A.B. Original

Last updated

A.B. Original
Origin South Australia, Australia
Genres
Years active2016–present
Labels
Members

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]

Contents

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

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
AUS
[14]
Reclaim Australia 10

Singles

List of singles, with chart position
TitleYearAlbum
"2 Black 2 Strong" [15] 2016Reclaim 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) [20] 2017Like a Version
"Blaccout" [21] 2018non-album single
"King Billy Cokebottle" [11] 2022TBA
"Yes" (with DJ Total Eclipse and Marlon) [13] 2023TBA

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.

YearNominee / workAwardResult
AIR Awards of 2017 [22] themselvesIndependent Artist of the YearWon
Breakthrough Independent ArtistWon
Reclaim AustraliaBest Independent AlbumWon
Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban AlbumWon
"January 26" (with Dan Sultan)Best Independent Single/EPWon
AIR Awards of 2019 [23] "Blaccout"Best Independent Single/EPNominated

APRA Music Awards

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
APRA Music Awards of 2018 themselvesSongwriter of the YearWon [10]
APRA Music Awards of 2019 "Blaccout" (Adam Briggs / Daniel Rankine)Song of the YearShortlisted [24]

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.

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2017 [25] 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.

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2016 [26] Reclaim AustraliaAustralian Music PrizeWon

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.

YearNominee / workAwardResult
J Awards of 2017 [27] Reclaim AustraliaAustralian Album of the YearWon
"Report to the Mist"Australian Video of the YearNominated

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005. [28] [29]

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2017 themselvesBest BandNominated
Best Live ActNominated
Best Aboriginal ActWon
Reclaim AustraliaBest AlbumWon
Best Hip Hop AlbumWon
"January 26"Best SongNominated

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.

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2016 themselvesNew Talent of the YearNominated
"Dead in a Minute"Song of the YearNominated
"2 Black 2 Strong"Nominated
2017 themselvesArtist of the YearNominated
Reclaim AustraliaAlbum of the YearNominated
"January 26" (with Dan Sultan)Song of the YearWon
Film Clip of the YearWon
2018 themselvesArtist of the YearNominated
2023 [30] "King Billy Cokebottle"Film Clip of the YearNominated

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.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2016 A.B. OriginalLive Hip Hop Act of the YearNominated [31]
2017 ThemselvesLive Hip Hop Act of the YearWon [32] [33]
Best Live Act of the Year - People's ChoiceNominated
2018 A.B. OriginalLive Hip Hop Act of the YearNominated [34] [35]

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. [36]

YearNominee / workAwardResult (wins only)
2016A.B. OriginalBest Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island ArtistWon
2017A.B. OriginalBest GroupWon
Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island ArtistWon
Most Popular Hip Hop ArtistWon
"January 26" (featuring Dan Sultan)Best SongWon
Best VideoWon
2018A.B. OriginalBest Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island ArtistWon

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References

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