Mak Mak Marranunggu phenom J-MILLA is a rising voice in Australian hip hop, the socially-conscious rapper building a loyal following since his 2018 debut single 'My People'.
A vibrant beacon of hope for mob, J-MILLA (the NIMA Archie Roach Foundation Award 2021 winner) has honed his craft throughout the COVID pandemic, the Northern Territory artist travelling to communities throughout NT as well as QLD and NSW performing live shows while also hosting workshops and sharing knowledge."All the TikTok and radio streams are fantastic, but I am mostly committed to making mob stronger in these communities and that's never going to change," he says.
One such event found J-MILLA in Wadeye (pronounced WAD-AIR) last November, one of Australia's largest remote Indigenous communities located approximately 420kms south west of Darwin (an area only accessible by light aircraft or barge during wet season).
The community came together unified by a celebration of song and dance. "[We] have made gradual steps forward in achieving some form of peace in the town. This event helped by [allowing] our mob to sit together and enjoy," traditional owner Stephen Pultchen says.
Now J-MILLA is returning to Wadeye to perform during Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June), a tonic for local pride and resilience that's an historic media event as the first digitally live-streamed concert from a remote indigenous community.
"Bringing people together, using music to tell our stories and celebrate the good things we share, that's my mission as a performer," J-MILLA says, who recently released his first single in 18 months 'Nicest feat. Thir13een' and featured on Xavier Rudd's 'Ball And Chain' song last year.
@jmillaofficial LIVE on TikTok on June 1st at 8 pm AEST @TikTok Australia @TikTok #JMILLA ♬ original sound - J-MILLA
Adds Ollie Wards, Director of Music, TikTok Australia and New Zealand: "J-MILLA has been building fans on TikTok and through his workshops and performances in communities across the country.
"We've seen TikTok users soundtracking their videos with J-MILLA's latest track 'Nicest' and now we're looking forward to bringing the energy of J-MILLA's show in the Wadeye community to viewers around the world via TikTok LIVE."
J-MILLA Live in Wadeye will be streamed by TikTok Australia at 8pm EST this Thursday 1 June. You can also catch J-MILLA guest hosting on TikTok Trending all week at 3pm EST daily on the free iHeart app and DAB+Digital Radio in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
