OBESECITY 2 WINNERS

Ten years ago, when Australian hip hop was little known, still struggling to be heard, Obese Records released the first ObeseCity compilation. Emcees and producers from across Australia, who are now revered as pioneers, contributed tracks. The likes of Hilltop Hoods, Muph and Plutonic, Bias B, Pegz, Hunter and many more, united to give their young genre a stronger voice.

Now, ten years later, Obese Records has much to celebrate as an independent label. With over sixteen rostered artists, an extensive distribution roster, three platinum records, three gold records, four ARIA awards, and countless fans from around the world. The genre has become a voice for the Australian youth, magnified by the support of triple j, community radio, and now commercial radio, street press, music magazines and online blogs.

On August 17th this year, Obese Records will release ObeseCity 2; a dual-disc compilation showcasing the brightest and most promising new artists in Australian hip hop. With emphasis on the label’s distribution roster and independently established acts, every track has been exclusively selected for the compilation. In addition to the long list of contributing established artists involved in ObeseCity 2, two places on the track list have been filled by ObeseCity 2 Competition winners Dwizofoz of Brisbane, Queensland, and DVS from Dandenong, Victoria.

OBESECITY 2 FEATURED ARTISTS

Bingethinkers

Never Settle

Ciecmate & Mouf (ft DJ No Name Nathan)

GOATMOB

Newsense

Class A

Tommy Illfigga

Dialect & Despair

P Link

Spit & Mac

DiktionOne

Purpose

Calski

Mortar

Tornts

Maundz

Lazy Grey, Jake Biz & Dj Dcide

Fluent Form & Has-Lo

DVS

Mr Hill & Rahjonkas

One Sixth

Miss Karleena

In Good Company

J Point

MoneyKat

Bigfoot

Kid Selzy

Dwizofoz

Eloquor

Johnny Row

Cash Krzma

Deathstarrs

Raven

COMPETITION WINNERS:
Dwizofoz

A big man with a big presence. At 25, Dwizofoz is a man who has put in as much work for hiphop as veterans twice his age. A young leader in the Brisbane hiphop scene who has earnt a reputation as an animal on the mic with his unique rapid fire flow delivery, honest and clever yet hard hitting and thought out lyrics and an undeniable passion for what he does.

Perhaps most recognisable as the host and founder of Real Talk Battle League, Dwiz was Voted ozhiphop.com “Best Freestyle Mc” in 2010 and released his “Baked Not Fried” EP the same year and is currently in the process of putting together his debut album “Art Intimidates Life” due for release late ’12. It’s safe to say Dwizofoz is a name we’ll all be hearing a lot more from for years to come.

“BRAND NEW DAY”
Written and Performed by Dennyson “Dwizofoz” Willoughby.
Beat Produced by Russ “Insideus” O’Reilly.
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by James “Strooth” Davis at FourSixNine Studios.

DVS

DVS (Dandenong Verbal Syndicate), are an Australian hip hop group from the suburb of Dandenong, Victoria made up of three members; QuickSmart, NeverSettle and MindQuest.

Originally formed as a graff crew, DVS was founded by Neversettle and MindQuest. The group comprised of many members, one of which was Quicksmart. The name ‘DVS’ served as an acronym for various phrases such as ‘Displaying Vicious Styles’, ‘Destroying Victorian Suburbs’, as well as ‘Dandy Vandal Squadron’.

Now a hip hop group, the trio have spent many years laying down individual and group tracks as a hobby in the confined spaces of their respective bedrooms. In late 2007 the first DVS EP, produced entirely by Mindquest and Neversettle, was released. A 12 track work entitled Dandenong Verbal Syndicate 02-2006, received airplay on PBS radio in Victoria. DVS went on to perform at venues across Melbourne, from the iconic Federation Square, to The Johnson and The Prince of Wales.

Now with their first LP on the horizon, DVS are ready to take it up a notch.

“DANDENONG HIP HOP”
Written and Performed by QuickSmart, NeverSettle, MindQuest.
Produced by MindQuest

SKRYPTCHA: ‘DANCE’

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Skryptcha
returns in 2012 with ‘Dance’, the first single from upcoming album Mindful. Since releasing his last LP Numbers, Skryptcha’s international profile has steadily grown to reflect his increasing popularity as one of Australia’s most promising young voices.

