STREET WARRIORS
Unstoppable Force
Street Warriors (brothers Abie and Warwick Wright - aka Predator and Wok) are familiar faces on the Australian hip hop scene and well respected pioneers of Indigenous hip hop - an amazing achievement given that they are only just now launching their debut album, “Unstoppable Force”.
“Unstoppable Force” bursts from the speakers with the first track, ‘Firestorm’, providing a mission statement about who the Street Warriors are: ‘step by step you do it, town by town you show it’…this album is the culmination of seven years of hard work and showcases the Street Warriors’ unique energy, realness and ability to still say what they want.
The album highlights the group’s versatility with a soundscape ranging from deep beats and tribal energy ramping from the speakers through to street raps and soulful RnB collaborations with the likes of #1 NZ band Nesian Mystik on “Leave it to Me’ and Siva Pacifica goddess Robyn Loau on the heartfelt “How Much You Mean to Me”. Anthony ‘the Man’ Mundine makes a guest appearance on “I Rep for My Mob” which has the hallmarks of a new indigenous anthem and there’s a definite Newie rock edge in tracks like Summertime and Solid Rock, which features the vocal of Australian Idol alumni Shannon Noll. Solid Rock showcases the core ethics of the Street Warriors and the quality that drives them and earns them fans – respect.
Rising from the ashes of groundbreaking Deadlys winning hiphop group Local Knowledge, Street Warriors released their first EP, ‘Real Knows Real’ in 2007. Two of the songs on the EP are featured on the inaugural Gadigal and ABC Music CD, the ‘Making Waves Hip Hop’ album released 14 April, 2009. Their rage anthem “Look at Me” recently saw them garner Best Band, Best Single and Best Video Awards at the inaugural BUMP Indigenous Hip Hop and Rap awards in Sydney.
The boys have rocked local and international crowds in excess of 10,000 and appearances have included major festivals such as Yabun, Homebake, Stylin’ Up, The Great Escape, and Groovin’ the Moo, The Dreaming and Woodford Folk Festival and a string of NAIDOC dates and support to major artists such as 50 Cent and G Unit.
Street Warriors have built a loyal following around the country on the back of their energy filled live shows, poignant lyrics and their unique musical messaged culminating in nominations for Best Band at the Deadly Awards in 2008 and Single of the Year for Solid Rock in 2009. The song was nominated before its release, such was the buzz from their live launch of the song at the Dreaming in June 2009.
Street Warriors draw their name, inspiration and force from their ancestors, many of whom were at the forefront of fighting for Aboriginal rights. Abie and Warrick Wright feel it is incumbent upon them, as musicians, to use their talent to help improve and educate the prospects and attitudes of not only young Aboriginal Australians, but all Australians. They proved it as Local Knowledge with the release of Blackfellas, their shout out anthem to all the tribes, which gained strong Triple J support. As Street Warriors they carried the torch further with their rage anthem, ‘Look at Me’, and countless workshops mentoring Aboriginal youth.
Now the boys feel they need to go further again and, with their new album, Unstoppable Force, provide an inclusive message for all Australians and set a positive example for young Aboriginal youth.
“The victim mentality is the greatest psychological hurdle our kids face,” says Abie. “We want to show them that we can compete on our own terms and that when you want something, you have to stand up, stand proud and be counted by striving for what you want and believing you can do it. Hip Hop hails back to our oral traditions and it’s a genre kids can relate to.”
Their work with youth has elicited an invitation to appear in upcoming NiTV documentary by Fran Dobbie, “On the Edge”, a 13 part series dealing with the challenges facing a group of suburban indigenous youth. Street Warriors conducted a workshop as part of the series and produced the title track featuring the youth involved, for the series.
Their debut album ‘Unstoppable Force’ features beats by Melbourne beat maker Unknown & Lewis (Twice as Nice) and original lyrics on all the tracks by Street Warriors, including a special Street Warriors reworking of the classic Goanna hit, ‘Solid Rock’ where the boys combine classic Aussie rock with their Deadly hip hop.
The song features Shane Howard from Goanna playing his famous guitar riff, the original backing singers and a special guest appearance by Shannon Noll on chorus vocals. Shannon also appears in the video, along with famed Torres Strait Island dancer, Albert David. Shot on mother country in Gunnedah, the clip pays homage to the Street Warriors’ ancestor, Red Chief Kangaroo (Cumbo Gunnerah).
Shane Howard, who assisted in the recording of the track, says, “This version is its own animal and I am absolutely honoured and thrilled to be working with the boys on this exciting new version of ‘Solid Rock’.”
The song is currently building a buzz off the back of some special performances with Shane Howard including the Opening Ceremony for the Dreaming Festival at Woodford and rocking a capacity crowd at the Opera House in October to close this year’s Deadly Awards.
The album also features their groundbreaking hit ‘Blackfellas’, a shoutout to indigenous tribes which they released as Local Knowledge, a track that is still strongly requested at live shows.
Adding sonic energy in the mixing is Benjamin Grotto (Aerosmith, Dresden Dolls) and mastering by Tom Coyne at Sterling-Sound, NYC. The album will be hitting retail stores and online downunder December 4th through GoSet/MGM.
Get set to be blown away as their debut album blazes a trail that will see the Street Warriors become an Unstoppable Force in Australia’s music market.
www.streetwarriors.com.au
