When you think of Aussie hip hop, a few names spring to mind. Recent endeavours have given us now well-established names such as the Hilltop Hoods, Koolism and Bliss and Eso. You can now add another name to that list. Exit Strategy is the new release from Astronomy Class, bringing together Aussie hip hop luminaries Ozi Batla (The Herd), Sir Robbo (Tooth, Frigid) and Chasm.

What follows is a record devoid of overly Australian or American sounds. Instead, Astronomy Class have created an album that fuses hip hop, dub and reggae sounds into a unique blend. The result harks back to the funky sounds of the 60’s and 70’s mashed with modern beats.
The tracks are laced with intelligent rhymes ranging from multiculturalism in Australia to politics and looking forward to the future. Ozi Batla’s flow is raw, and his command over the lyrics, whether it be through rapping or belting out a harmony, is top class all the way through. He’s certainly come a long way since the in your face lyrical insurgence of 77%, and even though Fight Club is all about race and fighting in Australia, it’s not as overt a political statement as the former release from The Herd. Maybe this just shows how far Australian hip hop has come. There’s no need to resort to the gangsta stylez of Fiddy & co. Ozi Batla shows you can make a point without the need for battle scars to prove it. School Daze brings to the table that reggae vibe, while Vibe Won’t Stop, No Drop to Drink and Exit Strategy bust out on the soulful tip. Other standout tracks include Rolling Thunder, Rewind the Tape and Done the Sums, the latter featuring Ozi Batla’s fellow Herd member Urthboy and Hau from Koolism. A multitude of guest stars appear on some of the tracks, including Gina Mitchell from Fbi’s Basslines, Jane Tyrell from The Herd, Lotek, Ben Ezra, DJ Skoob, 2Buck and Murda1.

Featuring top class production throughout, Chasm and Sir Robbo have kept it simple, layering their samples over beat driven hooks, occasionally with accompaniment from organs, trumpets, bass and guitars. It’s a lot more audibly accessible than a lot of hip hop out there nowadays, more driven by optimism and fun than gangs and violence. One of the better Australian releases over the years, and another winner from Elefant Traks, add this one to your summer playlist.