Australian Music Vault

presents

Hip Hop

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The Australian Music Vault continues to celebrate the stories of Australian contemporary music by exploring the development of hip hop in a new display.

As a genre, hip hop in Australia stems from the 1980s, drawing its early influences from American hip hop to become a unique form of self-expression today. Australian hip hop has developed a distinct personality that reflects its evolution referencing life, politics, cultural identity, aspirations and challenges all the while maintaining the Australian accent and slang. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s when Australian hip hop artists started to create their own distinctive style and achieve mainstream recognition. Today, it is one of the most popular and potent forms of musical storytelling.

“They thought it was going to be a passing phase but wow how wrong they were. This display will showcase the evolution of hip hop culture in Australia, from its humble beginnings in the very early 80’s right up until today, highlighting our journey and timeline of how we came to develop our own unique sound, style, flavour, street art and how we made the culture unique to us. This display will be of interest to hip hop connoisseurs and Australian music historians alike, and show how hip hop in Australia was born and influenced out of a culture that was originally born in the Bronx, New York,” says DJ Peril.

The evolution of hip hop in Australia speaks to all themes that underpinned the curatorial process of the Australian Music Vault – Innovation & Mastery; Journeys & Resilience; Identity & Belonging and Trailblazers & Unsung Heroes.

“Hip hop has been a vibrant part of Australian culture for almost 40 years yet it remains a largely misunderstood art form. We’re hoping that by shining a light on the stories of Australia’s hip hop pioneers and emerging superstars we’ll kick-start a new conversation about hip hop’s positive messages of inclusion, community and respect,” says Senior Curator, Australian Music Vault Carolyn Laffan.

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The display will feature costumes, microphones, samplers, posters, awards, magazines, and rare records and CDs from over 30 hip hop artists and labels, including:

360 – 1200 Techniques – A.B. Original – Backstreet Boogie – Baker Boy – Bias B – Bliss n Eso – Def Wish Cast – Downsyde – Drapht – Elefant Traks – Golden Era – Hilltop Hoods – Hydrofunk – Illy – Koolism – Lady Lash – Layla – Mantra – Maya Jupiter – MC Trey – Muph & Plutonic – Nuffsaid – Obese – Resin Dogs – Sampa The Great – Strait Up – Styalz Fuego – Tkay Maidza – TZU – Urthboy – Wire MC

Among the incredible objects is the 2004 ARIA Award Koolism (DJ Danielsan and MC Hau) won for Best Urban Release, ‘Part Three – Random Thoughts’. It was the first time ever that hip hop was recognised at a national level. Hau has since gone on to host triple j’s national, weekly, three-hour Hip Hop Show taking over the reins from Maya Jupiter in 2008.

“The culture of hip hop has been deeply rooted in Australia’s soil since the 80’s. From the early 90’s, I’ve personally seen the hip hop culture grow from humble beginnings to becoming a mainstream genre, winning prestigious awards and earning plaques, to now being a part of an exhibition in Arts Centre Melbourne. To have our culture featured in the Australian Music Vault to be preserved and appreciated by young and old is amazing. It has been quite a journey and I’m thankful to bear witness,” says Hau.

Across 2019, the hip hop project will expand out of the exhibition space with online education resources and an associated Arts Learning program. This will include new arrangements for The Australian Music Vault Choir Project, a school holiday Hip Hop Lyric Writing Workshop for young people aged 10 – 16 with acclaimed hip hop artist N’fa Jones of 1200 Techniques, a new Schools Workshop and a very special Process LAB for creative music makers 18+ with co-founder and member of hip hop duo Diafrix, Mohamed Komba. The Australian Music Vault has also worked with popular and established hip hop artist Mantra to develop a new package of resources as part of the Online Digital Resource Kit for Schools.

“The Australian Music Vault has done an amazing job of representing hip hop in Australia in a way that conveys the depth and breadth of the culture, as well as the various milestones and accomplishments our communities have reached over the years. Contributing to the collection and helping put together the online learning resources has reminded me just how much this music and this culture mean to so many people; from the artists, to the fans and to the music industry itself,” says Mantra.

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Arts Centre Melbourne’s flagship youth music programs Dig Deep and Sisters on the Mic engage aspiring artists aged 14 – 24. They provide an inclusive, dynamic space for young rappers, singers, beat-makers and musicians of all backgrounds to hone their skills and learn from a team of established practitioners. Dig Deep is led by renowned hip hop artists Mantra and MoMO, joined this year by Australia’s new first lady of R&B, Thando. Thando also leads Sisters on the Mic, supported by Machehi Komba and a host of guest artists.

“Dig Deep and Sisters on the Mic provide a valuable resource to young people that may otherwise have been unable to explore their creative learnings. It’s great to be able to guide their journey,” says Thando.     

The Australian Music Vault is a key initiative of the Victorian Government’s Music Works strategy, in support and collaboration with the music industry. It has been developed by Arts Centre Melbourne in consultation with the music industry and is a celebration of the Australian contemporary music story – past, present and future. It’s a place to explore your love of music, revisit some of the big music moments of your life and discover the exciting new stories of today’s Australian music scene.

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Australian Music Vault presents
Hip Hop
from Friday 22 March 2019
more information at australianmusicvault.com.au

 

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#Hip Hop Display Image & Credit Guide

 

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AMNPLIFY – DB