bradstrutlc@hotmail.com | BRAD STRUT
bradstrutlc@hotmail.com |
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A prolific wordsmith
Brad Strut has been plying his trade in Australian hip hop since the early
‘90s. Involved in the genre since its early inception into the country
Brad’s contribution to its growth and development are both immeasurable. Born in the Victorian town of Yarrawonga, Brad along with his mother and younger brother moved to Melbourne at the age of six. He was thrown into a local primary school that, alike many, was engulfed in the break dance craze of the time. It was there his love affair with hip hop and the music that accompanied it began. In high school Brad met Shazlek One and forged a close musical tie and friendship with him. Both young men churned through an amazing amount of recorded material with purchases (where money allowed), a huge number of dubbed tapes (traded hands with intense regularity) and thievery (where achievable). It was also around this time one winter’s day on the Alamein line that Brad met DJ Frenzie. DJ Frenzie was a local disc jock who was known for his hip hop stylings, in what was a very important period in reflection to the moulding of what the music is today. Through telling and showing the DJ he could mc, Frenzie went on to help Brad record his first demo, ‘Rock On’ and introduced him to people like Trem, Len 1, Seany B and DJ Idem, among others. These people were to become fundamental to his interest in a more local offering of what the mc is … see: influential. As his interest and skill level thrived, Brad could be heard on any sound system available to him. He regularly clocked air time on such seminal classic radio shows as Steppin to the A.M. with Krissy and The Formula (PBS) and would be in attendance at any music venue hosting a hip-hop event intent on honing his craft. His development continued with his first studio experience, under the guidance of DJ Ransom, recording a demo for the unreleased Faces of Debt EP alongside MCs Mama’s Funk (Strait Up Records), Raph Boogie (Crookneck) and MC Que (Nuffsaid Records). In 1999 he hooked up with Trem for his classic second 12” Amateurs (Unkut Recordings) to record the Australian rap gem ‘Basic Fundamentals’, the song featuring wordplay unheard at the time within the local ranks. Awhile on and Shazlek One purchased a then Ob’s Records from Ollie Bobbit and decided to rename it Obese Records. Obese Records was a retail outlet only at the time, with no label, just records, spray paint, graff mags and the like. Not long after buying the business, Shazlek offered Brad a position, managing the store. Through working together, Brad urged Shazlek to form a record label aside from the day-to-day dealings of the store, thus Obese Records, the label was born. Whilst working the shop front, Brad, busily compiled and worked on his debut long player The Authentic LP which he released in 2001, the album’s cover was adorned by a vicious looking kangaroo caricature wielding a microphone. The Authentic LP went on to sell 6000+ units with little or no industry hype in a time of minimal support from media outlets. The album was heralded as groundbreaking and received acclaim from hip-hop fans the globe over. One of the songs off the LP ‘A Good Thing’ featured on Jurassic 5 DJ Numark’s mixed CD compilation Hand’s On (Sequence Records 2004). The Authentic LP featured such names as Lazy Grey, and a freshly formed Melbourne crew Lyrical Commission, who had just featured on the Culture of Kings Volume 1 on the track ‘Lyrical Mongrels’. Also during this period LC alongside Bias B worked with the infamous Australian criminal identity Mark Brandon ‘Chopper Read’ on the track ‘Chop Chop’ for the soundtrack to the movie Trojan Warrior. This track also featured on the Obesity Compilation under the name ‘Machete’. Lyrical Commission was conceived by a group of friends, all mc’s who had a largely similar view on the music, politics and overall ways of the game. The group