BIAS B ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT

Australian hip hop pioneer Bias B has announced his retirement after an extremely influential solo career. His last show in Melbourne at The Corner Hotel was true testament to his genre-defining reign as one of Oz hip hop’s original kings. The venue packed out with representatives from all corners of the industry showing their support.

Here’s what fellow industry innovators Reason, Ciecmate and Pegz have to say about the legendary Melbourne emcee;

“Being the first Melbourne based emcee I had ever heard, I've always drawn inspiration from Bias B. I have the esteemed honour of calling him a true friend, an honour I cherish. As an artist and as a human being, his influence has had a positive effect on my life and personal evolution. I wish him all the best in any future endeavours... I'll be in the studio patiently awaiting his return.”
Ciecmate

“I was blessed to be there from the start of Bias B's illustrious career on the mic. He will always be remembered as an endorsement for the writers, the emcees and the punters who are truly passionate about Australia's underground hip hop movement. I am thankful for all that he has contributed to not only the scene in general, but for his friendship and support throughout the years. Salute to you Bias B, for you are the epitome of what hip hop stands for!! Big Ups brother!”
Reason

“Bias B is one of the most important artists in Australia’s brief Hip Hop history. His debut album Beezwax is arguably the most influential of all time and has inspired a generation of artists. Disclaimer: I refuse to let him go quietly and will be protesting in his front yard until he changes his mind.”  
Pegz

CONGRATULATIONS DIALECTRIX
ON THE NEW BABY!

Obese Records would like to congratulate Dialectrix and his partner Camilla on the birth of little Lucius, the newest addition to the Obese Family.

THUNDAMENTALS ‘FOREVERLUTION’
FIRST SINGLE ‘PAINT THE TOWN RED’

The first single from Thundamentals new albumFOREVERLUTION(out July 29th) ‘Paint The Town Red’ recently had its first radio airing on Triple J’s Home & Hosed, and has since been subject to much positive feedback. Jeswon, Tuka and Morgs have leaked the single on their Facebook page.

http://soundcloud.com/thundamentals/paint-the-town-red

For the first time ever, Obese Records is releasing an album with limited edition alternate cover artwork!FOREVERLUTIONwill be available to purchase with the choice of two awesome designs.

Thundamentals will be supporting Outkast’s Big Boi on his Australian tour.

Friday 26 August – The Tivoli, Brisbane
Saturday 27 August – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Friday 2 September – The Palace, Melbourne

Foreverlution teaser: VIEW HERE

To celebrate the launch of Thundamentals.com.au and the release of FOREVERLUTION, Thundamentals are giving an exclusive chance to mailing list members to stream FOREVERLUTION over the course of 48 hours. Simply sign up to the mailing list on Thundamentals.com.au before Thursday July 21st 9am to receive your own private stream of the highly anticipated album. Tell Thundamentals what you think of FOREVERLUTION via their Facebook and Twitter!"

Stay tuned for more Thundamentals news...

PHAZE ONE UPDATE

Since the long anticipated release of their self-titled album, Phaze One have been receiving airplay on Triple J’s hip hop show to positive responses. Emilio and M-Phazes will be supporting Wu Tang Clan on what will undoubtedly be an epic Australian tour.

Friday 4th August – Enmore Theatre, Sydney 
Saturday 6th August – Festival Hall, Melbourne
Sunday 7th August – Metro City, Perth

Check out the event at www.facebook.com/wutangtour.com.au
Tickets available through Obese retail and online at www.ticketmaster.com.au

MANTRA ANNOUNCES UPCOMING ALBUM TITLE

Mantra has wrapped up in the studio for his next release entitled Speaking In Volumes. The album will feature a seasoned array of contributors including M-Phazes, Illy and Urthboy.

‘It’s a far more musical album, an album of songs, as opposed to "rap" songs. I also collaborated with a lot more guest vocalists, and worked more closely with the producers to get the sound I was after.’ Mantra

Stay tuned for more exclusive Mantra news!

