Question: why do Aussie hip hop artists have nothing to talk about

[Kieran McConville]

Question: in the Dwight Schrute sense of that word.

Seriously, I get that a lot of hip hop is all about bragging or whatever, pretty boring to me but there it is. But Aussie hip hop... I can't remember the last time I heard one of these 'artists' release a track that concerned anything but themselves and their lives as hip hop people in the hip hop scene. With a few obscure pop culture references thrown in (I'm like that one guy from that one show!)

 

[No spoken words]

If forced to pursue a career in hip hop right now, as you are today, would you make a better MC or DJ? Or maybe just a hype man? Producer?

 

[cobl04]

Question: in the Dwight Schrute sense of that word.

Seriously, I get that a lot of hip hop is all about bragging or whatever, pretty boring to me but there it is. But Aussie hip hop... I can't remember the last time I heard one of these 'artists' release a track that concerned anything but themselves and their lives as hip hop people in the hip hop scene. With a few obscure pop culture references thrown in (I'm like that one guy from that one show!)

Don't even get me started. That's only like my #3 issue with Aussie hip-hop.

 

[Kieran McConville]

What are issues one and two?

I think if I was a hip hop MC or DJ, or whatever the fuck you're supposed to call yourself, I'd go by the moniker of 'Issue'. I'd get up on stage with a pig's head on a stick and inform the crowd 'Art. Fuck.'

 

[cobl04]

One is the vocals, they all "rap" with a similar twang, and two is the production, which with a tiny few exceptions is all extremely uninspired.

 

[Kieran McConville]

Yeah, I can go with that. The twang is annoying, and let's just say the world is running out of middle of the road folk/pop/rock songwriters to nick.

Where is Australia's Public Enemy?

 

[cobl04]

I think The Sad Punk might be able to link us to some indigenous hip-hop groups with something to say.

Otherwise they don't exist.

 

[Kieran McConville]

Thesis: Aussie hip hop is the new country n western. They owe more to Slim Dusty than Chuck D.

 

[cobl04]

...except I would not love to have a beer with any Aussie hip-hop artist, regardless of whether his name was Duncan or not.

Spoiler

That's a hyper-Aussie reference for ya.

 

[Kieran McConville]

Especially not at a pub with no beer. That kind of joint really is not a place you want to see.

 

[cobl04]

All ya can be is thirsty in a town with no cheer.

 

[Kieran McConville]

While John Safran's away, the jays have been running some light-comedy (read lame-comedy) live debate show on Sunday nights. No, not even I bother tuning in, but I heard a promo for it and last week's was 'is Aussie hip hop the best in the world?'.

No, no it is not. It is the worst in the world. It's possible, I guess, that German hip hop is worse, if such a thing even exists. But I doubt it.

 

[cobl04]

Oh man, I've heard those promos, and have been gobsmacked at how unfunny they are.

 

[Kieran McConville]

Hey, all you need to be funny in Australia nowadays is a halfway convincing Julia Gillard accent and a pitch for a 3-episode series (four to be safe, but it is gonna be cancelled, and deservedly, why waste the effort).