ARIA has just published its end-of-year charts for 2011 and the kid 360 has had a very strong showing indeed!
Results are based on sales and include #14 Australian album, #18 Urban album, #48 Australian single for ‘Just Got Started’ and #83 album overall. Well done!
No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. Rising Australian production team Ghosts In The Room have just dropped this teaser from their upcoming album, featuring Sixty, G Rap and battle stalwarts Okwerdz and Iron Solomon. Sixty really goes in on this one.
Looking forward to peeping the GITR album, which also features drops from Havoc (Mobb Deep), Bishop Lamont (Aftermath), Chaundon (Justus League) and Armageddon (Terror Squad).
It’s been a big year here at Soulmate HQ. Let’s take a look back on everything that’s transpired; this is your chance to catch up if you missed anything.
Albums
360 – Falling & Flying. This bad boy has gone from strength to strength since its release back in September. A top five ARIA chart debut (and a #1 spot on the iTunes album chart) really set the tone for what’s been a crazy few months of awards, touring and new ink for Uncle Six. Falling & Flying – equally revered and hated on – has arguably carved a new direction in this thing we call Australian rap. Get it here or here.
Prime – Good Morning. Call it a mixtape if you dare, but this collection of all-original material (save for three beats) was crafted and structured as lovingly as any album in your collection. The fact that it was made available for free download is simply a bonus. The fans have spoken with their bandwidth: Prime has clocked up around 3,000 downloads in little over a month of release, an astounding feat for an artist relatively unknown outside of underground circles. Download it free here.
Videos
360 feat Pez – ‘Just Got Started’. First single from Falling & Flying. Get it here.
Pez – ‘Shine’. Produced in cooperation with The Line, a Federal Government initiative aimed at promoting respectful relationships. A slight tweak on the original, from 2008′s ‘A Mind Of My Own’. Get it here.
Bright Young Things – ‘Rotations’. The official debut single from the Sydney boys. Get it here.
360 feat Josh Pyke – ‘Throw It Away’. Great visuals on this one courtesy of Staple Fiction. Definitely set a new standard for Soulmate clips. Get it here.
Death Stars (Syntax & Mules) – ‘Death Stars’. Not an official Soulmate project, but one that filled our hearts with joy this year. Syntax of course dropped The Musical on Soulmate in 2010, while Mules is fam (having held down production duty on many of our releases since the early days).
Prime – ‘Restore My Faith’. An unprecedented YouTube smash (particularly given the song is about three years old). Instant vintage from the Adelaide newcomer.
360 – ‘Killer’. A clip that wasn’t everybody’s cup of tea (but then again, neither is 360). Those with a keen eye for comedy would have realised the genius in this one, again delivered with aplomb by Staple Fiction. Get it (remixes and all) here.
Bright Young Things – ‘A Different Kind Of Light’. Marvellous concept, marvellously dreamed up by frontman AJ, marvellously acted by Darcy Whitsed, marvellously executed by Full Clip. Get it here.
Mixtapes
Death Stars (Syntax & Mules) – self titled. VHS funk for Star Wars gangsters and Home Alone homies. With samples crafted entirely out of old school movie scores, and raps ranging from George Lucas-inspired metaphors to full blown misogyny, this is an interesting listen to say the least. Download it free here.
360 – Stand The Fuck Up. Re-interpretations of beats by Gotye, Ratatat, James Blake and Lil Wayne. Guest shots from Illy, Vegas Aces and Prime. Rhymes that range from hilariously ludicrous to seriously inspired. Download it free here.