STREAMING AUDIO INTERVIEW

When Adelaide hip hop crew the Hilltop Hoods unleashed The Hard Road onto the general public in 2006, it created shockwaves that rippled through Australian music culture and arguably, things would never be the same again. All of a sudden, Australian hip hop was elevated above novelty to the wider music-listening public, inspiring a newfound sense of respect and perhaps most importantly of all – it had become commercially viable. Many had paved the way before them, but the Hilltops were the ones who really busted through. How do you follow up something like that?

“I think we definitely achieved what we set out to do, which was a heavier and darker record,” they told ITM. “It’s been a pretty long build, so it’s a relief to get it out there after such a long time… We just wanted to put together a record we were proud of.”

After one hell of a buildup that saw the tension building for months and months leading up to the release, State of the Art is finally in the shops and the reaction from the public has been immediate, seeing it shooting straight to #1 on the ARIA sales chart and earning instant Gold Sales status. With the album being hailed as their grittiest, most accomplished effort yet, it’s looking like ‘the return’ will be even bigger than anyone could have anticipated. ITM’s Angus Paterson gets state of the art with the Hilltop Hoods.

The Hilltop Hood’s State of the Art is out now through Golden Era and Universal, and they’ll be embarking on a national tour in July…

Saturday July 18th- Enmore, Sydney (SOLD OUT)
Thursday July 23rd – Capitol, Perth (SOLD OUT)
Friday July 24th – HiFi Bar, Brisbane (SOLD OUT)
Sunday July 26th – Splendour In The Grass, Byron Bay (SOLD OUT)
Thursday July 30th- Grandstand Hall, Hobart Showground
Friday July 31st – The Palace, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
Saturday August 1st – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (SOLD OUT)
Tuesday August 4th – ANU Bar, Canberra