PEGZ ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL
NORTH QUEENSLAND SHOWS
FOR BOMBS AWAY TOUR

Pegz will hit the far north in August with two final shows added to the Bombs Away Tour. These will sell out fast so get in quick!

TOUR DATES:

Cairns Shenannigans Bar – Friday August 5th
Pre-sold tickets available at Shiva Moon, It’s Extreme (Cairns Central) and oztix.com.au, also available at the door.

Townsville JCU Uni Club – Saturday 6th of August
Tickets through oztix.com.au.

OBESE DISTRO NEWS:
MASE N MATTIC "SOUND THE HORNS"
OUT JULY 15th

With their highly anticipated debut album Sound The Horns set for release, their strong fledgling following is sure to rapidly grow. The album was recorded in the world-class SAE studios in Byron Bay. Featuring production by Trials (Funkoars), Debate (Hilltop Hoods- Rent Week, Here Come The Girls) and Mattic, this release is built on professionalism, polish and the experience of respected producers and engineers. The record goes the extra mile featuring cuts by Dj's Adfu, Flagrant and Hacksaw.

OBESE DISTRO NEWS:
FLUENT FORM "WORD MERCHANT"
ALBUM LAUNCH DATES

July 16th Sydney – Sandringham 9pm, Tickets at the door $15
August 5th – Brisbane Step Inn 9pm, Tickets at the door $15
August 13th – Melbourne The Laundry 9pm, Free Entry

Perth and Adelaide TBA

OBESE DISTRO NEWS:
HUNTER AND MORTAR "FEAR AND LOATHING"
OUT NOW!

Syllabolix heavyweights Hunter and Mortar have been up against a lot over the last few years, and their new release Fear and Loathing illustrated this fact.

During the making of the album both artists had undertaken life changing afflictions and were forced to leave behind their reckless ways, plunging into a world of doctor’s appointments, blood tests, scans, pills, more pills and more problems.

In late 2009 whilst Mortar was on sick leave from work he received a dismal phone call from Hunter, who, as it happened had been admitted to hospital only to be diagnosed with terminal Neuro Endocrine Cancer of the Pancreas with Metastasis to liver.

So with that ironically sobering reality, the two turned on the mic and unleashed the Fear and Loathing conspiring within. Thus began the recount of an epic journey.

OBESE DISTRO NEWS:
TOMMY ILLFIGGA "WALK A MILE"
OUT AUGUST 15th

With production by Trials, One Above and K21, Tommy imbedded himself in the trenches of the Adelaide hills to work with some of Australia’s best beat makers to come up with a sure fire hip hop classic.

‘It’s hard to pigeon hole my music into a particular style of hip hop. Perhaps it is one of my greatest virtues to be flexible with the music I make. I am well and truly in my comfort zone spitting anything from story tracks to battle rhymes on boom bap to double time beats so there is not much that I feel restricted by or could consider my only style.’
Tommy Illfigga

OBESE DISTRO NEWS:
JIMBLAH "FACE THE FIRE"
OUT AUGUST 5th

Hilltop Hoods Initiative Winner from 2007, Jimblah, has launched his debut full-length album entitled Face the Fire. 

Jimblah crosses cultural lines and musical tastes in his debut effort in which he shares stories from his life through lyrical narration.

Face the Fire was produced entirely by Jimblah in his home studio in Adelaide and features collaborations with underground artists LD, Zaleek, Georgia Humphreys and Alex Treuhl (Australian Idol Finalist). Jimblah is an Indigenous producer/MC/writer from Adelaide, South Australia, hailing from the Larrakia nation in Australia's Top End.

Influenced by a wide range of different artists and genres, his main passion is hip hop and has performed all over the country at various festivals and events including the Big Day Out, The Dreaming Festival and Good Vibrations Festival.

