When JK-47 first started making music, he tried to imitate the American rappers he grew up listening to.
However, the Minjumbal Guzimbula performer realized early in her musical journey that she had to find her own sound, and ultimately her identity, as an artist.
Looking back on his journey, JK became open and vulnerable in music. He found that sharing his challenges brought unexpected peace.
“When you bring out all the dirty laundry and keep it real, the conversation starts,” he said before appearing on a recent show. .
“Whether it’s the brothers coming up after the show or the mob listening on Spotify, it just starts the conversation.”
A new generation of vulnerabilities
JK is known for covering raw subjects such as racism, addiction, trauma and social injustice in their music. He says he was unaware of the impact his lyrics would have on others.
“I think we’ve made a lot of progress on what we’re talking about today compared to before,” he explained.
“I talk a lot about my father in my songs. His generation didn’t know how to speak honestly, so they put him in there. They covered it up with drugs and alcohol.”
“So you don’t have to cover up anything or look for vices to help you deal with it to be able to talk like this.
“It’s very liberating.”
“Transfer that peace and happiness to your children”
Released in 2020, the title of the debut album “It was made for this Alluded to a higher purpose. It was critically acclaimed and quickly earned him a fan base.
Following a string of strong live performances and award-winning releases, including the greatest hits album NIMA, there has been a definite evolution in the sound of his music.of .
Now a father of a young son himself, he is motivated to break the family pattern and remain a strong role model.
I don’t want to be secretive and I don’t want anyone to know what’s really going on.
“Something happens in a family or life and it’s traumatic to hide it. Even if you don’t talk about it, you still feel it.”
“Once you start talking, you’ll find a better way to deal with it, so you can find a little peace and happiness while you’re here.
“And pass that peace and happiness on to our children, friends and family. That’s what we all as Blackfullas need more than anything, to be peaceful, happy and together.”
Send messages using language
When the opportunity arose to appear on Triple J’s Like A Version, JK chose to cover 2Pac’s classics that dealt with personally and culturally relevant themes.
The performance received widespread acclaim and cemented him as a voice in the national psyche He says he chose that particular song to cover because it was “powerful” and 2Pac as an artist was “real”.
He said the opening two lines, written by Jalula Slab of the Land of Goodjimbra in the Bandjarung tribe, are about the loss of community and connection, and why we need to go back to the old ways of being together. said he was talking about
The line means “the sun is setting”. It’s time to return to the fire.”
“What that means is that the sun is setting on how we’ve been treating each other…in this new era,” JK said.
“It’s time to go back to the old ways of serving each other, serving the mob, and bringing whatever we can.
“We will use our gifts and talents to serve the whole. One nation, one mob. We will return to that unity.”
He draws parallels between American hip-hop culture and its power to convey the African-American experience, but falls short of comparing it to his own life and that of Australia’s First Nations people. not.
“I had to speak for this country, this mob, this land, and this road.”
“We’re always connected because this is our home. That’s one of the things I see. Hip-hop is different from them. That identity and belonging isn’t there.”
“I am grateful to be able to find myself where I am and in the people around me.”
