Formed in 1999, South Australian crew The Funkoars have since been cemented as one of the most beloved and integral acts of the country’s proud national hip hop scene – one that has been experiencing rapidly-growing mainstream attention.
Ahead of the lads’ launch show of their new record Dawn Of The Head tonight, we decided to have a chat with them about their personal biggest moments in Australian hip hop history. They tell us about the gigs and records that changed their lives, and reflect on the moments they realised that the hip hop scene was where they truly belonged.
Culture Of Kings 1 (2000)
“Culture Of Kings 1 was a compilation album released in 2000. It featured some of the countries leading and most influential artist at the time, including Terra Firma, Koolism, Mass MC, Torcha, DJ Bonez, Hilltop Hoods, Cross Bread Mongrels and Lyrical Commission.
“Not only was this a huge and exciting release for us as fans and aspiring hip-hop artists but the album launch was at legendary live music venue The Corner Hotel in Melbourne. It was our first trip together outside of Adelaide – the three of us caught an overnight train to Melbourne to see this gig and many like-minded people from all across the country did the same thing.
“This was more than just another hip hop show [and] we quickly discovered the strong community spirit behind the hip hop scene. It started off with a huge BBQ lunch [on The Corner’s rooftop – see below] for everyone involved, then there was the gig which at the time was the biggest and best live hip hop show we had ever witnessed.
“We forged some of the most important friendships during that trip which we still have today.”
The Hilltop Hoods – The Calling (2003)
“This album achieved a level of exposure never seen before by any local release before it. It really was the point Australian hip hop demonstrated it was not just for a small group of underground fans [but] it was now packing out some of the biggest venues in the country. It fetched wide spread support which rivalled that of any other genre out there.
“I remembered getting chills seeing thousands and thousands of people rapping along word for word to ‘The Nosebleed Section’. I had never seen anything like it before. It validated the genre to the outside whether they liked it or not and things have never been the same since.”
The Robert Hunter Cup (2011)
“When Australian hip hop legend [Robert] Hunter passed away in 2011, the Australian hip hop community got together and put on a friendly football match in Hunter’s name. [Now] every year this footy game brings together fans and those involved in the hip hop scene for a friendly match between the Eastside Kings and the Westside Warriors to remember the legend, Hunter, and to raise money for charity.
“Hunter was a huge influence and inspirational figure for us. Not only was he one of the first artists in Australian hip hop to master that crude, hilarious, character-driven music that we wanted to do, but he was the friendliest most supportive person you would ever meet. The first time we flew to Perth to do a gig he was waiting to pick us up at the airport to look after us – he would drop whatever else he had going on to make sure we were looked after that whole weekend because that’s the sort of dude he was. Everyone has a positive story to tell about Hunter so it seems fitting that we get together once a year for a good cause and to remember a guy that influenced all of us in a positive way.”
Sprung Hip Hop Festival (2011)
“Starting in 2011, Sprung is an Australian hip hop-only festival hitting multiple spots around Australia.
“The first Sprung Festival was in Brisbane and was monumental. We had seen festivals this size before but not solely consisting of local hip hop acts. It really demonstrated how far the scene had come; the fact that this many people would come to support local hip hop. The lineup included Drapht, Illy, 360 & Pez, Resin Dogs, Lazy Grey and us, just to name a few. Sprung is still going strong with a swarm of different names making up the bill each year.”
Who’s Your Step Daddy album launch @ Traffic Nightclub, Adelaide, 2003
“While not necessarily an incredibly important moment in Australian hip hop history, it was our first major gig and we were lucky enough to be supported by perhaps the two most influential artists to us at the time: our Adelaide compadres After Hours and the legendary MC Hunter.
“We remembered being blown away that so many people from Adelaide would come all the way to the city just to come see us belligerently yell our tracks at their faces while also demonstrating why no-one should invite strippers up on stage with us. It (unfortunately) let us know that there were people out there who were willing to pay to come see us live and really set the tone for the decade of debauchery which was to follow.”
The Funkoars ‘Dawn Of The Head’ album launch
Thursday February 20th – Adelaide, The Gov
w/ 20+ special guest MCs
www.oztix.com.au
