In the wake of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP”, which has set tongues lolling around the world, the conversation around inclusion and acceptable standards in the world of hip hop has reached a fever pitch.
Melbourne is a city known for its diversity, but is this reflected in its hip hop scene?
With pedigree like Curse Ov Dialect and 1200 Techniques paving the way for artists like Sampa the Great, Remi, and Kaiit today, it’s easy to see that Melbourne’s music scene is bustling with perspectives from a broad range of lived experiences.
This lineage of diverse sounds, lyricism, and personal fulfilment forms an empowering invitation for underground local emcee Emkew, who spoke to Laundry Bar’s Dezzy D about his motivation to become a hip hop artist.
“They’re doing something for their culture and for their story… I know I’ve got a story to tell, and I want to tell it in a way that people enjoy,” Emkew says in the video released on Friday (watch below). The interview also features local artist Mythic, and is part of Laundry Bar’s Next Crop Online series. The series spotlights emerging talent in the city to highlight their stories and music.
Emkew tells us that there is still work to do – especially around the promotion and support of female hip hop artists. “This city has so much talent from every neck of the woods. I’d like to see more of the incredible women in the underground scene getting the chance they deserve at Melbourne’s biggest hip hop institutions like Laundry Bar.”
Emkew is currently developing a show titled “The Third Culture Kid” for Melbourne Fringe Festival, held in November.
Check out the latest episode below
What do you think?
Are diverse voices getting the airtime they deserve in Melbourne’s hip hop scene?