Melburnians, save the date!

As one of the Smash Brothers and a founding member of Nine High, Fraksha is a well-known figure in Australia. He first earned his stripes in the UK’s underground live circuit and has since proven himself to be one of the UK’s finest exports.

Having shared the stage with the likes of Skinnyman, Kano, Klashnekoff and Blak Twang, Fraksha spent a long time honing his craft and refining his approach. 2013 sees the culmination of those years of passion, mixtapes, shows, experimentation, and straight up skill in the form of the album My Way.

My Way is an exploration into a soundscape often not heard on Australian shores. The thickly layered synths, contemporary hip-hop, poignant lyrics and a heavy dose of grime served up with an unmistakable British accent are a unique and refreshing approach. Fraksha has toured Australia many times over through drum n bass, dubstep, grime, hip-hop gigs and raves alike and has combined all of these influences to position My Way as a new sound.

The production credits range from the ARIA award-winning M-Phazes, Nebs (Kerser, That’s Them), BTE’s own Tornts, Filth Collins, Dazed (Down For The Count Records), Geko (Crate Cartel), Megatroid, Reesbeats, Kharnivor and Juzlo. With such a diverse production team, you can feel the meticulous selections made by Fraksha form an eclectic yet cohesive bond across the album.

The lead single ‘Creepin‘ featuring Brinks (Nine High) and Diem, is an unadulterated street anthem served cold on a dubstep platter. The grime driven remix by Kharnivor is equally engaging,  a producer to keep a close eye on in the future. 

In what may sometimes seem risky, My Way is as cohesive as it is diverse, and will impress a broad spectrum of discerning listeners. It crosses sub-cultures and genres alike, while it traverses through sounds in a fashion that shows mastery of all its atomic elements. It is a genre defying and artist defining body of work. This is the album Australia had to have.

Watch Fraksha‘s music video for ‘Creepin’ ft. Diem and Brinks:

Purchase My Way from iTunes here.

Follow Fraksha on Facebook or Twitter.
Release Date: 01/03/2013
Released By: Broken Tooth Entertainment/Obese Distribution

Out of Sydney’s inner west, Australia’s infamously charming hip hop duo Spit Syndicate (Nick Lupi and Jimmy Nice) return with their third LP Sunday Gentlemen (Feb 22^nd 2013 –Obese Records). Nick and Jimmy bare all, revealing thoughtful, deeply personal, and sometimes confronting stories with their now-renowned flair.

“Writer Irving Wallace spent much of his life working for other people out of necessity, on projects he had no personal interest in. But he would keep one day out of the week – Sunday – for himself, to work solely on his own writing and articulate the world as he saw it. In 1966, Wallace published the results of several years’ worth of his Sundays – “The Sunday Gentleman” – which went on to become a best-seller.

This album has been created in similar circumstances: writing on days off, recording after work. It is a juggling act, a reality almost every artistic or creative person must confront. This album describes the world as we see it. These songs are a reflection of the experiences, people and stories that are important to us – on our terms, and nobody else’s.

We dedicate this album to anybody juggling their artistic pursuits with what must be done to stay afloat.” –Nick Lupi

Sunday Gentlemen is unquestionably a producers dream. It boasts an imposing list of premium beatmakers, led by Adit (Horrorshow),  Stylaz Fuego (360, Seth Sentry), M-Phazes (Illy, Kimbra), J-Skub (Owl Eyes, Jackson Jackson), and Raph Dixon (Jackie Onassis).

The list of guests on Sunday Gentlemen is equally impressive, encompassing some of Australian hip-hop’s biggest names. Superstar Drapht features on the deeply-personal “Same Storey” – an album highlight; while long time tour-mate Illy brings his A-game on the cinematic “Lost In Translation”.  Fellow One Day crew member Solo (Horrorshow) lends his considerable vocal and songwriting talents to the grooving “Along the Way”; while exciting newcomer Kai (Jackie Onassis) arguably steals the show on “Sip it Slow”, a banging party jam sure to become a fan favourite.

