In the early 1990s, emcees Suffa and Pressure met at a high school in the picturesque hills of Adelaide, South Australia. Later introduced by a mutual friend to DJ Debris, the trio found common ground with their love of Ultramagnetic MCs and Public Enemy, along with local pioneers Def Wish Cast and AKA Brothers. When the trio conspired to add their own chapter to Hip-Hop’s canon, Hilltop Hoods was born.
Applying their personal experience to the music that inspired them, the Hoods set out to represent their world, their lives and their country. When the crew’s first EP, Back Once Again dropped in 1997, the broad Australian accents, nimble flows and stunning beats declared the arrival of a significant new force in Australian Hip-Hop. More importantly, it laid down a gauntlet to an industry that had for too long ignored this burgeoning movement in Australian music. Over beats that celebrated the traditions of funk, jazz and soul, Suffa and Pressure displayed an instinctive rhyme chemistry that has remained as tight as it is intense.
#The Hoods have grown in both stature and skill through five full length albums – A Matter of Time (1999), Left Foot, Right Foot (2001) The Calling (2003), The Hard Road (2006) and The Hard Road: Restrung (2007). While their path has drawn on a broad range of influences, they have never lost touch with the unique flavour they created in the Adelaide Hills as young Hip-Hop fans. With an ethos that is innovative and fearless, Hilltop Hoods’ inspirational sound has been embraced far beyond Hip-Hop’s loyal underground. When the heads of rock fans, dance music devotees and even casual radio
io listeners nod in unison to the Hoods’ infectious beats, there’s no doubt the boys are at the head of their game. The crew are singled out among Australia’s hottest live acts by press, industry insiders and fans alike. A sold-out national tour and standout festival spots at Big Day Out, Splendour In The Grass and The Falls festival have confirmed their local drawing power, while performances at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire and Berlin’s Popkomm have proven they can take their sound to the far corners of the globe. With forthcoming spots at prestigious international festivals including Glastonbury and Canadian Music Week, the horizons are ever expanding for this powerful trio.
The Hoods’ phenomenally successful 4th album, The Hard Road, debuted at number 1 on the ARIA Album Chart and became the group’s second Platinum certified album, winning 2 ARIA Awards inFive singles from this album earned spots in Triple J’s annual Hottest 100 and the group were awarded with the coveted J Award for 2006. 2007 saw the Hoods return to the studio to rework The Hard Road with the assistance of arranger Jamie Messenger. The Hard Road: Restrung, incorporating the 31 piece Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, has since attained Gold certification and took home the 2007 ARIA Award for Best Urban Release. With these exceptional accolades, Hilltop Hoods have not only risen to the top of Australian Hip-Hop, but have cemented themselves a place at the very forefront of the Australian Music Industry.
Hilltop Hoods have stayed true to their music and retained their integrity in an industry that has a tendency to value the transient. Their tireless work has born the fruits of success and the future looks only brighter.