Sprung Festival, Australia’s Number 1 all Aussie Hip Hop event is back for 2014 after another smashing year in Brisbane 2013.

After Sprung’s attempt at expansion in Melbourne unfortunately met with licensing and venue issues leading to the cancellation of the Melbourne show, the Sprung Hip Hop crew have stepped back from their plans of potential cat stroking world domination and decided to put an all in effort into continuing to make Sprung Brisbane the must see calendar event that it has been for the past 3 yrs running.

After 6 months of planning and washing last year’s dirty taste out of our collective mouths, SPRUNG is happy to announce that it will be held on Sept 20th in the outdoor and indoor setting of The Eatons Hill Hotel and Entertainment Centre, set to unleash another cracking All Aussie Hip Hop lineup later this month.

So when you’ve locked in that date, hold onto your hoodies peeps because Sprung Festival is smashing year in Brisbane in 2013.

“This year the format is going to be very much that of the original one in 2011 with some nice surprises to come. We are very excited for 2014 and looking forward to bringing the All Australian Hip Hop festival back for its 4th year in Brisbane” – says one of the event’s organizers Josh Taylor Of Cassette Entertainment

Previous years have seen the likes of The Hilltop Hoods, The Funkoars, Thundamentals, Seth Sentry, Kerser, Illy, 360 and Drapht along with a plethora of local Hip Hop’s most talented mouthpieces. So all of you interstaters get your long haul mixtapes ready, lock mum in the back shed and get ready to hightail it to sunny Queensland later this year for what will be without a doubt another life changing Hip Hop festival likened to coming face to face with the almighty himself. That last part may or may not be true, attendee reactions may vary ; )

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In 2012 Baskiat released his first single Wisdom, produced by Flume, to a great reception online and a brief rotation on triple j. Since then he has matured as an emcee, he has started working with more local talents, and holds down residency once a month at BRKLYN bar in the Sydney suburb of Manly.

2013 saw Baskiat and his collective, Menace Clique, open for renowned local acts such as Spit Syndicate, Kerser, Diafrix and Pez. Now in 2014, Baskiat sets his sights on the throne of local hip hop. He has recently released a brand new mixtape which features a large contribution from the legendary DMC champion DJ A.S.K. and contributions from Nonne MC, JuJu, Siege A, Sly Cat and Little Hunta.

You can grab the mixtape for free download here, or by following the link in the player above. 

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Nonne MC is a rapper from Sydney northern beaches and has always been interested in music, hip hop culture, art and poetry.

His first mixtape release Ill Chills Volume 1 gained underground exposure when his horrorcore inspired track It’s All In My Head obtained a place on Off The Record’s “Hits From The Song” compilation mix, which printed 10,000 units nationwide and featured in such magazines as Brag, Drum Media, Inpress + many more.

Another track off the mixtape Gotta Be Clever achieved radio play on FBI. With such positive feed back Nonne began working on his second mixtape Ill Chills Volume 2 with the same blend of bizarre lyrical word play and alternative hip hop. He exceeded on the triple j Unearthed charts.

Reaching number 1 with his song Wash Away which featured Little Hunta of Decypher Us. His live shows gained infamy among fans for his stunts and outlandish hi-jinx during performances. Opening for such acts as Diafrix, Pez, Kerser, Miracle, Larykan and countless of underground sydney MC’s. Nonne has shocked, awed, and entertained crowds with his out-there stage presence and his alternative sound of hip hop.

A few months back we saw the release of Crop Circles, his own twisted perspective of life. You can pick that up now. 

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Kerser shot a cameo appearance on set this month with the SBS program Housos crew for their new Fat Pizza vs. Housos feature film set to release at the end of 2014. 

He’s also been busy in the studio working on a brand new track to exclusively feature on the film.

 Kerser’s S.C.O.T National Tour 2014 DVD artwork has also surfaced as the release date nears, currently penciled in to drop late August/ early September.

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King Kers has announced his 4th LP title! With as many albums dropping in as many years, the next instalment from the Sickest is going to blow minds. Get ready! ‘KING‘ will drop on the 14th of November via Obese Records Distribution.

KING will be available at JB Hifi, Sanity and all good independent record stores nationally as well as digitally worldwide via iTunes. Watch this space for updates and info on KING National Tour taking off in Jan/Feb 2015.

