Legend: Official Press Quotes

Biography

A prolific wordsmith, Brad Strut has been fine tuning his craft and contributing to the growth and evolution of Australian Hip Hop since the early ‘90s. Engulfed in the breakdance craze that swept this country in the late 80's, Brad became a staunch devotee of hip hop music and as his interest and skill level flourished, Brad could be heard on any sound system available to him. He released his first demo Rock On in 1993, regularly clocked air time on influential radio shows such as Steppin to the A.M. with Krissy and The Formula (PBS) and, intent on honing his lyrical dexterity, would be in attendance at any venue hosting a hip hop event.

His development continued with his first studio experience, under the guidance of DJ Ransom, recording a demo for the unreleased Faces of Debt EP alongside MCs Mama’s Funk (Strait Up Records), Raph Boogie (Crookneck) and MC Que (Nuffsaid Records). In 1999, he hooked up with Trem to record the Australian rap gem “Basic Fundamentals”. Released on Trem’s classic second 12”, Amateurs (Unkut Recordings), the song featuring a level of wordplay previously unheard within the local ranks.

In 2001 Brad released his debut long player The Authentic LP, an album which, along with Bias B’s Beezwax and Culture Of Kings 1, marked a turning point in Australian hip hop. With its unforgettable cover of a vicious looking kangaroo caricature wielding a microphone, The Authentic attained phenomenal sales, moving 8000+ units with no industry hype in a time of minimal support for credible Australian hip hop. The album was heralded as groundbreaking, receiving acclaim from hip hop fans the globe over and the track “A Good Thing” even appeared on Jurassic 5 DJ Numark’s mix CD Hand’s On (Sequence Records 2004). The Authentic LP featured names such as Lazy Grey, Sean B and a freshly formed Melbourne crew Lyrical Commission, who had recently featured on, Culture of Kings Volume 1 with their track “Lyrical Mongrels”.

During this period Lyrical Commission, alongside Bias B, worked with the infamous Australian criminal identity Mark Brandon ‘Chopper’ Read on the track “Chop Chop” for the soundtrack to the movie Trojan Warrior. This track also featured on the Obesity compilation under the name “Machete”. With intense hype surrounding the crew, Lyrical Commission released their debut LP The Stage is Set (Unkut Recordings) to a blood-thirsty market and an already intensely loyal fan base in 2002. It received the highest of accolades for the straight up, back to basics, no nonsense skill-fest it delivered both musically and lyrically. It created a street buzz unseen for a local underground hip hop act, exceeding sale predictions and becoming the first Australian hip hop release to attract significant interest on a worldwide scale.

The group toured the album extensively, all the while cementing their reputation as masters of individualised style and technique. There is no disputing that Brad is an accomplished live performer, and has shared the stage with the likes of Tha Liks, Hilltop Hoods, Eternia, Celph Titled, Apathy, Kool Keith, The Roots, Swollen Members, A-Trak, Aceyalone, Foreign Legion, People Under The Stairs to name a few, and has also played all major Australian festivals such as Livid and the Big Day Out.

After a year of touring, and recording with Celph Titled (Demigodz) for the title track “All Out War” on the Terntable Jediz All Out War EP (Unkut/Blue Corner 2004), LC got to work on their next release, Murderous Metaphors EP. Metaphors contained nothing but pure rap skill from beginning to end with tracks like “F**k all the B.S.”, “Indicted”, and the Strut solo track “Check the Strategy”. With Lyrical Commission sound and style locked down, the time had come for the crew to branch out into new solo endeavours to appease the long time supporters and win new fans.

2006 was a pivotal year for Brad, as he reignited the fervour for his solo mission. Early in the year, he dropped Legendary: The Official Mixtape on his newly formed Peruvian Gemz imprint, a subsidiary of Unkut that would focus on his own projects and assist emerging artists. Intended as a teaser for his upcoming sophomore full length, the mixtape took on a life of its own and became one of the hottest underground releases of the year, featuring guest spots from Perth’s Clandestien, Rhys of Hospice Crew and notorious booze hound Billy Bunks. Later that year, Strut represented Australia at Hip Hop Kemp 2006 in the Czech Republic, a massive three-day hip hop festival (Europe’s largest and best) which hosted Non-Phixion, RA The Rugged Man, Planet Asia, Klashnekoff and the finest acts from across the continent. Here, Strut made international connections with crews such as Poland’s WWO, whose upcoming album he features on.

2007 sees the release of Brad’s sophomore LP, Legend: Official. Produced by Trem, it is the darkest, deepest manifesto to emerge from Antipodean hip hop. Featuring Lyrical Commission, Sean Price, Outerspace, Daniel Merriweather and Lee Sissing, the album is alternately sinister and soothing, melancholy and belligerent, and it shows Strut’s technique at its most developed. The real deal with all flows locked, Brad Strut delivers the full package, the “proper without the ganda”. His history is undeniable, and the future unlimited.

On The Reel

Has shared stages with the likes of Non Phixion (US), R.A. The Rugged Man (US), Cali Agents (US), Klashnekoff (UK), Tha Liks (US), Hilltop Hoods, Eternia (CAN), Celph Titled (US), Apathy (US) and Kool Keith (US) among others.