originally consisted of Trem, Brad Strut, Bob Balans and Rob Natrule, but with the oncoming approach of fatherhood for Rob Nat it was culled to contain the remaining 3 mc’s. The group released their debut LP The Stage is Set (Unkut Recordings) to a blood-thirsty market and an already intensely loyal fan base (due to the their previous solo works) in 2002. The album was lapped up by heads everywhere receiving high honours and lots of controversy with tracks like ‘Blood Red Skies’, ‘Hate the Scene’, DJ J-Red’s dedicated ‘Custom Made’, and Brad’s ‘Carlton United Tragedy’. It was around this time, Brad departed Obese Records. The group then toured the album extensively covering all places, Melbourne to Brisbane, Canberra to Adelaide, all the while cementing their reputation as masters of individualised style and technique. Still keeping busy with a more low-key approach a year on Lyrical Commission began to record their follow up release to The Stage is Set. Chance had it, fate as well, that a fortunate meeting with New York underground legend and Uncle Howie recording artist Q-Unique (formally of The Arsonists) would start the process off … between this meeting and the release of their second installment the aptly titled Murderous Metaphors EP, Brad and the crew were approached to work on a track with Celph Titled (Demigods, A.O.T.P) to which the group enthusiastically approved. A power puncher of noted excellence combined with southern hemispherical equivalents eventuated with the track ‘All Out War’ released on the Terntable Jediz All Out War EP (Unkut/Blue Corner 2004). The track was and still is an underground favourite with all four mc’s spitting fire over a Celph Titled banger, Brad particularly heated … Godzilla. Murderous Metaphors was then unleashed on the target with accuracy. The EP, though not an album, contained nothing but pure rap skill from beginning to end with tracks like ‘F**k all the B.S.’, ‘Indicted’, the Prowla remixed ‘All Out War’ (ft.Celph Titled), ‘Sink Quick’ and the Brad solo ‘Check the Strategy’ once again upping the ante of acceptance. A rapid increase in street level interest saw Lyrical Commission perform to sold out venues Australia-wide again solidifying their growing fan base. With the locking down of the Lyrical Commission sound and shows, and their position in the standings placed highly, the time had now come for the solo joints to appease the long time supporters and win new ones. Brad Strut began his mission by appearing on the 2005 Nuffsaid release In Case You Didn’t Know over a Prowla produced cut with a track called ‘The Demon Speaks’. This reunited him with the label and producer who also bought you ‘My Joint’ off the Nuffsaid Records Beats from the Vaults Volume 1 (2001). Onto to 2006 and the longtime stalwart whose championed the local sound to international acceptance is currently busy putting final preparations to his mixtape Legendary…The Official Mixtape (Unkut/Peruvian Gemz). Due for release early March 2006 with the lead off single ‘It’s Official’ and a plethora of rough rap talent with the likes of Tornts, Clandestein, now school killers L-Flows & Verb Ill of Left One and his crew Lyrical Commission among others blessing it. This is the first installment in a triple threat series of releases. The mixtape will be followed up with Brad’s sophomore solo offering Legend…Official (Unkut/Peruvian Gemz). The album is currently shaping up to be nothing short of ridiculous … stay tuned! The third bomb in the series will be dropped in the form of a re-visited issue of The Authentic LP (Unkut/Peruvian Gemz) with a bonus making of the album mini-doco on DVD. Brad’s loyalties are aligned with his crew member and close friend Trem and his Unkut Recordings label. Brad has just recently formed a subsidiary fam label Peruvian Gemz which in-tow with Unkut Recordings he plans to promote through his solo works and with future projects assisting emerging artists. 