Taylor Swift & The Evolution of Pop Country Realpolitik
Less than a year since the release of her last album Lover, the blonde one released a surprise album recorded and produced in quarantine isolation. She has taken it back to her storytelling country roots for an album literally titled folklore. Soaked in sepia tones of forestry and lace, the album lives up to its name, and is […]
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Interview // ALICE: “Smoke It Out”
During quarantine in LA, ALICE was inspired to write “Smoke It Out” as a call for everyone to just…chill out! In the midst of an increasingly maddening 2020, it’s a positive message to consider.
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Kanye 2020
Narcissistic, manic, provocateur, unpredictable, barely able to string a coherent sentence together…and then there’s Kanye!
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Interview // Scythe Gang 666
We live in a time when pigeonholing artists into a singular genre is increasingly meaningless. From emo rap, to lofi chillwave pop, to neo nu metalcore, the global interconnectivity of the internet has allowed artists to experiment and create new styles in a way that we have never seen before. Out of the nexus of […]
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KSI // From Internet Fame to Rap Star
Knowledge. Strength. Internet fame*. These are the three defining characteristics of gaming/vlogging/amateur boxing star Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji (aka KSI). After more than ten years in the digital entertainment business, and a string of hot singles, his debut album Dissimulation is due out next week, and it’s touted to be one of the biggest releases of […]
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“Would you be my little quarantine?” // How artists are reacting to COVID-19
Which artists are singing or rapping about coronavirus? Are artists expressing their loneliness and isolation in relatable ways? Is anyone singing about Tiger King?
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Interview // Dobby & The Rise of Aboriginal Hip-Hop
Dobby, real name Rhyan Clapham, is an up-and-coming MC hailing from rural NSW. He has an infectious presence and represents a new wave of homegrown hip-hop carving out a unique voice and perspective for First Nations People in an increasingly globalised music sphere. His mission is to spread messages of positivity and empowerment not only […]
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Onefour Video Essay // An Australian Hip-Hop Story
This video is a visual post based on the long-form essay published in January 2020. Read the original post here.
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Interview // 4ESydney & Vyvienne Abla
In the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic, life as know it has grinded to a halt. While the economy tanks, businesses close and medical services fear overloading, the arts community has also been left by the wayside. This year was meant to be a milestone instalment for Western Sydney’s premier HipHop and culture event […]
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4ESydney Festival: The Home of HipHop
Here at deadset, our mission is to dig deeper into the issues and ideas that underly seemingly disposable pop culture. Right now, rap/hip-hop is having a moment globally and locally and 4ESydney is a movement out of Western Sydney that embraces all these aspects. The festival focuses on multi-art disciplines, music and local culture through […]
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