A.B. Original
A.B. Original is an Australian hip hop duo made up of Indigenous Australian rappers Briggs and record producer Trials. A.B. Original stands for Always Black, Original. Both members are Indigenous Australians; Briggs is a Yorta Yorta man and Trials is Ngarrindjeri.[1] Their music is overtly political and has been described as "angry, polemical, brutally frank and meant to inspire a response, good or bad".[2]
A.B. Original | |
|---|---|
| Origin | South Australia, Australia |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | |
A.B. Original's single "January 26" (featuring Dan Sultan), released in August 2016, which comments on the use of that date for Australia Day.[3] This was followed up by an album entitled Reclaim Australia in November.[1] The provocatively titled[2][4] album features many guests including Thelma Plum, G. Yunupingu and Archie Roach.[4]
At the 2017 AIR independent Music Awards, the duo won five awards; Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year, Best Independent Hip Hop Album, Best Independent Single, Best Independent Artist and Best Independent Album or EP.[5] At the APRA Music Awards of 2018 the duo won Songwriter of the Year.[6]
In August 2022, A.B. Original returned with "King Billy Cokebottle" their first new music in four years.[7]
Band members
Discography
Albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [8] | ||
| Reclaim Australia |
| 10 |
Singles
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "2 Black 2 Strong"[9] | 2016 | Reclaim Australia |
| "Dead in a Minute" (featuring Caiti Baker) [10] | ||
| "Firing Squad" (featuring Hau) [11] | ||
| "Take Me Home" (featuring Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu) [12] | ||
| "January 26" (featuring Dan Sultan) [13] | ||
| "Dumb Things" (featuring Paul Kelly) [14] | 2017 | Like a Version |
| "Blaccout"[15] | 2018 | non-album single |
| "King Billy Cokebottle"[7] | 2022 | TBA |
Awards and nominations
AIR Awards
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIR Awards of 2017[16] | themselves | Independent Artist of the Year | Won |
| Breakthrough Independent Artist | Won | ||
| Reclaim Australia | Best Independent Album | Won | |
| Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album | Won | ||
| "January 26" (with Dan Sultan) | Best Independent Single/EP | Won | |
| AIR Awards of 2019[17] | "Blaccout" | Best Independent Single/EP | Nominated |
APRA Music Awards
The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APRA Music Awards of 2018 | themselves | Songwriter of the Year | Won | [6] |
| APRA Music Awards of 2019 | "Blaccout" (Adam Briggs / Daniel Rankine) | Song of the Year | Shortlisted | [18] |
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017[19] | Reclaim Australia | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Best Group | Nominated | ||
| Best Urban Album | Won | ||
| Best Independent Release | Won | ||
| Breakthrough Artist | Nominated | ||
| Daniel Rankine for Reclaim Australia | Producer of the Year | Nominated |
Australian Music Prize
The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The commenced in 2005.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016[20] | Reclaim Australia | Australian Music Prize | Won |
J Award
The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| J Awards of 2017[21] | Reclaim Australia | Australian Album of the Year | Won |
| "Report to the Mist" | Australian Video of the Year | Nominated |
Music Victoria Awards
The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.[22][23]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | themselves | Best Band | Nominated |
| Best Live Act | Nominated | ||
| Best Aboriginal Act | Won | ||
| Reclaim Australia | Best Album | Won | |
| Best Hip Hop Album | Won | ||
| "January 26" | Best Song | Nominated |
National Indigenous Music Awards
The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. They commenced in 2004.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | themselves | New Talent of the Year | Nominated |
| "Dead in a Minute" | Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| "2 Black 2 Strong" | Nominated | ||
| 2017 | themselves | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Reclaim Australia | Album of the Year | Nominated | |
| "January 26" (with Dan Sultan) | Song of the Year | Won | |
| Film Clip of the Year | Won | ||
| 2018 | themselves | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
National Live Music Awards
The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Live Music Awards of 2016[24] | A.B. Original | Live Hip Hop Act of the Year | Nominated |
| National Live Music Awards of 2017[25][26] | Themselves | Live Hip Hop Act of the Year | Won |
| Best Live Act of the Year - People's Choice | Nominated | ||
| National Live Music Awards of 2018[27][28] | A.B. Original | Live Hip Hop Act of the Year | Nominated |
South Australian Music Awards
The South Australian Music Awards (previously known as the Fowler's Live Music Awards) are annual awards that exist to recognise, promote and celebrate excellence in the South Australian contemporary music industry. They commenced in 2012.[29]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | A.B. Original | Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island Artist | Won |
| 2017 | A.B. Original | Best Group | Won |
| Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island Artist | Won | ||
| Most Popular Hip Hop Artist | Won | ||
| "January 26" (featuring Dan Sultan) | Best Song | Won | |
| Best Video | Won | ||
| 2018 | A.B. Original | Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island Artist | Won |
References
- ^ a b Byron, Tim (25 November 2016), "A.B. Original: 'We wrote the hardest shit we could write, and it's being supported'", The Sydney Morning Herald
- ^ a b Zuel, Bernard (27 November 2016), "A.B. Original album Reclaim Australia is a necessary shock to the system", The Canberra Times
- ^ Pat McGrath and Andy Burns, (26 January 2017), Band A.B. Original on their song January 26, 7.30, ABC Television Retrieved 4 July 2017
- ^ a b Butler, Josh (16 November 2016), "'It's Shit Being A Black Man In Australia' -- A.B. Original Talk Racism, Reclaim Australia And Rap", HuffPost
- ^ "2017 AIR independent Music Awards". AIR. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Songwriter of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ a b "A.B. Original return with first new song in four years, "King Billy Cokebottle"". NME. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ^ "australian-charts.com - A.B. Original - Reclaim Australia". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
- ^ "2 Black 2 Strong single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ "Dead in a Minute single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ "Firing Squad single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ "Take Me Home single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ "January 26 single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ "Dumb Things (Like a Version) single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ "Blaccout single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ "History Wins". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ "2019 AIR Awards Nominees". 28 March 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ "APRA Reveals 2019 Song of the Year Shortlist". Music Feeds. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ "Search A.B. Original at ARIA Awards". ARIA Awards. 11 August 2020.
- ^ http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/ab-original-win-the-australian-music-prize-with-a-timely-angry-protest-album-20170309-guuolt.html Sydney Morning Herald, 9 March 2017
- ^ "The J Award 2017". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^ "Previous Nominess". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ "Previous Winners". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ "Nominees 2016". NLMA. 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ "NLMA reveal 2017 Nominees". NLMA. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ "Winners 2017". NLMA. December 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ "NLMA announce 2018 nominees and Live legend". NLMA. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ "Winners of the 2018 NLMA". NLMA. December 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ "Past Winners". South Australian Music Awards. Retrieved 29 March 2021.