Brad Strut
Encyclopedia
Brad Strut is an Australian hip hop
emcee and singer based in Melbourne. Strut has performed and released material as a solo artist, and is also a member of hip hop group Lyrical Commission.
in the Victorian countryside, and moved to Melbourne when he was nine years old. He grew up in the Western suburbs and later in the inner Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Strut became involved in hip hop
initially with break dancing and graffiti, and then onto hip hop music.
Strut released his first demo, Rock On in 1993. In 1999, he joined up with fellow hip hop emcee, Trem One, to record "Basic Fundamentals", which was released on Trem’s second 12”, Amateurs, by Unkut Recordings. Also that year, Strut and Trem formed the hip hop band Lyrical Commission with Bob Balans and DJ J-Red. The group appeared on Culture of Kings Volume 1 (2000) with their track "Lyrical Mongrels".
Strut's debut solo album, The Authentic LP, was released in 2001 on the Obese Records
label. Mark Hebblewhite from Stealth Magazine described it:
DJ Nu-Mark’s 2004 album, Hand’s On, released by Sequence Records. The Authentic LP featured Lazy Grey
, Sean B and Lyrical Commission.
In 2002, Strut, in collaboration with Chopper Read
, Bias B
and Bob Balans, released a song called "Machete" on the Obesecity compilation album by various Australian hip hop artists. In the same year, Strut worked with Read on the song "Chop Chop".
In 2006 Strut released Legendary: The Official Mixtape on his newly formed Peruvian Gemz imprint, a subsidiary of Unkut Recordings. Legendary featured guest appearances by Perth’s Clandestien, Rhys of Hospice Crew and Billy Bunks. Later that year, Strut represented Australia at Hip Hop Kemp
in the Czech Republic
, a massive three-day hip hop festival, which showcased Non Phixion
, RA The Rugged Man, Planet Asia
and Klashnekoff
.
2007 saw the release of Strut's second studio album, Legend: Official. The album was produced by Trem and features Lyrical Commission, Sean Price, Outerspace, Daniel Merriweather
and Lee Sissing. Strut's portrait by Melbourne artist, Therese Derrick, from her Men We Love collection, was displayed in the Campbell Arcade off Flinders Street
, from late May to mid-June. Derrick explored the concept of notability "when it comes to one of the guys not so much in the public eye - such as rapper Brad Strut - people might just assume that because he's on display alongside Dave Hughes
that he automatically becomes a celebrity as well."
Strut has performed at Livid Festival and Big Day Out, and has toured nationally. He played in Europe including Austria, Edinburgh Festival (2007) and Hip Hop Kemp (2006, 2008) in Czech Republic.
In 2009, Strut released a package set including Fallout Shelter EP and the Rejuvination LP whilst living in North London, UK. The beats were provided by UK producer Beat Butcha, who had also worked with UK hip hop artists Braintax
and Jehst
. Strut had met Butcha through Disorda/Suspect Packages, and they both attended a Ghostface concert. The Rejuvination LP contained reworked songs from Strut's catalogue remixed by Australian and UK hip hop artists such as Butcha, Jehst, M-Phazes
, Ciecmate, Mortar, and Dazastah.
Australian hip hop
Australian hip hop music began in the early 1980s; originally it was primarily influenced by hip hop music and culture imported via radio and television from the United States of America. However, since the 1990s, a distinctive local style has developed. Australian hip hop is an underground music...
emcee and singer based in Melbourne. Strut has performed and released material as a solo artist, and is also a member of hip hop group Lyrical Commission.
Biography
Brad Strut was born in YarrawongaYarrawonga, Victoria
Yarrawonga is a town in the Shire of Moira Local Government Area in the Australian state of Victoria. The town is situated on the south bank of the Murray River, the border between Victoria and New South Wales and is located approximately north-east of the state capital, Melbourne. Yarrawonga's...
in the Victorian countryside, and moved to Melbourne when he was nine years old. He grew up in the Western suburbs and later in the inner Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Strut became involved in hip hop
Australian hip hop
Australian hip hop music began in the early 1980s; originally it was primarily influenced by hip hop music and culture imported via radio and television from the United States of America. However, since the 1990s, a distinctive local style has developed. Australian hip hop is an underground music...
initially with break dancing and graffiti, and then onto hip hop music.
Strut released his first demo, Rock On in 1993. In 1999, he joined up with fellow hip hop emcee, Trem One, to record "Basic Fundamentals", which was released on Trem’s second 12”, Amateurs, by Unkut Recordings. Also that year, Strut and Trem formed the hip hop band Lyrical Commission with Bob Balans and DJ J-Red. The group appeared on Culture of Kings Volume 1 (2000) with their track "Lyrical Mongrels".
Strut's debut solo album, The Authentic LP, was released in 2001 on the Obese Records
Obese Records
Obese Records is an Australian hip hop record label. It is the largest Australian independent Hip-Hop label, a retail store and a touring and record distribution company.-History:...
label. Mark Hebblewhite from Stealth Magazine described it:
"Brad Strut is a self-proclaimed ordinary Aussie bloke, a tag he stays true to with his debut release. Boasting an instantly recognisable flow, upbeat and strong with a distinct Aussie drawl, Strut hits up the listener with brutally honest rhymes covering topics as diverse as everyday life in Melbourne and a personal undisguised frustration with certain aspects of the Australian hip hop scene".The Authentic LP achieved sales of 8000+ units with no industry hype in a time of minimal support for credible Australian hip hop. The album was heralded as ground-breaking, receiving acclaim from international hip hop fans. The track, "A Good Thing" appeared on Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...
