Mental Combat shows Syntax love

From this week’s 3D World: some wonderful words of praise from Sydney veteran Blaze / Idiotproof. Nuff respect.

Video: Rapper tag update

Since 360’s first drop, there’s been plenty of rapper tag action afoot.

Here’s the latest installments in chronological order, starting with Elefant Traks head honcho Urthboy:

More after the jump…

Download: Bright Young Things EP

“A callous soul with eyes to kill / dedicated to the thrill of chasing every skirt / a flower in bloom beneath the layers of dirt”

Bright Young Things. The Great Lonesome EP. It’s free and it’s available for download right here.

For the digitally averse, you can cop a CD copy for AU$5.00 (inc postage within Australia).

YouTube track preview after the jump…

Listen: Syntax on Triple J

The last few days have seen a saturation of Syntax on the national youth broadcaster, with an appearance on John Safran & Father Bob‘s Sunday Night Safran program on Sunday 10 October, and an extended chinwag with Hau Latukefu on The Hip-Hop Show on Monday 11 October.

Tax’s Sunday Night Safran appearance (his Matik-produced ‘Ave Maria’ was Religious Song Of The Week) can be downloaded here.

And until next week, you can listen to his chat with Hau (as well as a bunch of songs from The Musical) here (just choose your favoured player / program).

Big up all the producers & presenters for the love!

Syntax up for JACRadio Artist Of The Year

JACRadio is the University of Queensland’s student-run radio station. They’ve just announced the nominees in their inaugural Artist Of The Year competition for Brisbane musicians – and Syntax is one of them, representing for the hip-hop crowd.

Nominees representing other genres include Sampology (electronica), Hungry Kids Of Hungary (rock), Dead Letter Circus (alt rock) and Violent Soho (metal). Voting begins on Monday 18 October @ jacradio.com.au and is open to all.

Interview: Purpose of Pagen Elypsis

If you think Adelaide’s hip-hop scene begins and ends with the Hoods and the Oars, think again. Pagen Elypsis have been putting in work for a good half-decade now, with a host of killer mixtapes, shows, battle appearances and features under their collective belt.

Earlier this year, the South Oz quintet unleashed their official debut LP One Way Ticket on an unsuspecting world, and it’s already garnered crazy hype and kudos from fans and industry heads alike. Now, the group is set to rip it up for Soulmate at Melbourne’s Revolver Upstairs on Saturday 6^th November, along with an eclectic local rap line up including Maundz, Syntax, Matik and Neat Street (tickets here).

We caught up with the crew’s RZA equivalent, emcee and producer extraordinaire Purpose, ahead of the Melbourne launch to get the inside word on the making of One Way Ticket.

SM: Now we first heard about you guys via the 007 mixtape a few years back … and since that time you and Prime have built a solid reputation as some of Australia’s premier battle emcees. Then we saw the 2010 drop last year … exactly how long has this debut album been in the making?

Purpose: This album has been in the making for 12 months from starting recording to hitting the shelf but the build up itself is years of working together on music and shows.

Introducing… Bright Young Things

Ladies & gentlemen, allow us to officially introduce Soulmate’s first foray outside of the hip-hop genre: Sydney synth-pop duo Bright Young Things.

Bright Young Things are AJ Dyce (vox / lyrics / keys) & Jon Westenberg (production / music / DJ). That’s Jon on the left and AJ on the right. Both came up in Sin City’s punk and hardcore scenes, but their current musical vibe is more Duran Duran than Deez Nuts. And ain’t no shame in that!

Since this is The Internets™, we’re going to release (for free of course!) their debut six-track EP The Great Lonesome as soon as they get to 800 fans on their Facebook page. Right now they’re sitting pretty on 700, so help ’em out! While you’re there, you can listen to EP preview tracks ‘Fable’ and ‘Corruption’.

More here:

MySpace     Facebook     Bandcamp     Twitter     Tumblr

Download: 360 ‘Please Be Seated 2’

Now up for free download at the usual spot.

Pics: Pez @ Hyperfest

Pez recently rocked Hyperfest over on the West Coast and event photographer Jarrad Seng was there to capture all the action. Cheers Jarrad. More shots after the jump.