Has blessed tracks with the likes of Q-Unique (US), Taskforce (UK), Celph Titled (US), LilAngryman (UK), OuterSpace (US), Sean Price (US), WWO (Poland) and Chopper Read among others.

Has featured on some of Australian hip hops most noted releases including LC's The Stage is Set, The Authentic LP, Boney & Stoney's Black Stump EP, Culture of Kings Volume 1, Bias B's Beezwax and Trem's Amateurs 12" to name a few.

Has featured in publications such as Stealth, Hip-Hop Connection (UK), Acclaim, The Age newspaper (album of the week), Out for Fame and countless other street press and website editorials.

Has performed 100+ shows to crowds all over Australia (Livid Festival, Big Day Out, toured nationally etc.) and the world including Austria and Hip Kemp 2006 in Czech Republic.

He sees his growth as a person through a timeline in his discography like a work in progress. Check below for details.

Discography

Jedker Realista Czas Na Prawde LP CD (Wielkie Miasto feat. HiJack, Popek (Firma), Brad Strut, Kaczy), Prosto (Poland) 2007

Celph Titled The Gatalog: Collection of Choas LP CD x4 (All Out War feat. LC, All Out War Remix feat. LC), Endless Recording Co 2006

Brad Strut Legendary: The Official Mixtape LP CD, Peruvian Gemz 2006 Features on tracks: Intro (06), The Mixtape, It's Official, C'mon Snipers, Never Ending Blue, Generation Vexed, Check The Stategy, What Gives??, Underground, Question, Short Souls, Carlton United Tragedy, Swear to God, The Demon Speaks, Wow, Gatheround, Pretty Thing, Timebomb, Gemstones

Lyrical Commission Murderous Metaphors EP CD/Vinyl, Unkut Recordings 2005 Features on tracks: Hells Basement (intro), F**k all the B.S., Check The Strategy, Murderous Metaphors (feat. Q-Unique), Sink Quick (+CD version w/ extra verse), F**k all the B.S (remix), All Out War (remix feat. Celph-Titled)

Various In Case You Didnt Know Compilation CD/Vinyl (The Demon Speaks by Brad Strut), Nuffsaid Records 2005

Phrase Talk With Force LP CD (Does She Like It feat. Brad Strut), Marlin Records/Universal 2005

DJ Numark Hands On Mixtape CD (A Good Thing Brad Strut feat. Lazy Grey & Bias B), Sequence Records (US) 2004

Various Straight From The Art 2 Compilation CD (Press Release by Lyrical Commission), Empirical/ Warner 2004

Terntable Jediz All Out War Compilation EP CD/Vinyl (All Out War feat. Lyrical Comission & Celph Titled), Unkut Recordings/Blue Corner Records 2004

J-Red Streets Ahead Mix CD (Press Release by Lyrical Commission), Crookneck 2003

Jolz Down Pressure LP CD/Vinyl (Forward feat. Taskforce, Brad Strut & Raph Boogie), Down Pressure 2003

Lyrical Commission The Stage Is Set LP CD/Vinyl, Unkut Recordings 2002 Features on tracks: Press Release (remix), Blood Red Skies, Carlton United Tragedy, Custom Made, Walkabout (remix), Sex Fiend, Hate the Scene, Press Release (original)

Various Obesecity Compilation LP CD/Vinyl (Machete Chopper Read feat. LC & Bias B), Obese Records 2002

Various Trojan Warrior Soundtrack CD (Chop Chop Chopper Read feat. LC & Bias B), Mushroom 2002

Beefeaters Can O Worms EP Vinyl (Walkabout feat. Brad Strut), SFDB Records (UK) 2002

Brad Strut The Authentic LP CD/Vinyl, Obese Records/Unkut Recordings 2001 Features on tracks: Love This, A Good Thing, Toowong, Every Now & Then, Ceremony Master (8 Bit Mix), Fly Away, Authentic, Demolition Derby, My Joint, Intro 01 (Hip Hop, Happiness, Health), Fly Away (Jase Remix)

Nuffsaid Beats From The Vaults Vol. 1 CD (My Joint by Brad Strut), Nuffsaid Records 2001

Various Stealth Magazine CD 2 (Intro by Brad Strut), 2001

Various Culture Of Kings Volume 1 CD/Vinyl (Lyrical Mongrels feat. LC & Cross Bred Mongrels), Obese Records 2000

Various The Formula PBS-FM Vol.1 Tape Only Release (Various Freestyles feat. Brad Strut), Wild Child Productions 1999

Boney & Stoney Black Stump EP Vinyl (States Of Mind feat. Brad Strut), Wild Child 1999

Trem Amateurs 12" Vinyl (Basic Fundamentals feat. Brad Strut), Unkut Recordings 1999

Various The 4 Element Effect Theory CD (Authentic by Brad Strut), Blitzkrieg 1998

Bias B Beezwax LP CD/Vinyl (Rainy Days feat. Brad Strut), Wild Child 1997

Unreleased Demos (Tape only)

The Diary Tapes Vol. 1-6 Brad Strut w/ Shazlek One & Guests, 1996-98

The Toowong Sessions Brad Strut w/ Towering Inferno (Lazy Grey & DJ Damage), 1996

Posse Track Faces Of Debt w/ Ransom, Mamas Funk, MC Que, DJ Cee & Brad Strut, 1993

Rock On Brad Strut, 1993