Hyjak N Torcha

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Hyjak N Torcha
Origin Sydney
Genre(s) Hip hop
Years active 2000–present
Label(s) Obese Records
Website http://www.myspace.com/hyjakntorcha
Members
Hyjak
Torcha
DJ Bones

Hyjak N Torcha is an Australian hip hop group from Sydney, New South Wales.

Contents

[edit] Biography

The group, formed in 2000, consists of three members: Hyjak (J. McCarthy), Torcha (J. Chmielewski), and DJ Bones (G. Kordas).

Hyjak first appeared on the scene in 1998, at the age of fifteen he snuck into a pub in the Sydney suburb of Kings Cross to compete in a rap battle, which he won.[1] Torcha, hailing from Sydney's west, was an active volunteer youth worker, doing shows in youth prisons and performing at many anti-war rallies. Formally part of Sydney's Eth-nik Tribe, another Australian hip hop group.[1]

Hyjak N Torcha are currently signed to Obese Records and their first album Drastik Measures[2] was released in 2004,[3] they also released a single, "Sneak", from the album. "Sneak" received airplay on Triple J[4] and the video was played on rage.[5] The album was reviewed on Triple J's website.[6] They have since performed with artists such as the Hilltop Hoods,[7] De La Soul, Xzibit, Mobb Deep, Gang Starr, Lord Finesse,[8] Swollen Members, Murs and Ice Cube.[9] The group's members are also affiliated with Dominion, an Australian hip hop crew.[1]

They've made guest appearances (together and separately) on records by artists like Hilltop Hoods (Hyjak performed on Hilltop Hoods' album The Calling[10]), Bliss n Eso (Hyjak did a guest verse on one of the tracks of Bliss n Eso's Day of the Dog album[11]) and Pegz (Hyjak and Torcha appeared on Pegz's Axis album[12]).

Hyjak has also released a mixtape Shady Characters (featuring Torcha, Kye , Ends & Means and others),[13] and performed on a track for Jase's lead single "Nutcase". They also released a videoclip for their track "A Night with Chopper", featuring Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read, from his album, Interview with a Madman[14], which, in 2006, won the award for 'Best New Filmmaker' (Matt Chuang) at the BelowGround Music Video Fest Awards.[15]

Torcha toured with his new band,[16] A Broken Silence.[17] One of their songs, "Lost Road", was performed at the Sydney Opera House by Torcha with Tim Freedman (of The Whitlams) and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

  • Drastik Measures (2004, Obese)

[edit] Singles

  • "Sneak" (2004, Obese)

[edit] Compilation appearances

  • Lab Exposed - Volume 1 (1999), Statik Recordings (songs: "Kryptonite + Hijak", "Ill Combat", "Best Kept Secret")
  • The Fourth Element Effect (1999), Blitzkreig (songs: "Wack or Dope", Yeast Inection")
  • Culture of Kings - Volume 2(2002), Obese Records (song: "Face The Music")
  • Obesecity (2002), Obese Records (song: "Point Of No Return")
  • Culture of Kings - Volume 3 (2003), Obese Records (song: "It's Over")
  • Straight From The Art 2 (2004), Warner Bros. Records (song: "The Science")
  • Home And Hosed - Freshly Plucked (2004), ABC Music (song: "Corrected")
  • Chopper Read - Interview with a Madman (2006), Rott'n Records (song: "Night With Chopper")
  • The Stolen Records (2007), FBi Records (song: "The Test")

[edit] Hyjak solo works

  • Breaking Sound Barriers (2002), Statik Recordings (EP)
  • Shady Characters (2006)

[edit] DJ Bonez solo works

  • Hands On Decks (1999), Statik Recordings
  • DJ Bonez Presents the Mother's Kitchen Mix (2005), Obese Records
  • Aces High (2005), Obese Records
  • Roll Call (2007), Obese Records

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Bio at the band's website
  2. ^ Herald Sun - 'Drastik Measures'at Herald Sun HiT online store
  3. ^ National Library of Australia - Drastik Measures
  4. ^ Triple J playlist (October, 2005)
  5. ^ rage playlist (July, 2006)
  6. ^ Triple J album review - 'Drastik Measures'
  7. ^ The Obese Crew Block Party
  8. ^ Zulu Nation Supa Jam (November 16, 2006)
  9. ^ Ice Cube at the Enmore Theatre (August 27, 2007)
  10. ^ Discogs track listing - The Calling
  11. ^ Discog track listing - Day of the Dog
  12. ^ Discogs track listing - Axis
  13. ^ National Library of Australia - Shady Characters
  14. ^ The Age - 'Taking The Rap' (March 10, 2006)
  15. ^ BelowGround Music Fest Awards
  16. ^ Tim Freedman touring with A Broken Silence 2007
  17. ^ Artist Profile - A Broken Silence

[edit] External links