The S.C.O.T National Tour 2014 DVD drops 26th September. Pre-order your signed copy from JB Hi-Fi http://bit.ly/VMAgbY or Sanity http://bit.ly/1q8YwA6.

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Sydney solo MC and former Tavern Slander member Willis is here with his highly anticipated solo project the War Talk double LP. War Talk is the debut solo album by the artist featuring 25 brand new tracks across two CD’s.

Willis is known for his sharp delivery and clever technical wordplay. He brings a very diverse flavour of hip hop to the table with music ranging from classic traditional boom bap tracks all the way to heavy metal inspired songs with melodic chorus’ that become embedded in your brain.

With notable international artists Kool G Rap and Celph Titled on board and Australian favourites such as Kerser, Rates, Fluent Form and many more, War Talk is set to make an impact amongst hip hop circles. Willis has performed all over Australia and shared the stage with high calibre international acts such as TechN9ne, Lord Finesse, Obie Trice, D12 , Kerser and many more.

Pre-Order  ||  Facebook

Sydney solo MC and former Tavern Slander member Willis is here with his highly anticipated solo project the War Talk double LP. War Talk is the debut solo album by the artist featuring 25 brand new tracks across two CD’s.

Willis is known for his sharp delivery and clever technical wordplay. He brings a very diverse flavour of hip hop to the table with music ranging from classic traditional boom bap tracks all the way to heavy metal inspired songs with melodic chorus’ that become embedded in your brain.

With notable international artists Kool G Rap and Celph Titled on board and Australian favourites such as Kerser, Rates, Fluent Form and many more, War Talk is set to make an impact amongst hip hop circles. Willis has performed all over Australia and shared the stage with high calibre international acts such as TechN9ne, Lord Finesse, Obie Trice, D12 , Kerser and many more.

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From amidst the hard-living notoriously crime ridden suburbs of Sydney’s outer west, an epitomising voice has emerged in the form of Kerser.

Following the success of No Rest For The Sickest National Tour 2013 DVD – which debuted at #1 on the ARIA Charts keeping P!nk in check at #2 – comes the next highly anticipated instalment in the Kerser DVD series, S.C.O.T National Tour 2014.

Whereas Kerser’s first live tour DVD let fans take home highlights from his Melbourne and Sydney shows, as well as providing an insight into Kerser’s private life, 2014’s S.C.O.T. National Tour DVD goes even deeper.

With up close and personal behind the scenes footage, interviews and high-powered performances captured in the country’s capitals, we head out with Kerser as he’s joined by mates DJ Victor Lopez, hype man Jay (UF), gentle giant bodyguard Big Joe [whose backstage snoozing causes no end of laughs on tour], as well as brother, collaborator and hype man Rates. It’s a chance for fans to relive the experience, catch up with the band of brothers and their backstage antics, and, revealingly, see how Kerser’s notoriety and success has changed his life.

For those new to the Kerser story, it’s a fascinating insight into how a fiercely loyal, unashamedly honest and humble rapper with a hard upbringing has forced the music industry to reconsider itself, as he inspires his legion of fans to push harder, and keep going.

Initially gaining attention as a battle emcee, most infamously against ARIA award-winning pop rapper 360, Kerser opted to self-promote via YouTube clips, some of which received up to 100,000 views in 48 hours, before releasing his debut effort, with production don Nebs, The Nebulizer in 2011.

Honest, raw and ruthless sophomore album No Rest For The Sickest charted at #1 on the ARIA Urban charts, #1 on the iTunes Hip Hop charts, and #14 on the overall iTunes charts (not to mention the lesser known accolade of ‘Most Stolen Album From JB HiFi’), before the tour DVD of the same name debuted at #1 on the National ARIA Charts above P!nk. By now a festival veteran, and selling out his own shows nationally, fashion labels approached him for endorsements; relationships which saw sales tripling each time Kerser put photographs up across his social media.

Third LP S.C.O.T [the un-abbreviated title of which will never be heard on mainstream radio in Australia] dropped just months later, held at #2 on the overall iTunes charts by pop superstar Katy Perry. A week later it was announced that S.C.O.T had secured #5 on the main ARIA Charts and #1 on the ARIA Urban Charts.

Kerser’s oft-times cocky persona is a case of necessity rather than preference. One of, if not the most humble artists in the game, Kerser is gaining respect from media, industry peers and new fans alike. The unconventional yet democratic nature of his rise to fame has indicated the start of a new model of music business, free from the filtration of radio programmers and the limitations of genre quotas. Accumulating well over 220,000 Facebook fans and more than 15 million YouTube views with little to no marketing or radio play, Kerser has single-handedly created a loop hole in the system, just by telling his story and making no apologies for it.

