A.B. Original
Indigenous Australian hip hop duo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A.B. Original is an Australian hip hop duo made up of Indigenous Australian rappers Briggs and record producer Trials. A.B. Original stands for Always Black, Original. Both members are Indigenous Australians; Briggs is a Yorta Yorta man and Trials is Ngarrindjeri.[1] Their music is overtly political and has been described as "angry, polemical, brutally frank and meant to inspire a response, good or bad".[2]
A.B. Original | |
|---|---|
| Origin | South Australia, Australia |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | |
History
In the early 2000s, Briggs and Trials met at a Funkoars gig at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne.[3]
In 2015, they were asked to play Triple J's Beat the Drum festival, which led to A.B. Original solidifying as a duo in 2016.[4] The pair travelled to Los Angeles, the source of their musical childhood inspirations. They worked with DJ Pooh (Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, Ice Cube) at Snoop Dogg's in-house studio; DJ Mustard (Big Sean, Rihanna, Wiz Khalifa); and did a stint at Encore Studios, where Dr. Dre made 2001. 1980s Compton rapper King T, appeared on their G-Funk heavy track “The Feast”.[5]
Music
A.B. Original's single "January 26" (featuring Dan Sultan), released in August 2016, which comments on the use of that date for Australia Day.[6] This was followed up by an album entitled Reclaim Australia in November.[1] The provocatively titled[2][7] album features many guests including Thelma Plum, G. Yunupingu and Archie Roach.[7] The album's themes addresses Black deaths in custody; “Invasion Day”; racial profiling; life spent weathering systemic racism; and the low life expectancy of Aboriginal Australians.[5] The group approached the album with the attitude that it would be their only record.[4] Trials explained in an interview: "Briggs and I were going to do one big career ending, burning the... joint down record and that was it. We figured if we're going to have one shot."[8]
At the 2017 AIR independent Music Awards, the duo won five awards; Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year, Best Independent Hip Hop Album, Best Independent Single, Best Independent Artist and Best Independent Album or EP.[9] At the APRA Music Awards of 2018 the duo won Songwriter of the Year.[10]
In August 2022, A.B. Original returned with "King Billy Cokebottle" their first new music in four years.[11] The song's title refers to the stage name of a 1970s comedian, called Louis Beers, who toured Australia with his blackface act.[12]
In October 2023, A.B. Original released "Yes" in support of the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum.[13]
Band members
Discography
Albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [14] | ||
| Reclaim Australia |
|
10 |
Singles
| Title | Year | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "2 Black 2 Strong"[15] | 2016 | Reclaim Australia | |
| "Dead in a Minute" (featuring Caiti Baker)[16] | |||
| "Firing Squad" (featuring Hau)[17] | |||
| "Take Me Home" (featuring Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu)[18] | |||
| "January 26" (featuring Dan Sultan)[19] | |||
| "Dumb Things" (featuring Paul Kelly)[21] | 2017 | Like a Version | |
| "Blaccout"[22] | 2018 | non-album single | |
| "King Billy Cokebottle"[11] | 2022 | TBA | |
| "Yes" (with DJ Total Eclipse and Marlon)[13] | 2023 | TBA | |
Awards and nominations
AIR Awards
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017[23] | themselves | Independent Artist of the Year | Won |
| Breakthrough Independent Artist | Won | ||
| Reclaim Australia | Best Independent Album | Won | |
| Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album | Won | ||
| "January 26" (with Dan Sultan) | Best Independent Single/EP | Won | |
| 2019[24] | "Blaccout" | Best Independent Single/EP | Nominated |
APRA Music Awards
The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017[26] | Reclaim Australia | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Best Group | Nominated | ||
| Best Urban Album | Won | ||
| Best Independent Release | Won | ||
| Breakthrough Artist | Nominated | ||
| Daniel Rankine for Reclaim Australia | Producer of the Year | Nominated |
Australian Music Prize
The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The commenced in 2005.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016[27] | Reclaim Australia | Australian Music Prize | Won |
J Award
The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.
Music Victoria Awards
The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.[29][30]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | themselves | Best Band | Nominated |
| Best Live Act | Nominated | ||
| Best Aboriginal Act | Won | ||
| Reclaim Australia | Best Album | Won | |
| Best Hip Hop Album | Won | ||
| "January 26" | Best Song | Nominated |
National Indigenous Music Awards
The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. They commenced in 2004.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | themselves | New Talent of the Year | Nominated |
| "Dead in a Minute" | Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| "2 Black 2 Strong" | Nominated | ||
| 2017 | themselves | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Reclaim Australia | Album of the Year | Nominated | |
| "January 26" (with Dan Sultan) | Song of the Year | Won | |
| Film Clip of the Year | Won | ||
| 2018 | themselves | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023[31] | "King Billy Cokebottle" | Film Clip of the Year | Nominated |
National Live Music Awards
The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.
South Australian Music Awards
The South Australian Music Awards (previously known as the Fowler's Live Music Awards) are annual awards that exist to recognise, promote and celebrate excellence in the South Australian contemporary music industry. They commenced in 2012.[37]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | A.B. Original | Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island Artist | Won |
| 2017 | A.B. Original | Best Group | Won |
| Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island Artist | Won | ||
| Most Popular Hip Hop Artist | Won | ||
| "January 26" (featuring Dan Sultan) | Best Song | Won | |
| Best Video | Won | ||
| 2018 | A.B. Original | Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island Artist | Won |