Jump to playlist

DJANDJAY is Baker Boy's second studio album, a profound artistic evolution from the Yolŋu rapper's celebrated 2021 debut Gela. Named for his late grandmother who first introduced him to hip-hop, DJANDJAY (pronounced Jan-jay) also honours a sacred Yolŋu figure, a protective octopus spirit that guides souls into the afterlife. Lyrics embrace vulnerability and defiance alongside joy. Baker Boy describes it as stepping into a new era, "owning my music, my art and my direction", claiming space for the entirety of his experience as artist, Yolŋu man, and community voice.

Recorded with producers Pip Norman and Robert Amoruso, the album expands Baker Boy's multilingual flow to include Yolŋu Matha, English and, for the first time on record, his mother's language, Burarra. Songs build on the funk and hip-hop foundations of Gela, with genre as a means to express each track's emotional weight. 'Thick Skin', written in the aftermath of the 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum, channels frustration through punk-inspired production and a powerful choir featuring Thelma Plum, Emma Donovan, Kee'ahn and Jada Weazel. 'Freak Out', with Briggs and Haiku Hands, switches to punchy percussion and call-and-response chants that address themes of tokenism and city life. Elsewhere, 'Mad Dog' fuses yidaki with dubstep to create what Baker Boy calls a "rave yidaki vibe". Tracks like 'Running Low', featuring US rapper Pardyalone, explore grief and burnout, while 'Lightning' with REDD delves into the pressures of being a role model beneath its playful pop surface.

Family remains at the heart of the record. Three interludes thread intimacy through the album's most powerful statements: 'Djapa' features a cherished recording of his grandparents, 'Mala' preserves a raw demo vocal, and 'Amala' includes a voice message from his mother.

For the chance to win a vinyl copy of this week's Album Of The Week, Triple R subscribers can enter here before Sunday 19th October 2025. We have a prize policy of 1 album per subscriber per month so we can share the love and make it fair for all!