Sharp and poetic, Australian hip-hop has an original new voice. Omar Musa, 2008 Australian Poetry Slam champion, is not a traditional rapper. It is rare to meet one who has swum with piranhas and alligators in Bolivia or taught Aboriginal children in outback Australia. The Malaysian-Australian baritone has backpacked almost every continent and has a treasure-trove of stories to tell. Raised in the orange brick flats of Queanbeyan, Australia as part of an artistic family, the 25-year old says he wants to “introduce a new level of poetry to Australian hip-hop.”
Musa was a winner of the British Council’s Realise Your Dream award in 2007 and relocated to London to work in the UK hip-hop scene with grime star Akala and slam poet Jahnell. He has been played on Triple J and has recorded with J Records band 2AM Club in Los Angeles. He recorded his debut The Massive EP with veteran producer Geoff Stanfield in Seattle, USA, of whom he says “I finally felt as if I had found the perfect sound to compliment my lyrics.”
“It is a strange animal of an EP,” says Musa. “Written in London, recorded in the States by a Malaysian-Australian, it definitely has an original feel.” Navigating between underground hip-hop and mainstage performance poetry, Musa’s work is unique.
Just passin to show some love, make sure you keep workin hard, there's no rest for the BLESSED! Add me on facebook if you wanna network. Kaya H Osbourne
Heya, apologies for the business like message, I'm a lover not a spammer, but I'm swinging around my friends pages letting people know my album Inkstains is *finally* dropping next week (November the 27th) in stores and online via iTunes. To celebrate the launch date I'm streaming the entire thing online from my Myspace exclusively for the next week, so if you're curious to give it a listen then I would really appreciate you taking a few minutes to drop by and check it out.
Presuming that for some insane reason you love it and can't be without the CD a moment longer I'm running signed pre-orders through JB HI-FI. These aren't going for long so if you want a piece of the action swing by http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/music/urban-grooves/inkstains/470165 and cop it
Back from our tour in Cali.. have you listened to our new project 'Shapeshifters' yet? You can stream the whole mixtape on our profile.. let us know what you think!
I have recently put up a new track on Triple J Unearthed taken from a new project of mine, 'Story Of My Life'. This little diddy, titled Light At The End, features my amazingly talented friends Mind Over Matter and the angelic voice of Sam Mcneill from Sydney's Saving Grace. If you are cool and awesome and other similar adjectives, then you can stream the track, or download it free here;
Now would be the time to let you know you can also rate and/or review the track, too, which will go far towards charting this badboy on unearthed, so I would appreciate any time taken immensely and name my first born child after you. Probably... Maybe just a thanks, but you never know!
I assure you that women/men will fall at your feet if you help me out, and fortune will favor you with ice cream and cookies.
TOO MUCH VARITY™ The Family, The Label, The Album,
is gettin' some international attention. The great hype has began,
exciting times afoot. Ooooh! it's going to be a great year.
Come listen and see for yourself what the big fuss is about.
You tell us what you make of it all (The Album especially -10 teasers up).