As his presence extends beyond just his music, Kerser has become an icon for hope, resilience and resourcefulness, inspiring hundreds of thousands nationally.

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KING Is By Far His Best And Most Accessible, Despite Being The Most Brutal!

A success story no one predicted, MC Kerser is the most polarising voice in Australian hip hop, epitomising the notoriously hard-living suburbs of Sydney’s outer west.

With trademark, unapologetic, honesty, KING documents Kerser’s incredible trajectory from his stomping ground in Sydney’s West [‘C-Town’], the fight he’s undertaken to get out [‘Put Life in Rap’] and the hard-won realisation that success creates its own problems [‘Forever’.]

Though championed by the marginalised society he emerged from, some early fans have fallen by the wayside, accusing Kerser of flaunting success. The industry you’d think would respect the numbers, appear to see the rapper as too close to the crime-ridden scenes he’s been forced to leave. It’s a fascinating, no doubt frustrating, situation for the fiercely loyal, unashamedly honest and humble MC.

Stuck in the middle, Kerser rejects self-pity, using the dichotomy as a source of strength, making KING his best album yet. Accessible, despite its brutality, with storytelling at its sharpest and Nebs production never better, KING is headed for the top of the charts, with a special fold-out poster included with the physical CD for the fans who keep Kerser there. It’s the relationship with supporters that forces the music industry to reconsider success; despite his hard upbringing, Kerser inspires legions of fans to push harder, and expect more.

Initially gaining notoriety in an emcee battle with 360, before nearly breaking YouTube with his promo clips [clocking up to 100,000 views in 48 hours], first record The Nebulizer [2011] signaled Kerser’s deadly serious intentions. Second album, the ruthless No Rest For The Sickest hit #1 on the ARIA Urban charts, #1 on the iTunes Hip Hop charts, and #14 on the overall iTunes charts [and was ‘Most Stolen Album From JB HiFi’], before the tour DVD debuted at #1 on the National ARIA Charts, beating P!nk. By then a festival veteran, and selling out shows nationally, fashion labels approached him for endorsements – usually the other way round – which saw sales tripling when he showed garments on social media.

Third LP S.C.O.T [2013] was held at #2 on the iTunes charts by superstar Katy Perry. A week later S.C.O.T was #5 on the main ARIA Charts and #1 on the ARIA Urban Charts. The S.C.O.T. National Tour DVD [Sept, 2014] provided never-seen insight, debuting at #2 on the ARIA Charts. Held back by Hillsong Church, Kerser was still ahead of The Wiggles Best Of, Queen Live At Wembley Stadium and Andre Rieu in the Top 5 showing how his fans return the love and loyalty he’s shown them.

One of the most humble artists in the game, Kerser is finally gaining respect, despite sticking to his self-belief – a trait sometimes mistaken for cockiness. His unconventional rise to fame, free from the filtration of radio programmers and the limitations of genre quotas, created a loop hole in the system. Accumulating well over 220,000 Facebook fans and more than 15 million YouTube views with little to no radio play, Kerser has risen to the top by telling his story without filter. An unlikely hero if ever there was one, Kerser has become an icon for hope, resilience and resourcefulness, inspiring hundreds of thousands nationally.

KERSER – KING 2015 TOUR DATES
ON SALE 14:11:14
Sat 24 Jan – Hi Fi Melbourne, VIC
Over 18 Night Show
http://www.thehifi.com.au
http://www.oztix.com.au

Sat 24 Jan – Hi Fi Melbourne, VIC
Under 18 Day Show
http://www.thehifi.com.au
http://www.oztix.com.au

Sun 25 Jan – Hi Fi Sydney, NSW
All Ages
http://www.thehifi.com.au
http://www.oztix.com.au

Sat 31 Jan – Hi Fi Brisbane, QLD
Over 18 Night Show
http://www.thehifi.com.au
http://www.oztix.com.au

Sat 31 Jan – Hi Fi Brisbane, QLD
Under 18 Day Show
http://www.thehifi.com.au
http://www.oztix.com.au

Fri 6 Feb – Metropolis Fremantle, WA
Over 18 Night Show
http://www.metropolisfremantle.com.au
http://www.oztix.com.au

