Kanye West’s new album Donda has dominated charts all over the world. However, back in Australia, it was a homegrown fave that nearly pushed the rapper off the top spot in the Aussie charts: Bliss n Eso.
This week’s ARIA charts saw West take out the number one spot with Donda, and Bliss n Eso were just 156 units behind for a very close second place with their new album The Sun. The rankings are calculated by sales data on music sales and streaming activity within Australia for the week.
Speaking to Tone Deaf, Bliss of Bliss n Eso shared his excitement about the massive achievement.
“To effectively tie Kanye (who had the most internationally hyped record of all time) for the #1 spot is pretty damn humbling. We have been up against the craziest adversity this year in Australia due to COVID and to still get this result is incredible,” he told Tone Deaf.
Absolutely humbled by this fam. Thank you to all you legends who bought the record, streamed it, watched the music videos, bought merch or grabbed a ticket to our tour. We really couldn’t have done it without you. 🙌🏻
There’s PLENTY more in the works! BnE is back, baby!😉 pic.twitter.com/6QgOtFHtsP— BLISS N ESO (@blissneso) September 3, 2021
Bliss is confident their album The Sun would have debuted at number one if it wasn’t for many states of Australia currently being locked down.
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“The Sun would also have been number one in almost any other week this year and that’s without a large amount of physical sale we would have otherwise got due to stores in Australia not being open.”
“I’m so incredibly proud of our diehard fans who went up against the world’s super heavy weight and in the face of these crippling limitations still got us to literally a tiny handful of sales off taking the #1 spot.”
The trio is made up of Jonathan Notley (MC Bliss), Max MacKinnon (MC Eso) and Ejjamai (DJ Izm). Bliss n Eso have been a prominent force in the Australian music industry for over 20 years and were some of the earliest pioneers of Australian hip-hop.
“To be 20 years deep into our career and still have this relevancy, strength and massive fanbase is so humbling and I’m truly grateful.”
Bliss n Eso are headed off on a huge 29 date national tour early next year to perform some of their biggest hits, as well as new music from The Sun.
BLISS N ESO THE SUN AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2022
Thursday 20 January
Beach Hotel | Byron Bay, NSW
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
oztix.com.au | Ph: 1300 762 545
Friday 21 January
Fortitude Music Hall | Brisbane, QLD
(Prev. Thursday, 30 September 2021 at Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane)
Licensed All Ages
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 1300 762 545
Saturday 22 January
Blank Space | Toowoomba, QLD
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
oztix.com.au | Ph: 1300 762 545
Sunday 23 January
NightQuarter | Sunshine Coast, QLD
All Ages*
*Must be accompanied with a guardian 25yrs or over
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
moshtix.com.au | Ph: 1300 438 849
Wednesday 26 January
Harrup Park | Mackay, QLD
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
moshtix.com.au | Ph: 1300 438 849
Thursday 27 January
Magnums | Airlie Beach, QLD
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
oztix.com.au | Ph: 1300 762 545
Friday 28 January
JCU Uni Bar | Townsville, QLD
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
moshtix.com.au | Ph: 1300 438 849
Saturday 29 January
Gilligans | Cairns, QLD
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
moshtix.com.au | Ph: 1300 438 849
Friday 4 February
Panthers Port Macquarie | Port Macquarie, NSW
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
ticketek.com.au | Ph: 1300 438 849
Saturday 5 February
Hoey Moey | Coffs Harbour, NSW
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
oztix.com.au | Ph: 1300 762 545
Sunday 6 February
Lismore Workers Club | Lismore, NSW
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
oztix.com.au | Ph: 1300 762 545
Thursday 10 February
Penrith Panthers | Penrith, NSW
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
Friday 11 February
Panthers Bathurst | Bathurst, NSW
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
Saturday 12 February
Garden Hotel | Dubbo, NSW
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
moshtix.com.au | Ph: 1300 438 849
Friday 18 February
Entrance Leagues Club | Central Coast, NSW
18+?
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
oztix.com.au | Ph: 1300 762 545
Saturday 19 February
NEX | Newcastle, NSW
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
thenex.com.au | Ph: 02 4926 6200
Thursday 24 February
Forum | Melbourne, VIC
(Prev. Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15 & Thursday 16 September 2021 at 170 Russell, Melbourne)
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 1300 762 545
Friday 25 February
Torquay Hotel | Torquay, VIC
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
oztix.com.au | Ph: 1300 762 545
Saturday 26 February
The Pier | Frankston, VIC
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
oztix.com.au | Ph: 1300 762 545
Friday 4 March
Discovery | Darwin, NT
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:00am local time)
oztix.com.au | Ph: 1300 762 545
Friday 11 March
Enmore Theatre | Sydney, NSW
(Prev. Sunday, 19 September 2021)
Licensed All Ages
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
Saturday 12 March
UC Refectory | Canberra, ACT
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
moshtix.com.au | Ph: 1300 438 849
Sunday 13 March
Kinross Woolshed | Albury, NSW
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
moshtix.com.au | Ph: 1300 438 849
Thursday 24 March
AEC Theatre | Adelaide, SA
(Prev. Wednesday, 22 September 2021 at Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide)
Licensed All Ages
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:00am local time)
ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849
Friday 25 March
Metro City | Perth, WA
(Prev. Thursday, 23 September 2021 at Metropolis, Fremantle)
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
facebook.com/metrocityconcertclub | Ph: 08 9228 0500
Saturday 26 March
Wintersun Hotel | Geraldton, WA
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
oztix.com.au | Ph: 1300 762 545
Friday 1 April
Moruya Waterfront Motel Hotel | Moruya, NSW
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
moruyawaterfront.com.au | Ph: 02 4474 4399
Thursday 7 April
Albert Hall | Launceston, TAS
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
oztix.com.au | Ph: 1300 762 545
Friday 8 April
Goods Shed | Hobart, TAS
18+
On sale: Monday 6 September (10:30am local time)
oztix.com.au | Ph: 1300 762 545
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