(TAOS/Shock)

Australian hip hop for me – for the longest time – was neither here nor there. It possessed little of its own creativity, it borrowed heavily from its American brethren, and when it finally decided to invent itself properly, it still had boring undertones of bogans, beers and bitches.

So listen up and take notice, because Infallible is about to change all that. His album, The Stratosphere, is perhaps the most accomplished and powerful release in Australian rap music since Murderous Metaphors dropped from Lyrical Commission – all told this album is immense. It is detached from the pretentiousness that often surrounds Aussie music; and deservedly, it ought to introduce a legion of new followers – not only to his music, but also to Aussie hip hop in general. Indeed, the name Infallible suggests an untouchable utopian element and that is his plan – far from corny, he sets himself this high benchmark and manages to capture it.

The material on the album goes straight for the heart. The rhymes are gritty and emotional – raps from the mind. His flow possesses a certain finesse that is rarely found in local hip hop. Likewise, his music is true and his voice speaks exaltedly at times; but also with pain and experience. He explains: “one of the joints on the album is called The Great Demise.  When I was a kid, my dad went to jail and left the family in demise, so on that track I recall the way it affected me as a kid. A lot of people keep diaries, I keep raps, half my life is written down. People’s past is what builds them up to what they are, and struggles in life build your character.”

His recent selection to perform alongside GZA and DJ Muggs speaks volumes of his professionalism, his demeanor and his lyrical prowess. From the amazing talent behind the production – to the super smooth and witty flow inherent almost everywhere, this is the album to check out if you’ve been sleeping on local hip hop. Likewise, it’s the must buy if you haven’t.