Acclaim Allstars Acclaim Allstars Acclaim Allstars Acclaim Allstars
Baby Prince Big Skeez Boy Ace Boy Soda Chanel Loren DSP Dylan Atlantis ECB Gold Fang Isaac Puerile Lil Jaye Lio Jewell Mali Jo$e MAMMOTH. Mog.Y Mulalo PANIA SAHXL Siala Southside Denny Voldy VV Pete Walkerboy Yawdoesitall Yibby Zion Garcia ZPLUTO

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2023 Semi Finalists

Baby Prince
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Baby Prince

Baby Prince
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Baby Prince is an artist based in Brisbane, Australia. Born in Harare, Zimbabwe Baby Prince’s style is unique, raw and versatile. Growing up, Prince was heavily influenced by artists such as Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Young thug and the late Michael Jackson. 2022 was a big year for Baby Prince with a feature run at the start of the year, appearing on Mason Dane’s ‘Chasing Home’ EP and Blessed’s debut album ‘Aussie Blackstar’. On top of one of his biggest releases yet, his single ‘Zimbabwe’ gained some serious traction on Tik Tok and received praise from international recording artist Blxst. All leading up to the release of his highly anticipated his second project ‘SpriteSchool Vol.2’. It’s safe to say that we will hear a lot more music from Baby Prince in 2023.

Big Skeez
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Big Skeez

Big Skeez
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Rooted in his African heritage but speaking on his life in Western Sydney, Big Skeez is an artist whose music offers a different light to the surfeit of drill music that is currently emanating from his hometown. His wavy, melodically-driven Afro Swing works in livelier, vibrant and upbeat shades in contrast to the stark realities painted in Drill. For Big Skeez, this distinction is more than just a refreshing point of difference, but instead an outlook that colours everything he hopes to accomplish as an artist. By encouraging African-Australian kids just like himself to reach more into the rich histories and legacies of their cultures, he is also hoping to shine a light on the triumphs of Western Sydney and showcase the plethora of diversity on offer, uplifting those same kids by setting his own example. As such, Big Skeez is taking his place amongst the future generation who follow in his footsteps.

Boy Ace
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Boy Ace

Boy Ace
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Boy Ace has made a name for himself within Melbourne’s progressive hip hop scene with his blend of hip hop, r&b and house. Hailing from Melbourne’s western suburbs, he has left listeners captivated through his arsenal of entertaining punchlines, charismatic delivery and captivating hooks. Always looking forward and wielding that progressive mindset in his music, Boy Ace hopes to revolutionise what mainstream hip hop encapsulates and give Melbourne a sound it can proudly boast as its own. A member of Picked Last, a collective of similar minded innovative artists, Boy Ace has made a name for himself as ‘one to watch’ as his catalogue expands. As his body of work broadens, Boy Ace’s ability to merge genres and experiment, whilst still enchanting the everyday listener will undoubtedly leave his name on the tip of everyone’s tongue.

Boy Soda
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Boy Soda

Boy Soda
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Central Coast-bred, Gadigal-based artist BOY SODA is an undisputed leader in this new school of thought of utilising R&B and intricately crafted pop music to captivate his swiftly growing audience. Wrapping up 2022 with the release of his debut mixtape ‘YC-TAPE: Vol.1’, featuring singles ‘3 Little Piggies’ and ‘Body’, he also released his debut EP ‘THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THINKING AND FEELING’, which included single ‘BIG’, and has since been featured on Netflix’s global hit show Heartbreak High. Collaborating also with Taka Perry on the infectious single “Lemonade”, he took a career-changing trip to London where he emerged motivated, refreshed, and “divinely inspired”. His recent singles were a triumphant gear switch that cemented the Sydneysider’s ambition to innovate beyond the confinements of RnB. 2022 saw BOY SODA open for Seth Sentry on his national tour, as well as showcasing at BIGSOUND Festival in Brisbane. In October, he performed at the HermèsFit event at The Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, and the Hoops Capital x Sydney Kings basketball game at Qudos Bank Arena, particiapting in the coveted Converse All Star Series in Sydney in August.

Chanel Loren
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Chanel Loren

Chanel Loren
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Less than 12 months into her career, British Caribbean artist Chanel Loren has already been hailed by VICE as a ‘A defier of genres and a boundary pusher’, likened to artists such as SZA, Jorja Smith and PinkPantheress. South-East London born & raised, Chanel studied musical theatre at the famed BRIT School, before moving to Australia with family in her late teens. Since launching her project in March this year, Chanel has released five songs that have collectively received 1.3 million+ streams (and counting), global radio play and championed by tastemaker media such as CLASH, VICE, Frankie, Early Rising, Notion, Dork Mag and many more. With no signs of slowing down, over the coming months Chanel is booked to perform alongside Kota The Friend, IDK, Kehlani and Destin Conrad.

