Seeing the Hilltop Hoods live is like going to a house party where things start out chilled and then explode into ruckus. The party spontaneously combusts: someone’s doing a beer bong, someone gets thrown in the pool, someone’s trying to climb the roof, the brew is flowing and the music is getting louder.
Fresh from touring 'round Australia and releasing a new album, the iconic Australian hip hop trio are bringing their blistering live set to Future Music Festival for the first time. On the back of their platinum song ‘Cosby Sweater,’ ARIA awards and raging performances at gigs like Triple J’s Beat The Drum, the Hoods have concreted their place in the Australian hip hop scene and beyond.
“Because we’ve been on the road for so long our energy is just in the right place at the moment with the live show,” MC Suffa says ahead of the second weekend of Future Music Festival. “I think at a lot of festivals nowadays a lot of the people are there for the festivals, rather than a specific band or whatever the case may be. It’s not like 20 years ago when people were either into dance or into hip hop or indie rock or whatever, there’s so much crossover between tastes now I feel… but having said that it will be really different for us and we’re looking forward to it.”
The Hoods are rising to the challenge with their set which has expanded to incorporate a live drummer, bringing a new depth and raw energy to their performances. Coupled with a horn section, MC Suffa, MC Pressure and DJ Debris and their love of getting other artists up on stage, the gig will combine crowd-amping, old favourites like the ‘Nosebleed Section’ with their tongue-in-cheek new material like ‘Cosby Sweater.’
The Hilltop Hoods have pioneered an approach to Australian hip hop which involves intense collaboration and support for local artists and labels. The Hilltop Hoods Initiative, in partnership with APRA AMCOS is creating opportunities for emerging artists who wouldn’t usually get the chance to manufacture, market and release albums. Past recipients of the grant have on to be signed to Elefant Traks and the Hoods’ own label. “There were a lot of entries this year which is a really good sign, the more our judges have to pick from the better the outcomes going to be, we had a huge response last year which was awesome” MC Suffa says.
“It gets decided next March so I’m excited to see who they pick, we’ve had some really great people come out of it in the past.”
My favourite thing to ask artists at interviews is, at their hypothetical, utopian, paradise dream gig, who would play and who would be serving the drinks. “Who would play? The Roots, because they’re probably the best live hip hop, they’d be the backing band, and Notorious BIG, Master Ace… Big Daddy Kane is a great performer… and that sounds pretty good so far, that sounds like a good night out. I think maybe Candice Swanepoel might be working the bar that night.”
Future Music Festival
Sat 7 Mar - Doomben Racecourse (Brisbane, 18+)Sun 8 Mar - Flemington Racecourse (Melbourne, 18+)
Mon 9 Mar - Adelaide Showground (Adelaide, 15+)