OBESE DISTRO NEWS:
CIECMATE’S NEW MUSIC VIDEO

Check out Ciecmate’s new clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbz-1s-ppJg

THUNDAMENTALS PLAY FOR
3 THINGS HIP HOP APPROACH

Thundamentals joined Joelistics, Class A, Omar Musa, DJ Wasabi and The Tongue
to perform a selection of new and old tracks to an enthusiastic crowd during Oxfam’s 3 Things Hip Hop Approach gig at Melbourne’s Prince of Wales Band Room last Thursday.

OBESE WINTER BLOCK PARTY IN THE SNOW

The Official 2011 Winter Block Party snow gig at The Station, Jindabyne is happening with Melbourne’s emcee Reason as host. With performances from Illy, M-Phazes (Dj set), Spit Syndicate, Dialectrix, Thundamentals & Skryptcha.

Saturday August 13th. Doors open from 9pm and there will be a free courtesy shuttle departing Jindabyne from 8:30pm. Tickets $25 plus BF are available from The Station (02) 6451 4800 and www.moshtix.com.au

Obese Records invites you to the SECOND SHOW in the Official 2011 Winter Block Party series. Join Pegz, Dialectrix & the highly anticipated Phaze One (M-Phazes and Emilio Rojas (US) collaboration) as they rock Swindlers Bar, Mount Hotham until it’s time to hit the slopes. This celebration of Oz hip hop’s finest will take place Thursday August 11th. Doors open from 8pm. Presale tickets $15, door tickets $20. Swindlers Bar, Mount Hotham VIC. Contact (03) 5759 3436 for more details and CLICK HERE for more info!

REASON IN ARNHEM LAND

Reason recently flew his middle year students to Arnhem Land for a culturally enlightening experience.

‘The program is a cross-cultural exchange with middle-years students and the Ramingining Community. It involved an array of activities & programs focussed on land, country, culture and integration into the community.We fished, danced, spent time at the school, made spears, listened to dreamtime stories, played sport, conducted hip hop workshops and much more...It was a life changing experience for all who attended and one in which I was humbled to be a part of.’
Reason

Good on ya’ Reason!

Obese Retail Updates

The Obese Records retail store is now on twitter! Follow them for all your updates from the store: http://www.twitter.com/obese_retail

Winter apparel is in full force, Burn clothing now available. Obese Records iPhone cases (for models 3 and 4) now in stock –they’re selling like hot-cakes so grab yours now! Online store: http://www.obeserecords.com/store/index.php

Obese retail blog: http://www.obeserecords.blogspot.com

NEW STOCK IN JUNE/JULY

Thundamentals – Foreverlution (OBR079) Out July 29th
Mase N Mattic – Sound the Horns (MNM001) Out July 15th
Phaze One – Phaze One (OBR078)
Ciecmate – Game Over (BTE018)
Fluent Form – Word Merchant (CCR 005)
Bias B – Biaslife (WBE291192-009)
Jehst – Dragon of an Ordinary Family (YNR047)
Kool Keith – The Legend of Tashan Dorrsett (CD -JZ 029)
Kool G Rap – Riches, Royalty & Respect (CD -FBT 5142)
Neek the Exotic & Large Professor – Still on the Hustle (CD -FBT 5143)
ILL Bill & Vinnie Paz – Heavy Metal Kings (CD -ES 1101)
Vast Aire – OX 2010: A Street Odyssey (CD-FBT 5146)

Be sure to check out the all-new Obese Records Online Store for all your latest in music and merchandise! Direct from us: http://www.obeserecords.com/store

Or visit our retail store at 4A Izett Street, Prahran, 3181, VIC.

Keep up with what’s happening in the store with our retail store’s blog: http://www.obeserecords.blogspot.com

Until next time, we hope to see you all at a show, down at the store, or online at our Facebook page: http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Obese-Records/33961266252 or on our MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/obeserecords.
We are also on Twitter: http://twitter.com/obeserecords (follow us!)

For more information contact Billy at Obese Records on publicist@obeserecords.com or ph +613 9533 7429.