Fri 7 Feb – Metropolis Fremantle, WA
Under 18 Day Show
http://www.metropolisfremantle.com.au
http://www.oztix.com.au

Sat 21 Feb – Fowlers Adelaide, WA
Over 18 Night Show
http://www.fowlerslive.com.au
http://www.moshtix.com.au

Sat 21 Feb – Fowlers Adelaide, WA
Under 18 Day Show
http://www.fowlerslive.com.au
http://www.moshtix.com.au

For more info visit: emceekerser.com

Kerser dropped KING on Nov 14th and by 8am he shot up to #1 on the iTunes hip hop chart followed by securing #4 on the main iTunes chart, battling it out with boy band One Direction, rock group Nickelback and pop superstar Taylor Swift.

KING also came in at #1 on the ARIA Urban chart and #2 on the Australian ARIA album chart. The upcoming King National Tour dates have been announced.The KING will be visiting each capital city in early 2015 to bring you live performances from his brand new album plus your favourite classics.

Stay tuned for support act announcements.

You can get your tickets here. Get in quick before they sell out!

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Tickets for the KING National Tour 2015 have been on sale for a few weeks now and are Selling Out Fast! Get your tickets here before they all sell out! Kerser has also just dropped the brand new clip for the new song, Deadset 4.

As usual the beat is produced by the one and only Nebs, the video handled by Tycotic. Check it below.

Supports Have Now Been Announced:
Saturday 24 Jan 2015 @ Hi Fi Melbourne Underage hosted by Greeley
Kerser with Discourse
Rates & Jay (UF)
Supports:
Manaz Ill
Greeley
Eloquor

Saturday 24 Jan 2015 @ Hi Fi Melbourne Over 18 hosted by Greeley
Kerser with Discourse
Rates & Jay (UF)
Supports:
Manaz Ill
Greeley
Strike Won

Sunday 25 Jan 2015 @ Hi Fi Sydney All Ages
Kerser with Discourse
Rates & Jay (UF)
Supports:
Fortay
Tycotic
Willis

Saturday 31 Jan 2015 @ Hi Fi Brisbane Over 18
Kerser with Discourse
Rates & Jay (UF)
Supports:
Dwizofoz
Noonie
DefMenWalking

Saturday 31 Jan 2015 @ Hi Fi Brisbane Underage
Kerser with Discourse
Rates & Jay (UF)
Supports:
Dwizofoz
Noonie
DefMenWalking

Friday 6 Feb 2015 @ Metropolis Fremantle -Over 18 hosted by Greeley
Kerser with Dazastah
Rates & Jay (UF)
Supports:
Omac
Complete
Kogz

Saturday 7 Feb 2015 @ Metropolis Fremantle- Under 18 hosted by Greeley
Kerser with Dazastah
Rates & Jay (UF)
Supports:
Omac
Complete
Hitz

Saturday 21 Feb 2015 @ Fowlers Adelaide – Under 18
Kerser with Discourse
Rates & Jay (UF)
Supports:
Edukate
Lariken
Godfrey Agala

Saturday 21 Feb 2015 @ Fowlers Adelaide – 18+
Kerser with Discourse
Rates & Jay (UF)
Supports:
The Kid
Lariken
Godfrey Agala

Official  ||  Twitter  ||  Facebook

Is Kerser the King of Australia’s Underground?

After less than a year’s break from touring, Kerser has once again lit up venues around Australia. With fellow ABK-225 rapper Jay UF in tow and now Discourse (Crate Cartel) on the decks, this was a tour not to miss. The heads from allaussiehiphop.com rolled along to the final show of the King Tour, which was held in Adelaide last weekend.

With a mammoth list of local supports including emcee Lariken, The Kid, and youngster Godfrey A.G.A.L.A. the night was primed for some dope hip hop. Kerser played tracks from his past few albums plus a host of new material from his latest album King. Kerser and crew pulled out all the stops for the last show of the tour, performing a full 20 minutes over his allotted time. Proclaiming to the crowd “fuck the time, this is the last show of the tour”.

After 4 albums, numerous tours, a beef with 360 plus a whole heap of controversy, Kerser continues to dominate the underground with his unique style and presence. We look back to when Kerser first dropped his debut album, The Nebulizer. It was an LP that quickly catapulted him into the spotlight. As an album, The Nebulizer was packed with immaturity, drug use and an attitude of “not giving a fuck”. Something that a lot of fans had been hungry for after years of political themed raps and artists chasing that triple j sound.