DJ Nu-Mark’s 2004 album, Hand’s On, released by Sequence Records. The Authentic LP featured Lazy Grey
Brothers Stoney
Brothers Stoney is an Australian hip hop group hailing from Brisbane, Queensland. The crew comprises emcees Lazy Grey and Len One. Both Lazy Grey and Len One are members of the Brisbane hip hop crew, 750 Rebels.-Boney & Stoney:...
, Sean B and Lyrical Commission.
In 2002, Strut, in collaboration with Chopper Read
Chopper Read
Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read is an Australian ex-criminal, who wrote a series of semi-autobiographical and fictional crime novels. The 2000 film Chopper was based on his life.-Early life:...
, Bias B
Bias B
Bias B is an Australian hip hop artist. He started writing lyrics in 1989 and began performing in 1991 and released his first album, Beezwax, in 1998. The album took two years to sell its first 500 copies. In 1999, Bias B released an album called Boney & Stoney along with fellow crew members Len...
and Bob Balans, released a song called "Machete" on the Obesecity compilation album by various Australian hip hop artists. In the same year, Strut worked with Read on the song "Chop Chop".
In 2006 Strut released Legendary: The Official Mixtape on his newly formed Peruvian Gemz imprint, a subsidiary of Unkut Recordings. Legendary featured guest appearances by Perth’s Clandestien, Rhys of Hospice Crew and Billy Bunks. Later that year, Strut represented Australia at Hip Hop Kemp
Hip Hop Kemp
Hip Hop Kemp is an international hip hop festival held every August in eastern Bohemia, Czech Republic. It is one of the biggest hip-hop festivals in Europe, with an audience of almost 20,000...
in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, a massive three-day hip hop festival, which showcased Non Phixion
Non Phixion
Non Phixion was a New York-based hardcore hip-hop group.-History:In late 1994, MC Serch took his protege Sabac and teamed him up with DJ Eclipse and Ill Bill, thereby creating the group known as Non Phixion. Within six months Goretex, a childhood friend of Ill Bill, had joined the crew after...
, RA The Rugged Man, Planet Asia
Planet Asia
Planet Asia aka King Medallions is an underground hip hop MC from Fresno, California who is a member of hiphop groups the Cali Agents, and Skhool Yard...
and Klashnekoff
Klashnekoff
Darren Kandler, known by his stage name Klashnekoff or Ricochet Klashnekoff, is a Jamaican-English rapper from east London. Klashnekoff was born in Hornsey, but then moved to Hackney in London where he began his career in rapping...
.
2007 saw the release of Strut's second studio album, Legend: Official. The album was produced by Trem and features Lyrical Commission, Sean Price, Outerspace, Daniel Merriweather
Daniel Merriweather
Daniel Paul Merriweather is an Australian R&B singer-songwriter who has worked as a featured vocalist for other artists and has a solo career. His guest vocals are included on album tracks by Disco Montego, Mark Ronson and Phrase...
and Lee Sissing. Strut's portrait by Melbourne artist, Therese Derrick, from her Men We Love collection, was displayed in the Campbell Arcade off Flinders Street
Flinders Street, Melbourne
Flinders Street is a notable street in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Running roughly parallel to the Yarra River, Flinders Street forms the southern edge of the Hoddle Grid. It is exactly one mile in length and one and half chains in width...
, from late May to mid-June. Derrick explored the concept of notability "when it comes to one of the guys not so much in the public eye - such as rapper Brad Strut - people might just assume that because he's on display alongside Dave Hughes
Dave Hughes
David William "Hughesy" Hughes is an Australian stand-up comedian, radio and television presenter. He is currently co-host on the Network Ten's The Project and Before the Game as well as the breakfast radio show Hughesy and Kate.-Television:Hughes co-hosted the ABC comedy talk show The Glass House...
that he automatically becomes a celebrity as well."
Strut has performed at Livid Festival and Big Day Out, and has toured nationally. He played in Europe including Austria, Edinburgh Festival (2007) and Hip Hop Kemp (2006, 2008) in Czech Republic.
In 2009, Strut released a package set including Fallout Shelter EP and the Rejuvination LP whilst living in North London, UK. The beats were provided by UK producer Beat Butcha, who had also worked with UK hip hop artists Braintax
Braintax
Braintax was a British hip hop artist and producer. Joe Christie had also recorded or appeared under the pseudonyms Brando Flux and Joey Brains. All of his releases were on his own record label, Low Life Records....
and Jehst
Jehst
William G. Shields, better known as Jehst or a slew of aliases including The High Plains Drifter, Billy Brimstone and Jay Star, is an English rapper and co-founder of hip hop label YNR.-Biography:...
. Strut had met Butcha through Disorda/Suspect Packages, and they both attended a Ghostface concert. The Rejuvination LP contained reworked songs from Strut's catalogue remixed by Australian and UK hip hop artists such as Butcha, Jehst, M-Phazes
M-Phazes
M-Phazes is an Australian Hip Hop producer and artist based in Melbourne, Victoria. Born on the Gold Coast he relocated to Melbourne to further his musical career...
, Ciecmate, Mortar, and Dazastah.
Discography
- The Authentic LP - ObeseObese RecordsObese Records is an Australian hip hop record label. It is the largest Australian independent Hip-Hop label, a retail store and a touring and record distribution company.-History:...
(OBR-010) (2001) - Legendary: The Official Mixtape - Peruvian Gemz/Unkut (16 March 2006)
- Legend: Offical - Peruvian Gemz/Unkut (UR 401-CD) (4 June 2007)
- Fallout Shelter - Peruvian Gemz/Unkut (29 June 2009)
- Rejuvination - Peruvian Gemz/Unkut (2009)
External links
- Brad Strut biography at Unkut Recordings