Amidst reports of the Australian Government calling for new crackdowns on internet piracy, and in the same week that Game Of Thrones broke yet another record for the most illegally downloaded episode of television in history (which you may or may not have played a part in); two of the country’s most prolific rappers have thrown their two cents into the piracy debate, and their opinions might surprise you.
This week, 360 and Allday both respectively boldly invited fans to acquire their new albums by any means necessary – even if that means via your trusty torrent website. In other words, yes, they want you to illegally download their music.
Sixty, aka Matthew Colwell, just released his third full-length effort Utopia, a record that “[does] some shit that hasn’t been done in Australia.” But while his celebrated album climbs higher and higher up the album charts, Colwell has come out saying that for him it’s more about the music than it is about the statistics.
“As much as I’d love to get that Number 1 spot, it doesn’t really bother me,” the MC wrote on his Facebook page, referencing his campaign to topple Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence for the #1 Album spot on the ARIA charts.
“[To be honest I] don’t even care if u download the album illegally I just want people [to] hear how much better it is than my last album and how much I’ve grown,” the 27-year-old added. “But if you are thinking of buying it at some stage feel free to do it now… I appreciate it either way!!”
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Coldwell’s sentiments followed in the same vein as fellow Aussie rapper, Melbourne-via-Adelaide boy Allday, who also declared earlier this week he doesn’t have an issue with his fans illegally downloading his music, seemingly fully aware that it’s ultimately going to happen either way.
“Not sure what my label is going to say about this but if you are broke you have my permission to torrent my album when it comes out,” the fast-rising 21-year-old wrote to his Facebook followers, “But if you have $20 bucks…” he continues, with a direct link to the pre-order page for his new record, Startup Cult.
Allday is giving fans a more legit way to hear his new album ahead of its release, offering fans in Melbourne and Sydney a chance to attend a listening party on a bus (!) next week. “Senator Brandis says Australia is the “worst offender of any country in the world when it comes to [online] piracy.”
360 and Allday’s positions on piracy are certainly unique amongst an industry that is still trying (and currently failing) to grapple with how to best squash illegal downloading, and perhaps suggest that it’s more so the old guys in suits who are most concerned about piracy’s ramifications for the bottom line rather than the actual artists making the music.
The rappers’ comments also come at a crucial moment in the debate about Australia’s policy, or lack thereof, regarding internet piracy, with the Sydney Morning Herald reporting that the Australian Government are “actively considering a range of options” to reduce our notoriously high rates of illegal downloading, though “no decision has been made.”
In the words of our very Attorney-General, Senator Brandis, Australia is the “worst offender of any country in the world when it comes to [online] piracy” (a title which we’ve not-so-proudly held for more than two years now). However, 360 and Allday don’t seem to mind too much.
360’s new album Utopia is out now, while the rapper embarks on his album tour (complete with controversy stirring VIP packages) this September. Meanwhile, Allday’s Startup Cult hits stores (and presumably torrent sites) on 4th July – it’s up to you to decide how you’ll get both new Aussie hip hop releases.
