Photo by Tom Black, styling by Asia Carino

Days after dropping new single My Pelopolees, Tasman Keith swung by to chat with Maia Bilyk on Lunch.

An ode to his Uncle Spits, and grandfather Billy Jack, My Pelopolees reflects the strength of Tasman Keith’s ancestry, his community and the role of hip-hop intertwining. Keith references the interconnectedness between the future and past, wields his personal triumph to motivate other Indigenous people, and – inspired by artists like Outkast bringing southern slang into hip-hop – he incorporates ‘mission slang’ out if his home town in Bowraville.

Keith is the son of Wire MC – one of the most prolific voices in early Indigenous hip-hop. Keith recounts growing up, the similarities between their music, and the environment that was forged for future musicians, paved by pioneers like his father.

“I thought everyone’s dad was a rapper.. that was just normal to me”

Keith touches on the inherent radicalness of Indigenous people taking up space in the public sphere.

“Straight up, waking up and being black, no matter whether you like it or not, its political. Being a black man on a stage on this land that was stolen and we were supposed to be wiped out is crazy enough”

With an EP coming down the pipe, expect massive things from TK in the second half of 2018.

Listen to the whole chat above, get out to the Botany View this Saturday for the launch of My Pelopolees + check out the hauntingly beautiful visuals from Bowraville in the vid below.

WHAT: My Pelopolees Single Launch (fb event here)
WHO: Tasman Keith with Slim Set, Kobie Dee + Carolina Gasolina (DJ Set)
WHERE: Botany View Hotel
WHEN: Saturday 11 August, 8:30pm
HOW MUCH: Free!