Kerser captured the minds of many young fans, this in-turn lead to a bunch of criticism from older and more established artists. The criticism was mainly directed at Kerser’s glorification of the drugs, more specifically Ice. Admittedly there was an amount of that there, but these were stories of real life people and the role that this drug played in their lives.

Within the next year Kerser followed up The Nebulizer with another LP in the form of No Rest For The Sickest. A more mature album, Kerser quickly expanded on his themes and content, pushing it outside of the club and back on to the streets. Tracks from that album focused on Kerser and his day to day challenges. This was a critical time in Kerser’s career, tracks from the album were blowing up and heads weren’t yet sure if he was someone who could really pave a path for hip hop in Australia or if he was just ‘faking it until he made it’. It wasn’t long before it all became clear.

Another year passed and Kerser dropped S.C.O.T, this time a more personal album, dealing with issues of fame, popularity and a life that has been truly turned upside down by money and change. With the release of S.C.O.T, more and more fans jumped on the ABK train. Looking at the comment section of any one of Kerser’s many YouTube videos, you’ll find a litany of comments now understanding the rappers motives.

Kerser quickly became a phenomenon in the rap scene, amassing millions of views on his YouTube channel, charting with most of his albums and DVD release’s, and selling out national tours along the way. With the release of his latest album King, Kerser continues to dominate his chosen path.

With the his sights set on 10 albums in 10 years, Kers has already made significant inroads towards that goal. We’ve seen proof over the past 4 albums that Kerser has no problem evolving throughout each of his albums. This begs the question, what’s next for Kerser? With talks off an ABK-225 label not too far off, and an apparent 6 more albums to come in 6 years, whatever the future holds for Kerser, it’s sure to be a busy one. He was once known as The Sickest, but now Kerser has his sights set firmly on the throne.

Teaming Up With American Producer John Andrew Aka Sinima Beats (Royce Da 5’9, The Game, Hopsin), This Release Sees Kerser Enter The World Stage With His Trademark Grit And Mischief.    

It’s been just over four years since Kerser, the King of Australia’s underground hip hop scene, released his debut album The Nebulizer. His unpolished style and authenticity captivated the nation.

Now on the precipice of releasing his fifth album entitled Next Step on Friday 13 November, much has changed. He now has his own label in ABK Records, a venture supported and distributed by ADA (Warner Music Australia) and the Campbelltown emcee has also enlisted the expertise of Sinima Beats to provide the soundtrack to Next Step. In doing so a brand new sound has emerged.

“I’ve been using John Andrews’ (Sinima) beats a lot for my promos. Every beat I spat over of his was hitting over one million views in a few months. So I reached out, hit him up.

“At first he wasn’t sure, as he doesn’t usually do albums for people (although he has produced for DMX, E40, G-Unit and more). He usually leases beats via Internet and has a crazy reputation for producing so I knew this was a long shot. I told him my situation, how I wanted his beats for my album, sent him a few videos of how big the songs we have done together over here were, we worked out the money situation and it was happy days. Now I have the best album I have ever released ready to drop,” Kerser says.

Next Step is available to pre-order now with lead track Still Haven’t Changed provided as an instant grat track for fans.

“The track Still Haven’t Changed’ to me is a track letting my fans know that even with the fame, the success, the ups and downs in my personal life I have not changed. My fans are still my number one priority when it comes to music, because without them there is no me. I’m STILL loyal to my loved ones and my crew ABK225. In parts of the song I touch on subjects in my personal life no other Australian rapper would or has,” adds Kerser.

The tracks on Next Step are honest and full of heart. In his straight-talking street style Kerser looks back on his journey since first stepping into the spotlight, unafraid to admit fault to his fans, but ever looking onwards and upwards.

“My career has been getting more and more crazy as time goes by. At the time of this release, my own record company will have launched, I’ve had the chance to work with one of my favourite producers in the world Sinima, and my music is at its peak, so everything made sense when naming the album Next Step,” Kerser says.

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Next Step is the title track from Kerser’s eagerly anticipated 5th LP Next Step.

The new video perfectly captures the ABK crew in their absolute element. The smoky mono backdrop profiles the gritty feel of the street, with Kers and his close mates chilling and reflecting on the simple things in life. The melodious hook is addictive and reminds everyone that loyalty to crew ranks above all else.