DSP
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DSP

DSP
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Afro-Australian artist, ‘DSP’ has easily made an impact in the ever growing Western Sydney Hip-Hop scene. Nigerian born, Bankstown made and Campbelltown raised, DSP showcases his versatility as an artist through his inspiration and influence of rap and afrobeat sounds. From love to heartbreak to social justice issues, DSP looks to invite listeners into his journey, to share these moments of life with him. His love for music began at a young age but only took full effect in his early adolescent years, where the inspiration and drive to put pen to paper came in mid-2020. This year, we’re gearing up to hear the Western Sydney artist serve a range of sonic covers alongside some very exciting features. Get Ready!

Dylan Atlantis
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Dylan Atlantis

Dylan Atlantis
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Dylan Atlantis (she / they) is an emerging singer-songwriter, producer and musician from Western Sydney. Since deciding to take music seriously after high school, Dylan has gained recognition from multiple heavyweights in the local music scene. Opening for Melbourne-based artist Agung Mango in his Sydney show and Nick Ward during the final show of his Brand New You national tour run, she has also gained a co-sign from Knxwledge after a remix of his song ‘makeitliveforever’.

Although there isn’t a direct genre she takes inspiration from, Dylan is inspired by a multitude of musicians such as Lauryn Hill, Tyler the Creator, J Dilla, Last Dinosaurs, and N.E.R.D.

ECB
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ECB

ECB
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ECB (East Coast Brotherhood), is a HipHop group of four Indigenous brothers from Tweed Heads in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales. The group consists of the duo of Chiggz and Nate G, as well as brothers JK-47 and WILL, and was given the name by their late father shortly before his passing. For the brothers, ECB is a symbol of family, culture and community, and each member brings their own unique style and story to the group. Chiggz, being the eldest of the four brothers, brings a smooth vocal tone to the group that lends itself well to his hooks, flows and melodies. Nate G, on the other hand is known for his hard hitting verses, heavy bars and consistent sound. ECB have recently linked with new management and label Blanco Entertainment, who have been helping advance the group’s careers and presence on the scene at a fast pace with more releases, film clips and live shows.

Gold Fang
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Gold Fang

Gold Fang
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Gold Fang is a versatile artist from Trinidad & Tobago, who is making waves in the Australian music scene. He blends elements of reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop to create a distinct and powerful sound. Moving to Sydney at the age of 17, Gold Fang was inspired by his father, who established Australia’s first authentic reggae band ‘Un Tabu’ in the 1970s, and had since flown the flag for Caribbean music in Sydney. Gold Fang was signed to Melbourne-based NLV Records in 2021 and released seven solo records, attracting over 5 million streams on Spotify. He has been commissioned by McDonalds US, hosted a radio show on CADA, and has performed at notable festivals and supports for international superstars like Lil Nas X and Novelist. Gold Fang is gearing up for the release of his debut mixtape and a run of notable performances. He is considered a rising star ready to take the world by storm, with his versatility, personality, and unmistakable vocals.

Isaac Puerile
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Isaac Puerile

Isaac Puerile
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Hailing from the bustling City of Blacktown, which sits right in the heartland of Western Sydney, artist and producer Isaac Puerile (pronounced Pew-rile) has long been a pioneer in his own right within the Australian rap scene. His latest EP ‘i hate you too’ forgoes the obvious next steps from an artist of his ilk by instead meshing elements of rap, pop, UK garage and his own distinctly raw approach to music-making, proving assuredly that he is unlike any other. The release marks a transition from the nihilism, self-destructive behaviour and unpolished musicality of his earlier work to a cathartic, refined hopefulness that has come from discovering his self-worth. With plenty of versatile releases under his belt, including the carefree youthfulness of ‘2012’ and rap bravado of ‘Lightwork’, Isaac’s unapologetic honesty and legitimacy gives listeners a reason to invest in his journey.

