doing fuck all, struggling to write the album, smoking pot and playing a lot of video games, … Continue reading Seth Sentry – Science, Shooters & SXSW

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Pez – Back In the Game Tour

Jim Steps

Pez returns to Australian stages for his first headline tour in more than 3 years. To highlight the important influence Pez has had on the Australian hip-hop scene, you need only to look at the two supports from that 2009 tour – a little known rapper named 360 and an upcoming MC named Seth Sentry. The Back In The Game Tour will roll through 21 dates nation-wide and provides Pez with the chance to unveil tracks from his long awaited sophomore album – including current single The Game. Pez is a unique voice in Australian music – his records are grounded with a hip-hop ethic & … Continue reading Pez – Back In the Game Tour

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Dave Vs Goliath – It’s Big – It’s Catchy – It’s ‘The Original’. Big Dave Feat. Snoop Dogg!!

Jim Steps

Having been mentored by the likes of industry legend John Payne (WIDEawake & Death  Row Records) to touring with some of the worlds hip hop elite from Ice Cube, Bone  Thugs N Harmony, Xzibit, KRS One, D12 and many more Big Dave is set to drop his latest  single The Original featuring world renown hip hop artist Snoop Dogg to national  media in the coming weeks.  ‘The Original’ is the second single to be released from Big Dave’s upcoming 2013 album Self Made being released through MGM Distribution. I am sure I need not introduce Snoop Dogg or as some might … Continue reading Dave Vs Goliath – It’s Big – It’s Catchy – It’s ‘The Original’. Big Dave Feat. Snoop Dogg!!

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DJ Afrika Bambaataa Australia & NZ tour

Jim Steps

Named by LIFE Magazine as one of the most important Americans of the 20th Century, DJ Afrika Bambaataa is a musical visionary, DJ extraordinaire, living legend and founder of the Universal Zulu Nation. Aa collective of socially and politically aware emcees, DJs, graffiti artists and break dancers.   With over 35 years trailblazin’ around the world, Bam, as he’s affectionately known, can almost single-handedly be credited for the urban music revolution – redefining music and culture as we know it today. In fact, Bam is the person responsible for coining the term “Hip Hop” in reference to this global movement. … Continue reading DJ Afrika Bambaataa Australia & NZ tour

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Chasm EP Series Vol. 1: Rachael Berry x Skryptcha Diamond Cuts

Jim Steps

After a very successful 2012 centred around his widely revered album This is How We Never Die, Chasm has returned in 2013 with a fresh approach to releasing his music. The Chasm EP series, the first of which is set for release on March 15th this year, will comprise of four separate digital releases, each featuring a different vocal artist.   The collaborations, in true Chasm style, will spotlight artists from his international network including Guilty Simpson (USA), Blak Twang (UK), and our very own Monchichi (AUS), Skryptcha & Rachael Berry (AUS). The first EP from the series Diamond Cuts, features … Continue reading Chasm EP Series Vol. 1: Rachael Berry x Skryptcha Diamond Cuts

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Citizen Kay Announces new single ‘Yes!’

Jim Steps

Originally born in Ghana, then moving to the Capital of Australia while still very young, Citizen Kay has grown up with an ambition to make his way into the music scene. Beginning as an aspiring songwriter with a love of hip-hop, he began rapping under the name ‘Kay‘. Not long after teaching himself how to rap, he decided to start teaching himself how to make beats and the art of recording. As time went on, Kay gained more experience making beats, finessing his rapping style and writing and recording his music. His reputation spread and before long he was working … Continue reading Citizen Kay Announces new single ‘Yes!’

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Soliloquy – Double Sided

Jim Steps

At just sixteen years of age, Soliloquy has accomplished more than most young aspiring rappers can even dream of, let alone will ever achieve. His debut performance was in front of a sold out venue, making a guest appearance on stage with New York Hip-Hop legend Pharoahe Monch. In July of 2011, Soliloquy released his debut EP The Unveiling, receiving much acclaim from industry figures and the general public alike. He spent the following year honing his craft, working on new material and performing around Melbourne. 2012 brought yet another rebirth for Soliloquy, as he has matured lyrically and experientially. His second release … Continue reading Soliloquy – Double Sided

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Diafrix – I’m A Dreamer Tour

Jim Steps

Fresh off supporting Macklemore and Ryan Lewis on their sold-out tour of Australia, Melbourne duo Diafrix proudly announce I’m A Dreamer Tour which sees them performing across Australia featuring special guest, emerging Sydney based rapper Miracle. In 2012, Diafrix returned with their new album Pocket Full Of Dreams, with special guest appearances from 360, Dwele and Daniel Merriweather and the majority of the production helmed by Styalz Fuego, the ARIA Award winning producer behind 360′s double platinum Falling & Flying LP. The album saw rave reviews and was named iTunes Best Australian Hip-Hop Release of 2012. The band featured prominently … Continue reading Diafrix – I’m A Dreamer Tour

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Dutch – This Is It feat. Sye McRitchie

