podcast

The Herd pioneer Australian hip hop

Out of the ashes of ’90s Sydney electronic and dance music scene came a bunch of bedroom beat makers and rhymers who collaborated to help change contemporary Australian music.

They pioneered the turn of Australian hip hop and — through their label Elefant Traks — have helped grow and nurture many other successful artists.

The collective are best known for their unapologetic political views, with songs such as, ‘Burn down Parliament’, ‘77%’ and ‘The King is Dead’.

They’ve collaborated and paid tribute to artists such as Redgum, Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody, and in 2011 they released their 5th studio album, Future Shade.

We spoke to Tim Levinson MC (Urthboy), vocalist Jane Tyrrell, Dale Harrison (Rok Poshtya) bass, Richard Tamplenizza guitar and production (Sulo) and Kaho Cheung (Uncle Ho) beats/production.

First broadcast on ABC Radio National’s Into the Music for AusMusic Month in November 2011

The Elefant Traks 'mansion' is an unassuming office within a warehouse in Marrickville, Sydney.
The Elefant Traks 'mansion' is an unassuming office within a warehouse in Marrickville, Sydney.
The label and artist merch is locked up in a cage.
The label and artist merch is locked up in a cage.
Richie AKA Sulo is in The Herd and does marketing for Elefant Traks.
Richie AKA Sulo is in The Herd and does marketing for Elefant Traks.
Working hard inside the Elefant Traks office.
Working hard inside the Elefant Traks office.
Uncle Ho at his desk.
Uncle Ho at his desk.
Urthboy looks back at past tour posters.
Urthboy looks back at past tour posters.
Old gig posters line all of the office walls.
Old gig posters line all of the office walls.
There's a mini recording and mixing studio next to the office.
There's a mini recording and mixing studio next to the office.
Lyrics stuck on the wall.
Lyrics stuck on the wall.
Urthboy is an MC in The Herd and helps run Elefant Traks.
Urthboy is an MC in The Herd and helps run Elefant Traks.

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