The track, produced by US’s John Andrew, who Kers has dubbed one of his favourite producers on the planet, needed to have an accompanying video to do it’s polished sound justice. Though having worked with many directors, this visual project was a particular favourite of the Kings’; “Steve Guzman directed and edited this clip. He was amazing to work with. We both vibed over the song and then came up the best concept to suit the song visually”. – Kerser

For Kerser, who is now on the precipice of releasing his fifth album entitled Next Step on Friday 13 November (available for pre-order now), much has changed. He now has his own label in ABK Records, a venture supported and distributed by ADA (Warner Music Australia) and the Campbelltown emcee has also enlisted the expertise of Sinima Beats to provide the soundtrack to Next Step. In doing so a brand new sound has emerged for the King of Australia’s underground hip hop scene.

Official  ||  Facebook  ||  Twitter

Jim Steps sits down with Emcee Kerser to discuss his brand new album Next Step. Kerser speaks openly about his feelings on 360, Allday, triple j and the local hip hop scene.

He also addresses criticisms he has received around his lyrical content, including the glorification of drugs and more. You can check out the full chat below. Kerser is currently on his National Next Step Tour, tickets are available by following the link here.

Purchase Album  ||  Twitter  ||  Official  ||  Tickets

If you’re into gritty hip hop that comes from a real place, you’ll already be across Rates. Describing his 2013 debut album Destroy And Rebuild (which peaked at #9 on iTunes’ Australian Albums Chart) as his “ode to hip hop”, Rates now brings something completely different to its follow-up.

Untold sees Rates blending lyrically sharp rhymes (think Big Pun and Tech N9ne) with a big, creepy sort of sound musically (Rates: “Deftones are a big influence for me”). All tracks for this new release, except for Suicide 2, were written collaboratively with Bennie On The Beat at the producer’s Coffs Harbour studio; lyrics written alongside beats during their creative process. Untold will be released Friday May 27 via ABK Records/ADA Distribution and is available for pre-order now, along with an iTunes instant grat of new track The Enemy.

Album opener and lead single The Enemy unfolds with sparse, echoing piano beats that ushers in a sample from the movie Bandits – “May I please go back to prison?” Response: “Not yet.” Straight up, a harrowing tone is set. “My goal with the track was just to wake people up,” Rates says. Raising awareness about situations that listeners might not hear about or understand is important to this spirited emcee on the rise.

A complete U-turn is made just before Untold’s halfway mark when Berserk charges in like an angry game changer, challenging the “gronks” that stain our current hip hop scene. Wonky, insistent beats underscore fast-paced flow that leaves no space for retort.

Later on in the record, A Letter is penned for Rates’ younger brother, Kerser: “Funny we talk to the beat more than we ever told each other.” This cut is bookended by excerpts from past Kerser interviews during which the rapper reveals plans to start his own record label. Fast forward to now and Untold is the second album release on Kerser’s label (ABK Records); the first was Kerser’s Next Step (2015). Rates enthuses, “[The label is] something we’ve wanted to set up all of our lives,” before adding, “So when we were making [Untold] that passion was definitely there”.

Both Kerser and Big Hustle join Rates for celebratory track Life I Lead, which documents the crew’s enviable popularity and continued success. Suffocated by the music industry and snubbed by radio, the brothers’ fanbases continue to expand and Life I Lead’s triumphant, shimmering keys underscore this factual, inspirational tale: “Why would the ARIAs like me, when they never live the things I seen?”

Rates doesn’t shy away from rapping about his demons. “Over the years [music has] definitely defined who I am now,” he tells. “I mean, since I was a kid I woke up with a song in my head and would go to bed with a song in my head, you know? And I’m still obsessed with music.” So can Rates imagine life without music? “I’d go mad. It’s all I know… It’s everything, music.” On his second album Rates tells us how it is, leaving nothing Untold.

UNTOLD TRACKLISTING
1. The Enemy
2. End Of Discussion
3. Right Now
4. Life I Lead (ft Kerser & Big Hustle)
5. Give You Strength
6. Berserk
7. Upside Down World
8. A Letter
9. Destined For This (ft Kerser & Jay UF)
10. Reach, Silence (ft Heidi Bell)
11. Thinking
12. Suicide 2 (ft Hyjak)
13. I Rap Because 2
14. Botb (Outro)

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Sydney based hip hop artist Mitchos Da Menace will be releasing his first EP shortly called ‘Straight Menace No Chasers’ on an expected release date of 1st May 2016.