Out of the USA, illustrious producer Illmind has provided the A-grade soundscape for Mindful’s entirety. ‘Dance’ is a prime example of the dynamic emcee-producer synchronicity, and their ability to set the scene and tell a story seamlessly. Laid-back soulful guitar loops teamed with loose, punchy beats set the head nodding, while Skryptcha maneuvers rhythmic rhymes skillfully around the beat.

Written from a New Orleans hotel room, in the midst of the Jazz Festival, Skryptcha drew inspiration from his happy surroundings. ‘Dance’ observes music’s power to simplify a person’s circumstance by intrinsically submitting to the music, and letting it move you.

Skryptcha’s Mindful hits stores July 27th through Obese Records.

“I was in New Orleans during Jazz Fest too so everywhere you went there was music and dancing in the streets. The city just has such a good vibe where everyone’s so open and happy. No matter what they had in their pockets, they were either playing an instrument or dancing with a smile. The track really sums that vibe up perfectly.”

Skryptcha

ILLY: ‘HEARD IT ALL’

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Illy returns in 2012 with his surefire hit of a single ‘Heard It All’ from upcoming third album: Bring It Back. Following the success of career-defining sophomore LP The Chase, fans have been anticipating the next Illy release with bated breath.

‘Heard It All’ examines the irony of attempting to produce something original, when everything seems to have been done before. Personable and full of conviction, in this track Illy investigates what he stands for, while aknowledging his fans for their ongoing support.

With production from One Above (the man behind Hilltop Hoods’ hit single ‘I Love It feat. Sia’), the beat is clean and uplifting. The use of strings throughout gives the song a cinematic feel lifting Illy’s vocals on the chronically catchy hook.

In its first week the track went straight to high rotation on triple j, and recieved a huge response by the public. The following week ‘Heard It All’ was touted in The Music Network as ‘Triple J’s Pick of the Week’. It’s safe to say Illy has done it again!

Illy has just put the finishing touches on his new album due out late 2012 through Obese Records.

“I was having a really tough time getting inspired to write recently. I wrote this (Heard It All) in response to the feeling that I wasn’t going to be able to deliver what was expected of me. It’s pretty much about accepting the fact that the latest, or newest stuff going on, is all a product of shit that came before, and that that’s not really a bad thing.”
ILLY

XIDUS PAIN & JONNY CRATES: CRATES OF PAIN

This project came about after UK Rapper Xidus Pain, member of HipHop Crew Chess Move Cartel & HipHop organization Guerrilla Republik was given a beat album “Diggaz For Life” by Dr Shrink & Idem.

Johnny Crates, hip hop producer since the early 90’s with the group Positive Direction (with Ron now known as Ron Rugged & Seany B from the Statesmen), and earlier work producing for the likes of Prowla, Raise & Trem.

Record Label:Immortal Music
Album Title: Crates Of Pain
Release Date: 15.06.2012

MUSIC: LOCAL NEW RELEASES

OBESECITY 2 FEATURE

MR. GREVIS: ‘DRIFT AWAY’ FT. JESS HARLEN

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It’s been a long road leading to the release of a debut album for Gary McPhee AKA Mr. Grevis. Freestyling since the tender age of  sixteen, Gary is driven by the love of it. Only recently making the decision to release the verses he’s been spitting.

‘Drift Away’ featuring Melbourne soul singer Jess Harlen (of Obese Records subsidiary label Plethora Records), is the first single from Perthbased Mr. Grevis’s upcoming album The Sampler.

With production by young Western Australian producer Creed Birch, the beat is chilled and soulful, ridden with piano riffs.
The track is designed to take one’s mind of all the dramas in life, by instead putting everything in perspective. A promising new artist, Mr. Grevis has an exceptional knack for captivating and relatable storytelling.

Delta: ‘Alien’

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Delta stands unparalleled as a seasoned cultural ambassador for purist hip hop in Australia. Since releasing The Second Story three years ago, the hip hop world has been anxiously awaiting his next release. Beloved for his dependable quality of production, lyricism and execution, Delta is a champion of his craft.

The first single from upcoming album Pyramid Schemes  is Alien’, a hypnotic sample-heavy track which explores human identity outside of the rat race, among the infinite cosmos that lies beyond.

Record Label: Nuffsaid
Album Title: Pyramid Schemes
Album Release Date: 07.09.2012