Birdz

Birdz's politically charged brand of hip-hop quickly earned him a following, charting the struggles and suffering of the indigenous population of Australia on releases such as "Black Lives Matter" and his debut EP, 2013's Birdz Eye View. Born in Queensland but raised in an aboriginal community in the Northern Territories, Birdz grew up on a diet of American rap and his father's country music collection; he was also inspired by the likes of Ice Cube, 2Pac, and the Australian poet and author Bobbi Sykes, and quickly found himself immersed in Australian hip-hop culture. A move to Melbourne to study and pursue his career followed and Birdz quickly became a regular playing live. His debut EP appeared in 2013 and charted the struggles of the aboriginal population. The follow-up singles "Rise" and "Black Lives Matter" earned Birdz national radio play and cemented his place as a new voice in Australian hip-hop. 2017 saw him deliver his debut album, Train of Thought, and teaming up with Serina Pech, Jimblah, and Caiti Baker, while his debut also picked up the 2018 AIR award for Best Independent Hip Hop Album. That same year, Birdz teamed up with Omar Musa on "About Me," as well as with Ecca Vandal on "Place of Dreams." The first fruits of his sophomore album appeared at the beginning of 2019 with the release of "On the Run." ~ Rich Wilson, Rovi