Hilltop Hoods
State of the Art
(Golden Rare Records/Universal)
The one discernible difference between the Hilltop Hoods and the rest of the Australian hip hop community is that they are unequivocally better at it than anyone else. That’s not to say other acts aren’t good – there is just a hell of a lot of daylight between the Hoods and the rest of the pack. Their production is superior; their lyricism – when you break it down – is intricate, intelligent, fun and witty; they have undoubtedly set the hip hop agenda for their peers to follow.
The Hoods long ago abandoned the holier-than-thou, underdog mentality that continues to plague the Australian hip hop industry. In doing so, they have subsequently blown open listener accessibility to a genre that is rapidly gaining momentum in this country. This is clearly evident on their latest release State of the Art – an album that is state of the art and not just in name.
The most notable aspect on this release is the production values – for the 10 tracks he crafted for the album, Suffa produced over 300 beats and in doing so, blew the production standards in Australia out of the water.
The album opens with 'The Return', an aggressive wake up call, warning listeners that the Hoods are unequivocally back. The follow up 'Super Official' is underpinned with braggadocio lyricism – the track drives with a horn section that seemingly jumps through the speakers and a subtle organ riff that provides the perfect juxtaposition.
The Hoods have an uncanny knack of creating songs that resonate with marketing professionals; and the album’s first single 'Chase that Feeling' has already been picked up by a large commercial television network to advertise their new, dedicated sports channel. 'Chase that Feeling' is cleverly constructed – radio friendly – pop song. Insatiably catchy piano and a string section courtesy of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra are combined with an anthemic chorus – a heady example of commercial music brilliance.
Hip hop albums in recent times have been tediously inundated with collaborations, not so Sate of the Art. The omnipotent New York MC Pharoahe Monch appears on 'Chase that Feeling'. A major boon for any record – let alone one from Australia. Monch doesn’t disappoint and demonstrates why he is still one of hip hop’s greatest exponents. 'Fifty in Five' is – in the humble opinion of this writer – the best Australian hip hop song that has ever been written. Masterminded and rapped by Suffa, he effortlessly breaks down the last 50 years in verse – it is truly a remarkable feat of production, rhyming and lyricism. This is a clear example of a rare talent and the top of his game.
State of the Art will surprise many Hilltop Hoods fans. It strays from the tried and tested formula that has made them popular in recent years, yet, it pushes the musical boundaries in a whole new direction. A compelling and exhilarating listen, this record has broken the Australian hip hop mould so much so, that every want-to-be hip hop act will spend the next 12 months trying to catch up.
Luke McKinnon