Mitchos Da Menace is a raw underground MC with a unique flow and style, after completing a successful Sydney show supporting MC Mooks and then the successful release of his first commercial single which will be included on the EP ‘No Trusting Em’ featuring local hip hop superstar Kerser. Mitchos Da Menace is sure to keep turning heads as he progress’s further in his career.

The Straight Menace No Chasers EP will be distributed by us at Premier Beats Australia and feature raw underground hip hop at it’s finest, featuring artists Kerser, Cee and more, this is sure to be an EP and artist to lookout for in the near future. EP expected release date of 1st May 2016.

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To find out where Kerser’s at, career-wise, you need look no further than the title of his latest and seventh album Engraved In The Game.  Out November 10^th, the album is available to pre order now.

“I feel because of the work I’ve put in prior, it’s definitely brought me longevity,” the C-town emcee who famously carved his own musical path, shunning traditional pathways and laughing in the face of national broadcasters enlightens. “It’s easier for me to stay relevant now, I can just post a photo on Facebook or Instagram and my buzz is back. My buzz is still just as crazy for the album as it has been in previous years,” he adds, before thanking his “heaps loyal fans” for remaining obsessed. 

After his usual frenetic pace of releasing a promo track every month, Kerser dropped his last promo in May and points out this “few months off” is the longest he’s had “in five years or somethin’“. But there’s a very good reason for this which he reveals within the album. 

Kerser also tried out different locations during writing sessions for this one. “I was writing in different places overlooking the ocean, goin’ back to Campbelltown writin’ a bit there…”. He hasn’t played it safe, either. With Sinima in the producer’s chair for Kerser’s last two chart-topping albums (2016’s Tradition and 2015’s The Next Step), the emcee “wanted to switch the beats up once again“. Enter Allrounda, a young producer from Cologne, Germany. “I was a fan of his beats for years,” Kerser confesses. The pair emailed back and forth before Kerser reflects, “He caught the vibe that I was goin’ for with this album“.

Blessed One is the first single to be lifted from this album and Kerser describes it as “the perfect return“. “The vibe of the song is just so upbeat and it’s got a big chorus,” he extols. Heavy synths, sporadic beats and effervescent flourishes underscore this track, Kerser’s trademark percussive, inventive phrasing reminding wannabes, “I hustled it the right way,” during choruses. But his fame didn’t happen by accident, Kerser’s requisite “blood, sweat and tears” lining the road to success. 

But this lead single isn’t typical of the rest of the material on album number seven. Another standout track Want Ya Now features Alicia Renee on the hook. “It just happened to perfectly line up,” Kerser marvels. “I had the story pretty much written, but I changed the last four bars to suit the chorus.” Haunting glockenspiel turns up the fear factor.  

Airplay is a playful diss track definitely not suitable for radio play and would probably make Slim Shady blush.​ Engraved In The Game contains a lot of fresh instrumental elements, Allrounda an accomplished pianist. “The whole instrumental thing, it’s pretty exciting at the moment,” Kerser enthuses and piano, guitars and brass typically punctuate the flow.

Kerser admits, “There was a lot of ideas thrown around for this album, we experimented a lot.” As well as producer Allrounda, Kerser credits his engineer Dave Petrovic at Electric Sun Studios for his contribution, saying, “We’ve really got three pairs of eyes overlooking the product“. 

The usual ABK Records suspects, Jay UF and Kerser’s brother Rates, supply guest verses. On Rates’ contribution Line ‘Em Up Kerser tells, “We got the bridge at the end of that – that was [recorded] on the spot in the studio.” The Fortay-featuring album track Slimy Game kicks off with a melodic beat that could soundtrack a chase scene. 

The plan was to “pretty much completely switch it up” on Engraved In The Game. “I don’t think the fans know what to expect, to tell you the truth,” Kerser teases. He says it best himself on Until I Break: “Still on top ’til the day that I quit.” There can only be one King and King Kerser is Engraved In The Game. 

Lifestyle, Kerser’s 8th album release in as many years is set for release on March 8^th . The Campbelltown-bred emcee hit the studio and worked alongside acclaimed Sydney producer Open Till L8. The pair put their heads together to craft all of the beats and Kerser describes this process as returning to his roots – the last time he worked in this way was on album number 4, King.

