ClubAntix

The musical moniker of Producer Slap618 and MC TBoogieRay, 1POINT618 are a divergent outfit. Growing up in Wollongong, the pair met through TBoogie’s brother Cable Tasman. A mutual respect formed on the hip hop circuit of ‘Steel City’, was further strengthened with both members joining the eponymous Wollongong outfit ‘The Argonauts’. Diametrically opposed in most other aspects of their lives, when these two combine their formidable individual talents, the results are remarkable – Genuine hip hop, underpinned with a socially conscious edge.

It was a steady diet of Beat Street, Wild Style and Run DMC and a penchant for graffiti and break dancing that started this duos love affair with hip hop. As a Producer and DJ, Slap618 has a prolific back catalogue; having produced beats and remixes on the iconic Culture of Kings 3 album, Bias B’s ‘B Mixes’ and for The Argonauts and in more recent times completed a two year stint as DJ and hype man for Australian hip hop heavy weights Muph and Plutonic. His beats are atmospheric; inspired by up tempo funk, soul and rock, yet always interspersed with a traditional hip hop sensibility.

As a kid TBoogie was too shy to speak. Yet, a healthy and constant interest in words, language, sentences, syntax and their connective tissue is what has driven TBoogie in his pursuits as an MC. TBoogie’s initial foray into lyricism was in the form of spoken word and beat poetry. Yet, in 1997 he began rapping and was captivated by the way this art form could capture and inspire the listener’s attention. TBoogie’s rhymes range the gamut from deeply introspective raps to genuine hip hop bangers.

Two years in the making, ‘1POINT618’ strikes the perfect balance between sample-based/electronic production and poised lyricism. The album maintains an organic hip hop quality and radiates with original street styled hip hop and genuine authenticity. The mood of ‘1POINT618’ varies greatly, but broods with evocative arrangements and insightful, socially adept lyrics.

‘For the Fun’ opens the album with the group’s philosophy on making music. A heavy bass line provides the backdrop for Slap’s, minimalist, organ infused production. This cut back approach allows TBoogie’s lyrics to come to the fore and provides the listener with the perfect introduction of what’s to come.

The album’s first single ‘Tellin’ It’ bursts through the speakers, with its funked up guitar riffs, soul-drenched bass line and honest lyricism. Combine all this with an insatiably catchy chorus and you could be forgiven for thinking you were stuck in a 70s time warp!

In the increasingly congested Australian hip hop landscape, ‘Battle for Air’ provides an apt insight into the everyday struggle artists go through to get heard. This track is classic hip hop. Old school drums are interspersed with minimal sampling allowing the lyrics to be the focal point. If you’re an MC or aspire to be, jump on board this track.

‘Higher Ground’ emerges as one of the album’s standout tracks. A perfectly weighted piano sample is juxtaposed with a haunting operatic female vocal. TBoogie blesses the track with a rhyme that is deeply philosophical but stops perfectly short of preaching to the audience. The overall result is a track that is truly mesmerising.

Spinning a good yarn is the Australian way and 1POINT618 have taken it one step further. ‘Patrick Patterson’ is as much a great story as it is a great track. Underpinned by a rollicking guitar sample, TBoogie rapidly delivers the tale of Patrick Patterson – a free-living, debaucherous bush ranger who is on the run from the law.

‘1POINT618’ is easy listening hip hop. It gently takes the listener on a hip hop sojourn with its vibrant musical story telling, razor-sharp lyrics and production that crosses many genres, but is firmly grounded in classic beat making. ‘1POINT618’ is a powerful reminder of what quality hip hop should sound like. 1POINT618 are on point in 2008.

< Prev		Next >