Jim Steps

Emerging from Sydney’s hip hop scene, Dutch has been involved in the Sydney hip hop world for a number of years now, growing a musical partnership with respected Sydney based producer Espa, Dutch is fast becoming a highly regarded artist with unquestionable potential. Dutch creates potent yet laid back songs that reveal a tenacious aspect to his views on life. His lyrics are so honest they reveal the thoughts people have but never say. They are relatable and poignant yet are not lacking in a sense of humour. Currently in the early stages of producing his first full length solo album, his seamless ability to perform on any … Continue reading Dutch – This Is It feat. Sye McRitchie

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Prophet Rayza To Shave Dreadlocks In ‘World’s Greatest Shave’

Jim Steps

Hip Hop, Prophet Rayza needs your help! He has accepted the challenge to SHAVE OFF HIS DREADLOCKS for The Leukaemia Foundation’s, World’s Greatest Shave. Here is what Prophet Rayzar has to say about his endeavour: “I have not cut my hair in six years. My hair has been a spiritual journey for me and has served my soul well and now I would like my hair to serve others. My hair has been meticulously maintained as you can see, as it means a great deal to me so I have set a target of $6,000 ($1,000 for every year I have … Continue reading Prophet Rayza To Shave Dreadlocks In ‘World’s Greatest Shave’

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Wide Open Road at SXSW

Jim Steps

As premium festival producers, BDO Presents and C3 Presents in association with Sounds Australia and the Screen Producers Association of Australia are here to motivate the next level of show, stage and digital design; to help break the down the fourth wall between artists and audience. Motivated by recent work such Tupac hologram, Coldplay LED wrist bands and historically Roger Waters ‘The Wall’ we are capitalising on the 3 separate weeks of Film, Interactive and Music conferences at SXSW to present the inaugural Wide Open Road and the The Big Day Out Evolution Grant. The Big Day Out Evolution Grant will be awarded to collective groups who combine … Continue reading Wide Open Road at SXSW

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Obese Records – Frankston Store Opening

Jim Steps

Obese Records, Australia’s first hip hop label, was established in 1995 as a small record store originally named OB’s. After the business was bought and renamed by Tirren Staaf (Pegz) in 2002, the label was created as an outlet for the distribution of Australian hip-hop. Melbourne’s emcee Reason with his album Solid, was the first release on the label, closely followed by the scene-defining Culture of Kings and Obesecity compilations. Over the course of its twelve years, Obese Records has seen success stories such as Hilltop Hoods, Muph & Plutonic, Drapht, Illy, release award winning albums, play to crowds of … Continue reading Obese Records – Frankston Store Opening

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Candice Monique – FREE ME: The Mixtape

Jim Steps

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 … Continue reading Candice Monique – FREE ME: The Mixtape

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Obese TV – Episode 2

Jim Steps

The second full length episode of Obese TV is here, the ‘summer edition’. Obese TV aims to feature dope new segments such as ‘New Releases’, ‘Classics’, ‘Obese Retail’, ‘Spotlight’, ‘Backstage Pass’ and more. Each episode of Obese TV will be hosted by a different member of the scene. In Episode 2 of Obese TV, we see highlights from Hopsin’s recent in-store appearance at Obese Records. In ‘New Releases’ we hear from the Broken Tooth Entertainment crew including Tornts, Fraksha and Ciecmate. The ‘Spotlight’ this time around, is placed firmly on the massively talented Candice Monique.  If that wasn’t enough already, Frank from Obese Records retail store talks about vinyl records and what they … Continue reading Obese TV – Episode 2

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Bliss N Eso – House Of Dreams

Jim Steps

Live Nation and Niche Productions are proud to present, in association with American Hip-Hop legend Nas, the inaugural 2013 Australian Movement Festival. Filling the void of credible Hip-Hop events in Australia, the Movement Festival places Grammy award winning Hip Hop heavyweights, with mixtape kings and local heros in what’s destined to takeover as THE Hip Hop event each and every year in Australia. Setting a new standard, Movement looks to the future of Hip Hop and Rap whilst still catering to a solid Hip-Hop foundation, thanks to the festival’s co-headliner and co-curator Nas. With more than 20 years in the … Continue reading Bliss N Eso – House Of Dreams

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A$AP Rocky Debut Australian Tour – Venue and date changes

Jim Steps

Due to A$AP Rocky’s US Radio show commitments and overwhelming demand for tickets, Niche & Live Nation announce new dates and venues for the Harlem, New York MC’s debut tour of Australia. Due to an immense reaction on presale, A$AP Rocky’s Sydney and Melbourne shows are now changing dates and upsizing to the Hordern Pavillion (was Saturday 29th June at Enmore Theatre) and Festival Hall (was Friday 28th June at Palace) venues to cope with the demand – both of these shows are licensed and all ages.  Ticket holders can receive a full refund from point of purchase should this … Continue reading A$AP Rocky Debut Australian Tour – Venue and date changes

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Illy Interview: Back To Bring It.

Jim Steps

The third studio album from Illy came in the form of Bring It Back. Described by the popular emcee as “a heart album“, the LP was not stylistically intended to follow-up from its predecessor The Chase. Reflective of the scene behind the genre, Bring it Back is largely a collaborative album, including all manner of vocal and production guests. aahh: After a bit of a break from recording, you’re back now with your latest LP titled ‘Bring It Back’. Tell us a bit about the new album? Illy: It’s a throwback to music I listened to coming up. It’s also an album that … Continue reading Illy Interview: Back To Bring It.