On working alongside Open Till L8 to create the 15 tracks that would become Lifestyle, Kerser enthuses, “We were both in the studio at once and we were vibin’. Straight away we were on the same page.”

Kerser was in search of “a real modern sound” for ‘Lifestyle’ and found exactly what he was looking for in Open Till L8’s beats. “Staying relevant with the times, that’s always been a mission, ’cause this is album 8 in 8 years so I gotta make sure the albums don’t sound too repetitive,” The lead single Da Kers Effect exemplifies this with its minimal intro of distorted vocal phrases making way for thunderous, vibrating bass. “I just wanna hear it through a massive venue system,” Kerser confesses. “Hopefully the whole venue shakes!”

Kerser fans will already have digested Exceptional, an album teaser/promo track from Lifestyle that dropped last month. A haunting, melodic intro is interrupted by a siren before Kerser announces, “I’m about to bring that real shit back/Shit’s turned into a fashion show“.

And of course it wouldn’t be an ABK Records release without a feature from one of Kerser’s label mates: Jay UF trades verses on What Ya Day Brings Part 2, a playful continuation of their previous collab track What Ya Day Brings.

Renewed vigour permeates all the way through album number 8 and Kerser admits, “When my voice came back it really inspired me to get back into the studio – once the tour was finished – and do as much recording as I can.“

At the beginning of 2018, just 2 weeks before he was due to head out on tour off the back of his 7th album, the ARIA-nominated Engraved In The Game, Kerser lost his voice. What was initially believed to be laryngitis was later diagnosed as a paralysed vocal cord. Tour dates were pushed back and Kerser was booked in for surgery. “They weren’t 100% on whether my voice would come back so I was full freakin’, thinkin’ I’d never be able to talk again,” Kerser recalls. “It was like, ‘Give me a broken arm or a broken leg, but don’t take my vocal cord!”

In 2017 the Ghosts In The Room-produced standalone single Total Concentration, featuring Kerser alongside Future and Young Buck – was released on Kerser’s own ABK Records via ADA/Warner Music Australia and it certainly helped place the Sydney emcee on the world stage. A YouTube mixtape that opened with Total Concentration attracted 3 million views and Kerser chuckles, “I think a lot of Americans would’ve been like, ‘Well who’s the Aussie rappin’ on it?‘”

You can pre-order Lifestyle HERE

See below for Kerser’s AUS tour dates. Tickets can be purchased HERE

FRIDAY 12 APRIL – PRINCE BANDROOM, VIC (18+)
SATURDAY 13 APRIL – PRINCE BANDROOM, VIC (U18)
SATURDAY 27 APRIL – THE METRO THEATRE, NSW (AA)
FRIDAY 3 MAY – HQ COMPLEX, SA (AA)
SATURDAY 11 MAY – CAPITOL, WA (18+)
SATURDAY 18 MAY – MODE BAR & NIGHTCLUB, LAUNCESTEN, TAS (18+)
FRIDAY 24 MAY – EATONS HILL HOTEL, BRISBANE, QLD (AA)
FRIDAY 31 MAY – THE JACK, QLD (18+)

Coming in like a mission statement, Mitchos Da Menace releases a heavy-hitting new single ‘Thoughts’ ahead of album release Pray For Them. 

Digging into his past, ‘Thoughts’ is a personal journey for Menace. Growing up in a domestically violent home, the rapper’s story unravels what it was like to grow-up in a broken home and learn from those experiences. 

Menace deconstructs the single, stating “I realised that, that’s life, and that’s what happens but I still wanna fly away. I want my baby mumma and my sons to know I’ll never hurt them. I don’t want them to go through what I did,”

“I want people to take the realness it is and I know a lot of people can relate in a major way being form the harder parts of Australia and to remember that we are all human.”

Having peppered the scene with music over the last few years, Menace’s latest offering shows a new era of his musical career. Building a repertoire of realness and reliability, the single is just a teaser of what the rapper has ready for us with his new 8-track project Pray For Them set to drop end of May which features the one and only Kerser.

Stepping in from Sydney’s West, Mitchos Da Menace reels you in to his records with his accounts of life, dreams and hustles with his rhythmic flows. His lyrical finesse and seasoned flow mixed with his rapping ability has become unquestionable.

Menace has developed into one of the only artists who can lay claim to having collaborated with a largely who’s who of hip hop artists in Australia over the last few years including Nter, Flowz, Alex Jones, Triple One, ChillinIT and many more. 

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