Lil Jaye
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Lil Jaye

Lil Jaye
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Australian rapper and vocalist Lil Jaye merges fascinating prose with his 2020 release “Blessings” and “Choppa Make Her Dance”, with more recently released 2022 release “Bigger” and working closely with 66 Records (Babyface Mal, Baby T, Eco$ystem, BBG Smokey) It was also the culmination of years devoted to his craft, being known as a Global Citizen, moving around from a young age, living in France and moving back to Australia, being currently based in Melbourne. He says “My creative process is just going with the flow and not limiting myself to anything”, which has been the way Lil Jaye has put some of his best work to date together. Lil Jaye has made his way through the underground-hiphop community supporting the late-Juice World on his final tour in Australia with The Kid Laroi across 5000 capacity rooms, and supporting Lil Mosey and Xavier Wolf to sold-out crowds in Melbourne.

Lio Jewell
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Lio Jewell

Lio Jewell
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Australian-born, Melbourne-based artist, Lio Jewell meets soul-R&B through a world of digital soundscapes. Lio Jewell who is known for releases like “What’s The Deal” and DEADIFY 2022 release “kill will”. The Melbourne artist of Filipino descent, including being part-Thai, Laos and Chinese heritage, he embraces his up-bringing through his unique sound.Lio Jewell’s sound is a cross between Internet PC-movement of upcoming artists and sounds, soundcloud-inspired production of late 2018, withholding strong creative visuals to support his journey. Crossing between rap-inspired flow and soulful R&B vocal performances.

Mali Jo$e
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Mali Jo$e

Mali Jo$e
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Mali Jose, the incumbent prince of Australian hip-hop has gone from strength to strength following his continued meteoric rise in 2022 highlighted by his critically acclaimed Sophomore EP “SUNSEEKER” featuring headline singles ‘CLOUDS’ and ‘INTERVENTIONS’ featuring Mick Jenkins. The 20 year old prodigy from Fremantle hope to build upon the success of last year as well as continue to push the envelope and boundaries for Australian Hip Hop. After trailblazing stages all across the country in 2022 including stand out showcases at Big Sound, supporting Baker Boy on his Gela Australia Tour, to recently performing on the biggest festival stages with the likes of J.I.D, Central Cee and Roddy Rich, at Listen Out, Mali is poised and positioned to have a breakout year in 2023 with an array of singles and a new EP slated for release this Autumn. After a busy 2022 with sold out headline shows, rankings in the Triple J Unearthed and RTRFM’s Most Played charts, and having a number of his singles on high rotation on MTV UPLOAD, Mali looks to to build on his success and reach new heights in 2023.

MAMMOTH.
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MAMMOTH.

MAMMOTH.
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Hailing from Melbourne Australia’s West, MAMMOTH. has taken the Underground Hip-Hop scene by storm as of late. The razor tongued rapper has turned heads with his watery flows, dynamic punch lines and poetic approach to his own brand of rap. He shies away from the equivocal rapper label, preferring to be seen as a writer – one who is in deep reflection about his upbringing, strengths and flaws. A face of collective Picked Last, a fast-rising assembly of talented creatives, MAMMOTH.’s growth has coincided with that of the label. His sound personifies him and the collective he works with. A name that has been on the tip of the tongue of many “in the know” listeners, his sound and talent will soon be undeniable. Though still in the infancy of his career, MAMMOTH.’s matured sound, distinct flow and unmatched lyricism proves he is one to watch. The sky is truly the limit for this wordsmith.

Mog.Y
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Mog.Y

Mog.Y
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Melbourne-based rapper, Mog.Y, is forging a new path in Australia’s underground music landscape with an unmistakable trademark sound. Recognised for his gravelly tones and off-beat melodies, Mog.Y gives listeners a little more than they have come to expect from local Hip-Hop, effortlessly fusing contemporary rap styles with neo-soul and RNB elements. Actively refining his distinct style for almost a decade, Mog.Y’s authenticity and love for the genre has seen him nurture a cult Melbourne street following into a passionate nation-wide fanbase. Regularly related to having a “Mac Miller vibe”, Mog.Y has a sound for every feeling and occasion, giving listeners uplifting anthems to soundtrack their win’s whilst never shying away from showing the more vulnerable side to his art, with deeper melancholy melodies and thoughtful lyricism. More recently, Mog.Y has worked with close collaborator and multi-genre producer, Benny Zenn, proving their unlimited versatility, as the two traverse sounds ranging from nostalgic boom-bap rap to feel-good dance rhythms. Chasing innovation, Mog.Y has set a course to continue raising the standard of local sound, proving that he is one of the nation’s best kept secrets and solidifying his place on the global stage.