2006 is shaping as a year of reckoning for Brad, a mc with raw street level honesty. The real deal with all flows locked, from bone jarring live sets to impeccable studio performance, Brad Strut delivers the full package. ‘Proper without the ganda’. His history is undeniable, future unlimited. On the Real • Has shared stages with the likes of Tha Liks (US), Hilltop Hoods, Eternia (CAN), Celph Titled (US), Apathy (US) and Kool Keith (US) among others. • Has blessed tracks with the likes of Q-Unique (US), Taskforce (UK), Celph Titled (US), LilAngryman (UK), Lazy Grey and Chopper Read among others. • Has featured on some of Australian hip hop’s most noted releases including Boney & Stoney’s Black Stump EP, Culture of Kings Volume 1, Bias B’s Beezwax and Trem’s Amateurs 12” to name a few. • Has featured in publications such as Stealth, Hip-Hop Connection (UK), The Age newspaper (album of the week), Out for Fame and countless other street press and website editorials. • Has performed 100+ shows to crowds all over Australia (Livid Festival, Big Day Out, toured nationally etc.) • He sees his growth as a person through a timeline in his discography – like a work in progress. Check below for details. DISCOGRAPHY : ++ Lyrical Commission – Murderous Metaphors EP CD/Vinyl, Unkut Recordings 2005 Features on tracks: Hells Basement (intro), F**k all the B.S., Check the Strategy, Murderous Metaphors (feat. Q-Unique), Sink Quick (+CD version w/ extra verse), F**k all the B.S (remix), All Out War (remix feat. Celph-Titled) ++ Various – In Case You Didn’t Know Compilation CD/Vinyl (‘The Demon Speaks’ by Brad Strut), Nuffsaid Records 2005 ++ Phrase – Talk With Force LP CD (‘Does She Like It’ feat. Brad Strut), Marlin Records/Universal 2005 ++ DJ Numark – Hands On Mixtape CD (‘A Good Thing’ Brad Strut feat. Lazy Grey & Bias B), Sequence Records (US) 2004 ++ Various – Straight From The Art 2 Compilation CD (‘Press Release’ by Lyrical Commission), Empirical/ Warner 2004 ++ Terntable Jediz – All Out War Compilation EP CD/Vinyl (‘All Out War’ feat. Lyrical Comission & Celph Titled), Unkut Recordings/Blue Corner Records 2004 ++ J-Red – Streets Ahead Mix CD (‘Press Release’ by Lyrical Commission), Crookneck 2003 ++ Jolz – Down Pressure LP CD/Vinyl (‘Forward’ feat. Taskforce, Brad Strut & Raph Boogie), Down Pressure 2003 ++ Lyrical Commission – The Stage Is Set LP CD/Vinyl, Unkut Recordings 2002 Features on tracks: Press Release (remix), Blood Red Skies, Carlton United Tragedy, Custom Made, Walkabout (remix), Sex Fiend, Hate the Scene, Press Release (original) ++ Various – Obesecity Compilation LP CD/Vinyl (‘Machete’ Chopper Read feat. LC & Bias B), Obese Records 2002 ++ Various – Trojan Warrior Soundtrack CD (‘Chop Chop’ Chopper Read feat. LC & Bias B), Mushroom 2002 ++ Beefeaters – Can O Worms EP Vinyl (‘Walkabout’ feat. Brad Strut), SFDB Records (UK) 2002 ++ Brad Strut – The Authentic LP CD/Vinyl, Obese Records/Unkut Recordings 2001 Features on tracks: Love This, A Good Thing, Toowong, Every Now & Then, Ceremony Master (8 Bit Mix), Fly Away, Authentic, Demolition Derby, My Joint, Intro 01 (Hip Hop, Happiness, Health), Fly Away (Jase Remix) ++ Nuffsaid – Beats From The Vaults Vol. 1 CD (‘My Joint’ by Brad Strut), Nuffsaid Records 2001 ++ Various – Stealth Magazine CD #2 (‘Intro’ by Brad Strut), 2001 ++ Various – Culture Of Kings Volume 1 CD/Vinyl (‘Lyrical Mongrels’ feat. LC & Cross Bred Mongrels), Obese Records 2000 ++ Various – The Formula PBS-FM Vol.1 Tape Only Release (Various Freestyles feat. Brad Strut), Wild Child Productions 1999 ++ Boney & Stoney – Black Stump EP Vinyl (‘States Of Mind’ feat. Brad Strut), Wild Child 1999 ++ Trem – Amateurs 12" Vinyl (‘Basic Fundamentals’ feat. Brad Strut), Unkut Recordings 1999 ++ Various – The 4 Element Effect Theory CD (‘Authentic’ by Brad Strut), Blitzkrieg 1998 ++ Bias B – Beezwax LP CD/Vinyl (‘Rainy Days’ feat. Brad Strut), Wild Child 1997 Unreleased Demos
(Tape only) |
| BRAD STRUT
bradstrutlc@hotmail.com |
| ARTIST MENU : LYRICAL COMMISSION // TREM // BRAD STRUT // ROB NATRULE // BOB BALANS // |
