Did your favourite make the cut?
Ever since its inception, music has been a collaborative process. Bands need instrumentalists, vocalists need producers, and every now and then a song needs that extra something that only a feature can provide. AZ did it for Nas’ “Life’s a Bitch”, Eminem did it for Jay-Z’s “Renegade”, and Kendrick Lamar did it for Big Sean’s “Control”.
Looking back on 2017, here are five of Aussie Hip-Hop’s stand out feature verses:
Turquoise Prince on Horrorshow’s “Wavelength”
Best lyric: “I kill these rappers when I aim for the heel/See me coming? Better run for the hills/We’re not flexing on Lamborghini’s/Never see us acting anything but real”
This tour promo track featured stellar verses from all those involved, but Turquoise Prince’s sixteen bars captured his stylistic essence, and again reaffirmed why he’s one to watch in the new year.
Seth Sentry on 360’s “Coup De Grâce”
Best lyric: “You ain’t the sickest, you’re a hypochondriac/So just loosen up (relax), go get some juice in a chicken noodle cup {slurps}/I got a pandemic flu and I’m pukin’ up/Blood full of AIDS, the bubonic plague and a case of whooping cough”
The most technical verse on this list, Seth gave “Coup De Grâce” a fitting ending. Check out this breakdown to truly appreciate it.
Martian (Mini Coop) on Kyso’s “Spotlight”
Best lyric: “Fuck you thought? I was done snapping on these dumb rappers?/Want it dumbed down? You done fucked up, drag ’em through the mud like dum’ backwards”
The commendable work ethic of the 4Fins collective made it hard to pinpoint just one standout verse. However, Martian managed to assert himself as a force to be reckoned with his fast-paced twenty-four bars. Click here to read about what Kyso and Martian had to say about the collaboration.
Briggs on Spinifex Gum’s “Locked Up”
Best lyric: “Remember that they’re kids not a campaign policy”
Briggs is one of the most outspoken, powerful and influential voices in Australia’s current music scene, and his feature on “Locked Up” encapsulates precisely why that is. The harsh critique of the juvenile justice system that’s disproportionately targeted Aborigines for decades is undoubtedly one of the most powerful and important verses of 2017.
Suffa on Thundamentals’ “21 Grams”
Best lyric: “Bringing life into this world’s like bringing a grain of sand to the beach, but”
For his only credit of the year, Suffa dedicated his verse to his baby girl, Ari. The technical verse is beautiful in the way that Suffa’s love permeates each line, and he opens with one of the best opening bars I’ve heard in recent memory (quoted above). Follow this blog for a breakdown of this verses rhyme scheme, which is due out next week.
Do you agree with the verses put forward above? What were your favourite feature verses that Aussie hip-hop had to offer this year? Let me know via Facebook or the comment section below.
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