Embracing The Thunda

When it comes to Aussie Hip-Hop and it's merits, or lack thereof, I think you'll find a nice level of division amongst those that write for whiteboydancefloor.

While it can be argued that the accent makes it sound horrible, laconic, whatever, on a global scale I think people fail to realise that this is the primary aspect of difference in modern rap. That being said I still find watching Hilltop Hoods live to be an inane experience. Where do I stand? I've had a love/hate relationship with rap for many, many years that started by hanging around with Filipino friends back in High School. I enjoy the likes of Dizzee Rascal, die Antwoord and alot of the since-forgotten stuff that emerged in the late 90's but when it comes to Australian rap it's been hard for me to truly get a grasp of it as anything other than a weak imitation of foreign produce. I'm not trying to take anything away from the genre at all and maybe it was the floodgates that the Hoods opened and the following market saturation. That being said, its always been more about the beat than the rap to me. If you can relate, cool, but if you cant you at least need something to help you enjoy the 3:30-4:00 of your life that you're spending. But luckily for me, somewhere between the over-hyped but deservedly successful Hoods and some of the appalling stuff I hear backyard rappers come up on their PCs (rife with the N word even in this country) there is a middle ground that is slowly being taken up by artists who deserve the praise and may yet take Australian hip-hop to previously unseen levels of recognition and appreciation.



Thundamentals hail from Sydney, bursting onto the 'scene' in 2008 with a self-titled EP that went on to win acclaim an awards from critics and peers all over the land. Would this be enough to make you rest on your laurels and take it easy? Quite possibly, if you're a lazy prick but luckily they aren't. 2009 saw the release of the debut album 'Sleeping On Your Style'. The reception that followed the release was phenomenal, rave reviews across the land, high rotation of the singles on Triple J and then a run of 3 national tours with some fantastic gigs with the likes of Lyrics Born and more. This led to backing from the likes of iTunes and MTV Australia so it goes without saying that the future looks very, very bright for these guys.

On the music itself I think you'll find a lack of pretense, some smooth beats and tight production mixed with a nice variety of rhyme and lyrical content - nothing in the mix tries too hard to dominate, and the subsequent relaxation you can afford yourself will only help you appreciate the product alot more. It makes you think, but not about going and busting a cap in someones ass or another part of their anatomy. So its good for society too!



As the above video indicates, the guys are kicking off another tour and it starts THIS SUNDAY down at the Newtown Festival before traveling up and down the East Coast including some supports for Bone Thugz N Harmony and New Years Eve at the Peats Ridge and Falls Festivals so there are ample opportunities for you guys to catch them in the upcoming months (unless you live in Perth, sorry). In case you didn't watch the vid - here are the dates:

Thundamentals 'Still Sleepin' Tour 2010/11
14/11 • NEWTOWN FESTIVAL - Sydney
21/11 • THE GAELIC CLUB - Sydney -Supporting: Bone Thugs N Harmony
22/11 • THE ESPY - Melbourne -Supporting: Bone Thugs N Harmony
26/11 • BIZZO’S - Carringbah
27/11 • CLARENDON GUEST HOUSE - Katoomba *AFTERNOON ALL AGES SHOW*
27/11 • BAROQUE BAR - Katoomba
10/12 • LEVEL ONE, PANTHERS - Newcastle
11/12 • FISHO’S - Manly
30/12 • PEATS RIDGE FESTIVAL - Glenworth Valley
31/12 • THE FALLS FESTIVAL - Lorne
28/01 • THE LOFT - Gold Coast
29/01 • THE TEMPO HOTEL - Brisbane
03/02 • TRANSIT BAR - Canberra
05/02 • THE ALLEY CAT- Hobart

You can find the guys on Facebook and Myspace and such so go and check them out. As summer comes I can see myself sitting out in the backyard, drinking some freezing cold beers, maybe playing some cricket, listening to Thundamentals and.. ultimately.. wishing I had a pool. Yes we've all been to that stage in our lives where we found Aussie Hip-Hop intolerable (and in many ways I blame JJJ for a little bit of that) but, just like the GFC, every period of significant fall is met by a slow but constant rise. Its easy for me to see that Thundamentals are doing everything they can to help strengthen not just their own credibility but that of their genre, so here's hoping time delivers more of the sweet recognition they deserve.