Mulalo
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Mulalo

Mulalo
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After a series of wins in 2022 the South African-born, western suburbs residing Mulalo cemented herself as one to watch and listen to in 2023. The quick-witted, sharped tongued ‘you get what you are given’ attitude of the ‘Listen Out 2022: Triple J unearthed winner’ quickly made her a crowd favourite bolstering praise from artists that include Amy from Amyl and the Sniffers and Genisis Owusu. One of the twenty-five-year-old rapper’s main highlights was the release of her single ‘Tracy Grimshaw’, a hard-hitting, tongue and cheek Australian reference-filled song. With Golden Plains and an EP on the horizon, Mulalo is one to watch!

PANIA
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PANIA

PANIA
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Following the release of her captivating debut EP burnt ur clothes & changed the addy in November, West Melbourne’s PANIA is keeping the fire burning into 2023 with a release titled P PACK and supporting multi-platinum artist Kehlani on her 2023 Australian tour dates, PANIA has well and truly cemented her place at the forefront of Australia’s swiftly growing R&B scene. Off the back of her debut EP, PANIA performed sold out shows in Melbourne and Sydney, with the latter in such hot demand that hopeful punters were listening in from outside of the venue.

SAHXL
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SAHXL

SAHXL
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Hailing from the hip-hop hotbed of Western Sydney, 19-year-old vocal prince Sahxl has been primed as one of Australia’s next breakout stars, teetering the line between R&B and Hip-Hop with brazen conviction, honest story-telling, and undeniable melodies. Having written and recorded music in his bedroom since the age of 12 as a form of self-expression – music quickly became an escape from everyday life and a way for Sahxl to feel connected. Sahxl has earned praise from international tastemakers like Ebro Darden (Apple Radio) and fellow Australian star The Kid Laroi, whilst in his native Australia, he has featured in numerous tastemaker publications and received support from his city and community. Sahxl is preparing for the release of his debut EP in 2023.

Siala
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Siala

Siala
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Overcoming challenging times to emerge as a shining star within the Australian music scene, multi-pronged vocalist Siala made an impressive debut in 2022 with her EP ‘Drowned Surface’ that took listeners into a different dimension and displayed Siala’s songwriting range, weaving in and out of her distinctive vocal style to effortless raps. For Siala, the process of music stems from an imperfect place. Growing up on the North Coast of New South Wales, her mother was a victim of domestic violence. Siala found solace in gloomy, guitar-heavy artists like The Smashing Pumpkins and PJ Harvey, later diving headfirst into hip-hop, R&B and jazz. Writing lyrics became a way to digest pain and isolation, melding her diverse range of influences into a cathartic sound that sits confidently in its own lane. After watching The Weeknd perform live in Brisbane, Siala knew that music would be her future, and that she was destined for those same stages. Siala is well on her way to becoming one of the country’s most powerful voices and storytellers.

Southside Denny
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Southside Denny

Southside Denny
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Bursting into the scene quickly by means of his intricate lyricism and potent delivery, Naarm bred and South African Australian artist Southside Denny, captures the eyes and ears of audiences with his hard-hitting demeanour and unpredictable flow creating an encapsulating energy for audiences to feast upon. Southside Denny attributes his musical style to his early days in high school, feeding off the influences of Childish Gambino, Outkast, Spillage Village, Kendrick Lamar and Mac Miller, but has found a lane for his own sound and style of music that could be described as a boiling pot of old and new age cultural rap. With plenty singles and teases being shown, its clear that Southside Denny is an artist willing to stop at nothing to represent his story on a global scale. From performances on the big screen to underground shows, Southside Denny creates a listening experience that amalgamates intricately the life of a young coloured man in his country, representing flagrantly what the south side has to offer.

Voldy
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Voldy

Voldy
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South African born, Melbourne based vocalist and rapper Voldy has come onto the scene with a mission. Ready to build up the community and bring his bigger vision for Melbourne’s music scene as a whole to a bustling reality. He is a non-traditional rapper, singer, songwriter with heartfelt lyrics and a vocal style which highlight his down to earth perspective; he is ready to make a mark cementing himself as a genuine artist showcasing his quintessential come-up story. Voldy’s happy medium switches between melodic rapping and expressive singing which together highlight his versatile ability to utilize his voice to bring balance to his introspective and socially conscious music. His delivery flows between assertive but confident rapping and smooth soulful singing with undertones of his gospel influence. Voldy’s smooth-flowing bars complement the eclectic collection of African inspired hip-hop beats he assists in producing.

VV Pete
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VV Pete

VV Pete
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Anyone who has seen Vv Pete’s recent shows around Sydney knows she has a trove of explosive, unreleased material which gobsmacked audiences are already learning the lyrics to. With her unique fusion of sharp rap hooks, heavy club beats and global dance music, Vv is forging a genre-bending flavour of Australian rap that is hers alone. After hyping crowds around Sydney and scoring the 2022 FBi SMAC Award for Next Big Thing, Vv continues to command bars over hard-hitting and sub-heavy drums, bringing an arsenal of anthems like her massive 2022 single ‘Frauds’.

