As part of the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop celebrations this year, Acclaim is partnering with ARIA to produce a segment that aims to tell the story of approximately forty years of Australian Hip Hop for the 2023 ARIA Awards. From its arrival on our shores via a handful of music videos, films and books in the early eighties, the first professionally recorded Australian hip-hop music in the early nineties, right through to the increasingly diverse musical landscape of the present era, breaking down the local journey of Hip Hop by generation.
Presented as a mini-documentary, 50 Years of Hip Hop: An Australian Story features live performances by OG Melbourne Hip Hop identity DJ Krisy (Steppin To The AM, 3PBS FM circa 1990-97), the first Aus hip hop group to sign to a major label, Sound Unlimited Posse (1991-95) featuring KYE, groundbreaking early 2000s Rap/Rock crossover act 1200 Techniques, the superstar group Bliss n Eso and one of today’s brightest Hip Hop stars Barkaa.
Creatively directed and executive-produced by Acclaim Founder Andrew Montell, the ARIA segment is written by former Acclaim founding Editor Steve Duck with scripting and creative consultation from Hau Latukefu. The segment is narrated by Hau Latukefu.
The ARIA award ceremony kicks off at 5pm on Wednesday, November 15. Tune in to watch via Channel Nine, Stan and Youtube.