Lead single “Beauty in the Bricks” landed in November of 2012. Immediately added to Triple J rotation and accompanied by an impressive music video which aired on Channel V, “Beauty in the Bricks” proved an infectious smash.  In January of 2013, the second single “Folly” was also snapped up by Triple J just days after delivery. It explores risks taken in youthfulness; choosing spontaneity over responsibility, and the inevitability of consequence. Sonically, “Folly” encompasses all the colours of a lush Summer – grooving pop guitar, tranquil synths and an addictively uplifting hook fused seamlessly together by Stylaz Fuego, Australia’s ‘it’ hip hop producer.

Nick and Jimmy reside in a world of complexities. Their distinct take on the world around them ranges from party habits and vices, to refugees, escapades with the fairer sex, to political disengagement, and the reality of their impending futures. Sunday Gentlemen is representative of a youth both innocent and tarnished. Having honed their vocal delivery and technique, Spit Syndicate speak for their generation with understanding and intelligence.

Widely touted as one of the most anticipated releases of 2013, Sunday Gentlemen is indicative of an artist’s evolution. Mature, inspiring and undoubtedly Spit Syndicate’s most impressive work to date.

Purchase Sunday Gentlemen from iTunes now.

For upcoming tour dates follow Spit Syndicate on Facebook or visit the SS website.

Release Date: 22/02/2013
Released By: Obese Records

He’s an enigma, wrapped in a mystery; immersed in weed smoke.  He is Phil Gektor. A purveyor of a sacred Lingua Franca long forgotten. He arrives with a mission, a mission to impregnate the minds of listeners with The Horror. This EP, produced by the elusive Ramzee, ushers in the new age of ‘Philizm’, From the ashes of Geko‘s tormented mind state, rises a new anti-hero. Welcome to The Horror.

From the ominous intro, to the final emergency call, the listener is taken into the dark deep recesses of a mind that should be examined for quarantine. Phil Gektor, delivers his despair over a dusty dark minimalist sample-based soundscape, that compliments Phil‘s various and complex stylings perfectly. Featuring two guest verses from Crate Cartel cohort Flu – Aka Fluent Form – this timeless piece is a must have for Crate Cartel fans and Hip Hop heads alike.

Watch music video for new single ’Bail‘ ft. Flu, produced by Ramzee:

Purchase ‘Bail’ ft. Flu from iTunes now.

Follow Geko on Facebook or visit the Crate Cartel website.
Release Date: 15/02/2013
Released By: Crate Cartel/Obese Distribution

Cash KRZMA’s has been deemed a lyricist to watch out for in 2013. By pure chance his debut single ‘All Fonts’ was selected for Obesecity 2, and Cash was promptly offered distribution for his then unfinished debut EP. Collaborating with producers Neversaidall (DVS) and Able8 (Uncomfortable Beats) Cash KRZMA brings you an original sound, heavily laced with self depreciating, comical braggadocio.

Expect a dose of strong, intelligent lyrics depicting life seen though the eyes of a semi – vagabond, twenty something social misfit. From ‘Meanderings’ a ballad like depiction of the emcee’s journey thus far to ‘Tumor Fists’ a brutal assault on commercial music. No topic is off limits: drugs, plastic surgery, social class structures, virgin alien births and Kyle Sandilands purple onion. Backed up from samples by Bukowski, eighties exploitation films and smooth beats, nothing outruns the razor sharp, lizard tongued wit of this versatile rapper.

With a follow up LP The Brinkman already half written, a national tour planned to coincide with it’s release, collaborations with Slack Jaw (Freos finest) for his mix tape Eat A Rat 4 and DCORP’s Cypher Session already under his belt you can guarantee this won’t be the last you hear of this Emcee.

Watch Excessive & Disgusting Degrees EP promo video:

Follow Cash Krzma on Facebook or check out Dark Laughter Records website.

Release Date: 01/02/2013
Released By: Dark Laughter Records/Obese Distribution