Hip hop is a genre that thrives off collaborations. Whether it’s that perfect pairing of rapper and beatmaker, emcees jumping on each other’s tracks, or just a few mates jumping into a cypher together, it’s a genre and culture that thrives on community.
One such collab comes from Elefant Traks emcee/producer Jimblah and singer/songwriter Georgia B, a pairing of Aussie talent who are working together on their own project, and also with the broader community. The pair just wrapped up a residency at the Campbelltown Arts Centre in Sydney’s south west, which also saw them working in the CAC’s contemporary music program, hosting music workshops for Indigenous kids at the centre and surrounding schools about creating music and forging a path in the music industry.
In the spirit of collaboration and carrying on those communal vibes, we’ve asked them each for their thoughts on the greatest collabs in Aussie hip hop.
Urthboy ft Jane Tyrrell – ‘Shruggin’
This is like the ultimate morning jam, such good energy, Jane has a very special gift and her magic sprinkles all over this one. As always I love Urthboy’s effortless chill vibe and his sense of fierceness that simmers under the surface. – Georgia B
The Last Kinection – ‘Are We There Yet?’ (featuring Simone Stacey)
“People on the top, and people on the bottom, and people in the middle who don’t wanna know what happened”
It’s a question the First Nations of Australia continue asking but to no avail. Simone weaves her beautiful harmonies that lift this way up above the clouds and into the cosmos. One of the illest things to ever happen to hip hop in this country, The Last Kinection. – Jimblah
Birdz – Rise (ft Jimblah)
There’s so much strength in Birdz’ vulnerability on this track and such a knowingness of who he is. Jimblah brings a whole lotta spine tingling soul on this one and dope production from Joelistics too. – Georgia B
AB Original feat. Dan Sultan – ‘January 26’
“If you ain’t havin’ the conversation well then we startin’ it.”
There’s something missing from our hip-hop community, and it’s one of the most vital and integral parts that make hip-hop what it is. Thats why I’m so grateful brothers like Trials and Briggs are doing what they are doing and bringing that movement back into our hip-hop community. A.B. Original absolutely crush this, and Dan Sultan complements this in a way no other possibly could. – Jimblah
The Herd with Radical Son (aka Radical Raw) – ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ (Sam Cooke)
“Where the smell of the strange fruit still floats around”.
Some of my biggest heroes all take us somewhere real special: Nooky, Sky High, Radical Son, and The Herd covering Sam Cooke for Reconciliation Week in 2012. Change is in the air, we here now. – Jimblah
The Last Kinection – I Can (feat. Radical Son)
Between Nay, Weno JT and Radical Son, start to finish this joint is beasty AF. – Georgia B
