Hilltop Hoods
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| Hilltop Hoods | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Adelaide, Australia | |
| Genre(s) | Australian hip hop | |
| Years active | 1991–present | |
| Label(s) | Obese Records | |
| Website | Official website | |
| Members | ||
| Suffa Pressure DJ Debris |
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| Former members | ||
| DJ Next | ||
The Hilltop Hoods are an Australian hip hop group, originating from Adelaide, South Australia. Their members (June 2006) are MCs Suffa, Pressure, DJ Debris and formerly DJ Next. They work under the Obese Records record label.
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[edit] History
The group formed in 1991 when MCs Suffa and Pressure met at Blackwood High School. They joined up with DJ Debris through a mutual friend and formed the basis for the group. Early on in the history of the Hilltop Hoods DJ Next did all of the scratches and regularly competed in the local DMC tournaments. In the late 1990's DJ Next chose to pursue a different career path after the release of A Matter of Time and moved to Sydney. DJ Debris who was previously producer became the main DJ. DJ Next remains in contact with the Hilltop Hoods.
Influences include American hip hop artists such as KRS-One, Gang Starr and Public Enemy, although the Hilltop Hoods rap with their native Australian accents.
Their name comes from a suburb in south-eastern Adelaide known by the local youth as the Hilltop, where Suffa and Pressure were raised. The name "Hilltop Hoods" was suggested by local rapper, Flak, of the Cross Bred Mongrels.
[edit] Recordings and Collaborations
The Hilltop Hoods have released five successful recordings - Back Once Again (EP - 1997), A Matter of Time (LP - 1999), Left Foot, Right Foot (LP - 2001), The Calling (LP - 2003) and The Hard Road (LP - 2006). Aside from their own instalments, the Hilltop Hoods have featured on a number of compilation albums, including Obesecity and Culture of Kings Vol. 1 & 2, and have collaborated with Australian hip hop scene musicians including Koolism, Mass MC, Pegz, Muphin, Layla, Hyjak and DJ Bonez.
The group released their fourth album The Hard Road on April 1st in 2006 which features the single Clown Prince and guest verses from New York rapper Omni and British MC's Mystro and Braintax. The album debuted at number one on the ARIA charts, and was the first Australian hip hop album to do so. The track The Blue Blooded is a collaboration of Australian MC's featuring the Funkoars, Hau from Koolism, Mortar, Vents, Drapht, Muphin, Pegz and Robby Balboa.
On the 27th of April the Hilltop Hoods performed at the Bass in the Grass music festival in Darwin alongside fellow hip hop group, The Herd. This was also the day in which the Hilltop Hoods released their second single from their new album The Hard Road. The videoclip features members from the Certified Wise crew, of which the Hilltop Hoods are members.
In 2006 a green vinyl version of their 1997 EP, Back Once Again, sold for $950 on eBay, a first for any Australian hip hop act.[citation needed]
Following the success of The Hard Road tour in early 2006, the Hilltop Hoods have begun their second national tour for 2006 called The Stopping All Stations tour which will travel to more regional areas as well as the capital cities. Their support acts are Koolism & UK MC Mystro.
They performed at this year's Homebake Festival in late 2006.
[edit] Awards and Performances
The 2003 release The Calling achieved platinum status in Australia, and two tracks (Nosebleed Section and Dumb Enough) received places in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2003, at 9th and 44th, respectively. Their latest album, The Hard Road was released in Australia on 1 April 2006. Their first single release from The Hard Road, the Clown Prince was released in February 2006, which became their first top 40 singles hit on the Australian ARIAnet Singles Chart.
They have performed at many large Australian music festivals, including the Big Day Out, Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival and Make Poverty History. The Hilltop Hoods have received nominations for the "Best Hip Hop Act" in 2001 and 2002 at the 3D World Dance Music Awards, won the APRA award for "Best Up-coming Group" as well as receiving number one positions in independent charts all around Australia.
In 2006 the group won the prestigious J Award. They also were nominated for five ARIA Awards (the first ever for an Australian hip hop group), winning two awards; "Best Urban Release" and "Best Independent Release".
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- A Matter of Time (1999)
- Left Foot, Right Foot (2001)
- The Calling (2003) #53 AUS - This reached gold status within Australia, and was the first Australian hip-hop album to do so. On the 26th of July 2006, Obese Records announced that the album had become the first Australian Hip Hop release to receive Platinum status.
- The Hard Road (2006) #1 AUS - This album reached gold status exactly one week after release.
[edit] EPs
[edit] Singles
- "Testimonial Year" (2003)
- "The Nosebleed Section" (2004)
- "Clown Prince" (2006) #19 AUS
- "The Hard Road (Single)" (2006)
- "What A Great Night" (2006)
[edit] DVD
- The Calling Live (2005) - This DVD achieved Gold status sales in March 2006.
[edit] External links
- Hilltop Hoods Official Site
- Hilltop Hoods Official Myspace
- Hilltop Hoods Tour Dates and Gossip
- Hilltop Hoods at Naked Dwarf
- Suffa's Unofficial Bio
- Suffa's Official Discography
- Official Hilltop Hoods Lyrics
- Download 'Back Once Again' and 'A Matter Of Time'
- Australian Hip Hop On Myspace (Online discussion of Hilltop Hoods)
- Hilltop Hoods Music Film Clip - Clown Prince
- Hilltop Hoods Music Film Clip - The Hard Road
