Top 10 Local Rap Videos of 2009
30th Dec 09
10. Who The F#ck?! - Mata & Must
These lads are fast becoming one of the more popular groups out of The Burn. While their 'Paradox Of Minds' album took a while to grow on me, it was definitely one of the more popular albums of the year, getting the most positive feedback from listeners every time we played a track from it or talked about the record. Unlike most records these days, the lads pretty much keep everything in-house, handling all the production work themselves. This one is definitely on an international standard, as was the whole LP for that matter. My man DJ Bogues flips the perfect ODB sample, which I'm sure most of y'all rappers go to sleep at least once a week asking yourself - "who the f#ck wanna be an MC? if you can't get paaaaid to be a f#ckin MC!".
"Johnny Cash always wants a beat for free / but never says what's up when ya see him on the street... / and wouldn't want to buy an LP, when he's going straight home to download it for free!"
09. Every Step - Fluent Form
Melburn's Crate Cartel crew have continued to hit hard in '09, with Fluent's 'The Furnace' my pick for local rap album of the year. The album is so dope, that this is far from my favourite song on it, yet it still bangs! This joint is produced by Geko, who handled about half of the production on the record. Come to think of it, these guys are another crew who subscribe to keeping their sh*t in-house, with the wizard himself, Discourse, making his directorial debut with this vid. F#cking unbelievable for a first effort, but the boy is a freak! Stay tuned for another Geko LP in the new year, and watch out for them lead pipe languages!
08. Fitzroy - Class A
The ladies have been a bit quite on the rap front of late, so it's about time we got some fresh sh*t like this! This is the first single from Class' upcoming EP, which is going to feature an ill production list including BVA, M-Phazes, Doc Felix, Urban Monk & Akouo - this jam is produced by the latter. It's probably the most interesting of all the vids in my list, as it starts out quite innocent, but takes an unexpected (but dope as f#ck turn) about a minute in. Thank god we got more local cats having some fun with this rap sh*t these days! Plus she gets extra points for reppin' my old 'hood G-Town as well.
07. Shouldn't Let Him Out - Polo Club
You gotta love Polo Club. These guys do what the f#ck they want, and do it better than anyone else! Urban Monk & Camelot The Cameleon nailed their unique sound on this year's debut album 'The 13'. Now Class A may have had the most interesting clip, but these lads have got the weirdest on lock! While I've never been one to trust a man riding an inflatable dolphin (whaddup B!), the fishmonger-looking lobotomy patient style dancing by my boys 'Sac & Geezy does nothing to clear things up! Keep an eye on the guy in the red shirt making moves in 2010 as well.
"Cam brought the drums, and I'm the awkward one that's warped and sort of dumb" - Urban Monk brings the braggadocio style!
06. Stay Up - That's Them
Out of Sydney's LOOKup crew alongside Scott Burns & The Bingethinkers, this duo (Sarm & Nebs) dropped one of the better local records to come out this year. Nebs is definitely one of Australia's best kept secrets, as he also holds down tight production across the whole LP. The video features one of the best uses of vintage film footage you're going to see, with a solid Tron influence as well, which should make all the 80's babies happy. Y'all keep your eye out for this Nebs fella, ya heard?!
"we're never makin no radio hit to sell / we're just tryin' to make the stereo shit itself"
05. Aerosol Era - Bias B
2009 was a landmark year for the Melburn scene, with the release of Kings Way back in June, Bias' timing couldn't have been better when he dropped this bomb! While B is known for his graf rhymes, he took it to another level here, combined with a monster from Jase on production and some classic footage from the golden years in The Burn. This is the kind of sh*t that makes you feel a little sad inside every time you see the clean trains pass by.
04. Don't Cha Hear Me - Lazy Grey
LG came back hard in '09 and dropped one of the albums of the year. His decision to hand over all production duties to MPC wiz Dave V proved to be a master stroke. Throw DJ DCE in on the cuts and these guys can't be stopped! Top class video production from Bias B & Heata only make this jam more sinister and paranoid!
03. Stand Up f/ Lee Sissing - Whisper
Former Equills member, Whisper is gearing up to step out on his own in O-Ten. The collab with Lee Sissing and local beat machine M-Phazes is an unf#ckwitable combination and the video is the perfect example of how good a simple idea can be done. Whisp has stepped up both his raps and production on this new project, plus it's sooooooo refreshing to hear a local cat rock some fly sh*t without worrying about having to staunch it up! (he leaves that up to the video groupies down at 4A Izett Street) Don't sleep on the kid, definitely one of the main names to be checking for in the new year.
"this is not an ordinary track, it's an anthem!"
02. Tailor Made - Low Budget
"For those who don't have a clue / yeah, let me break this down for you"... It was a big year for the LB's, not only were we blessed with new rap names for the lads - Gentleman Gene & Debonaire P - but they also received some national exposure through the JJJ Unearthed competition on the back of their dope sophomore LP, 'Laser Disc'. This video is yet another golden example of having a simple idea and straight killing it, with fresh as f#ck neon animation stealing the show from Gene's ill hook and one funky ass 1980's funk break!
"Tailor made, custom fit / check the cut and stitch, you can't f#ck with it!"
...and my number one video for 2009
01. The Cookout (M-Phazes RMX) - Nine High
After years of traveling back and forward between the UK and Oz, 2009 finally saw the official debut from one of the deadliest MC trios on any continent. Although Phazes produced several album tracks, this one wasn't reworked until after the record was on shelves. Our man's Fraksha, Scotty Hinds & Felony are all set to drop some heavy solo mixtapes early in the new year, but until then enjoy the lads as they run a supermarket sweep that Ian Turpie would be proud of!
Plus, how many rap groups you know kicking knowledge on aromatic duck? Nuff said!
Fuck. The local scene is realy good these days!