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I once had a discussion with hip hop heads about Aussie hip hop, where they claimed they didn’t think Australians should get “serious” and rap about “issues and shit”. My answer to that was, why the hell not? Hip hop is simply a way for people to express themselves, and is now a worldwide phenomenon that now reaches beyond the ghetto of America.
Granted, Aussie hip hop should never focus on gats and bullets, as gun culture isn’t a big part of Australian life. It can also seem a bit disingenuous for someone to be busting rhymes about being poor, because Australians have a pretty good way of life. But that doesn’t mean Australia is all beats, battles and BBQs though. Although we are indeed the lucky country, we face issues such as violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and poverty here. Why should someone be prevented from expressing themselves if these issues have touched their lives?
This is not to imply that Muph & Plutonic’s latest …And Then Tomorrow Came sees the party-rocking duo go all emo on us, crying into an empty cup about missed opportunities. It’s a reflective and introspective album; an honest look at life and where they are at. It’s about realising it’s not all “heaps good” as one may suspect, but even so it never comes across as “oh woe is me, I need to slit my wrist”.
Issues such as alcoholism and drugs are touched in a couple of tunes. Balloon Heads, featuring Kye, talks about the over-inflated egos of pill poppers, amongst others. Beautiful Ugly explores the ecstasy and agony of escapism through alcohol, and yet it is backed by an upbeat ‘60s go-go style track which belies the serious nature of the theme. Yesterday’s Basement and Wrong deal with issues of the heart, without being too soppy and overly emotional. Filthy Rich talks about how even though they’re not rich, they’re still happy. Don’t Worry About Nothing, featuring Jess Harlen’s wonderful soul vocals, urges us if we’re going to worry, make it about something worthwhile.
I don’t think this album heralds a watershed moment in Aussie hip hop, but it is a sign that the scene is developing and maturing well. ...And Then Tomorrow Came proves Aussie hip hop artists can tackle topics other than who’s got the biggest BBQ in their backyard without facing scorn and ridicule.