Walkerboy
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Walkerboy

Walkerboy
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After the release of his high octane debut single ‘On A Roll’ Up & Coming First Nations rapper Walkerboy is set to release a slew of high tempo heaters on local independent record label Trackwork. ‘On A Roll’ was placed on A list rotation on FBi Radio, gained Triple J Airplay on Nooky’s ‘Blak Out’ show, and was featured on Complex AU and Acclaim Mag. After a key feature on his cousin T Breezy’s debut EP ‘2360’ the Macquarie Fields via Inverell artist is set to drop his own EP. Through the Gamilaraay artist’s performance at Sydney Opera House’s ‘Barrabuwari’ event in mid-2021 (alongside Kobi Dee & Barkaa), and at Dark Mofo in June 2022 Walkerboy has shown that post-covid, he is prepared to begin heating up stages across 2023 in support of his upcoming music. Teaming up with Sydney-based producer Utility on production, the young artist has a bright future working on a record tapping into his many stylistic influences from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony to Kid Laroi while reflecting on his struggles & time spent between rural NSW and Western Sydney delivered in his signature rapid fire flow reminiscent of West Coast artist 03 Greedo & Memphis rapper Bloc Boy JB.

Yawdoesitall
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Yawdoesitall

Yawdoesitall
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Since breaking into music back in 2018, Yawdoesitall has proven himself as a consistent talent as a songwriter and producer. Delivering solid releases since his debut, he’s collaborated with Maina Doe and Tawanda and earned widespread attention. With the momentum surrounding Yaw’s material growing in strength, seeing him open for Baker Boy on a multi-date regional tour of Victoria, giving him an opportunity to tease some of his debut EP Life I Chose live for the first time. Life I Chose saw Yaw receive wide-spread praise, with continued support across Australian radio and land various editorial playlist placements.It’s already shaping up to be an exciting year from Yawdoesitall.

Yibby
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Yibby

Yibby
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Sydney’s YIBBY is trailblazing in every sense and he’s doing it in a pair of Salomons. Since entering the Aus hip-hop scene in 2018, YIBBY has taken off down his own lane with poise and style. From the substantial catalogue, nods from all the right heads, multiple independent national tours, the odd festival slot and a healthyand& hungry live following & his own namesake meal – to just one project in working with UK heavyweights Lord Apex & Black Josh & since then linking with underground mainstays like Brooklyn’s Hiero & of course forming strong local ties with rising stars Chanel Loren & Arno Faraji. YIBBY’s imprint is starting to look like his own road map, touching bases all over but keeping routed in the place he calls home.In 2023 it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where YIBBY will go, but that’s what’s exciting – all we can expect is that he will bring the signature style, sound and enthusiasm that has led him to this point.

Zion Garcia
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Zion Garcia

Zion Garcia
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From Western Sydney’s melting pot comes Zion Garcia, a clear masthead and trailblazer in alternative hip-hop. A rapper, producer, filmmaker, and writer, Garcia reflects the multiplicity and artistic agility of Western Sydney. Community-focused but with global awareness, Garcia emphasises Western Sydney as the most important artistic region in the country.With a mostly self-produced discography, Zion Garcia’s approach to hip-hop is one of raw talent. Finding rare pockets and infectious cadences, his lyrical prowess comes stronger atop his jazzy left-field production. His goal now is to get out of his own way creatively: to ensure each moment is captured, allowing the real work to manifest. His accolades acting as checkpoints in the path, there’s clarity in knowing Zion Garcia’s on the right one.

ZPLUTO
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ZPLUTO

ZPLUTO
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Born in New Zealand, though calling Australia home since 2008, ZPLUTO grew up idolising a wide range of artists who left undeniable impacts across the genres of rock, contemporary pop, hip-hop and R&B. ZPLUTO manoeuvres in a sonic world not unfamiliar to fans of The Kid Laroi, Juice WRLD & Post Malone. Combining elements of rap, pop and alternative music on a palette from which ZPLUTO paints detailed and fresh musical ideas. He’s amassed hundreds of thousands of streams through his latest 3 releases under Universal Music Australia, been chosen by Live Nation for their “Ones To Watch” campaign, and featuring at BIGSOUND 022 as a showcase artist – is on an upward trend. With more music and videos on the way, keep your eyes out for the budding star that is ZPLUTO.

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