Hilltop Hoods

History

The group formed in 1991 when MCs Suffa and Pressure met at Blackwood High School. They joined up with DJ Debris through a mutual friend and formed the basis for the group. Early on in the history of the Hilltop Hoods DJ Next did all of the scratches and regularly competed in the local DMC tournaments. In the late 1990's DJ Next chose to pursue a different career path after the release of A Matter of Time and moved to Sydney. DJ Debris who was previously producer became the main DJ. DJ Next remains in contact with the Hilltop Hoods.

Influences include American hip hop artists such as KRS-One, Gang Starr and Public Enemy, although the Hilltop Hoods rap with their native Australian accents.

Their name comes from a suburb in south-eastern Adelaide known by the local youth as the Hilltop, where Suffa and Pressure were raised. The name "Hilltop Hoods" was suggested by local rapper, Flak, of the Cross Bred Mongrels in a Coles carpark.

Recordings and Collaborations

The Hilltop Hoods have released five successful recordings - Back Once Again (EP - 1997), A Matter of Time (LP - 1999), Left Foot, Right Foot (LP - 2001), The Calling (LP - 2003) and The Hard Road (LP - 2006). Aside from their own instalments, the Hilltop Hoods have featured on a number of compilation albums, including Obesecity and Culture of Kings Vol. 1 & 2, and have collaborated with Australian hip hop scene musicians including Koolism, Mass MC, Pegz, Muphin, Layla, Hyjak and DJ Bonez.

The group released their fourth album The Hard Road on April 1st in 2006 which features the single Clown Prince and guest verses from New York rapper Omni and British MC's Mystro and Braintax. The album debuted at number one on the ARIA charts, and was the first Australian hip hop album to do so. The track The Blue Blooded is a collaboration of Australian MC's featuring the Funkoars, Hau from Koolism, Mortar, Vents, Drapht, Muphin, Pegz and Robby Balboa.

On the 27th of April the Hilltop Hoods performed at the Bass in the Grass music festival in Darwin alongside fellow hip hop group, The Herd. This was also the day in which the Hilltop Hoods released their second single from their new album The Hard Road. The videoclip features members from the Certified Wise crew, of which the Hilltop Hoods are members.

In 2006 a green vinyl version of their 1997 EP, Back Once Again, sold for $950 on eBay, a first for any Australian hip hop act.[citation needed]

Following the success of The Hard Road tour in early 2006, the Hilltop Hoods have begun their second national tour for 2006 called The Stopping All Stations tour which will travel to more regional areas as well as the capital cities. Their support acts are Koolism & UK MC Mystro.

In late 2006, the Hilltop Hoods released their third single from "The Hard Road" the track "What a Great Night" the videoclip for the song shows the group at a club with camera shots panning up and down to reveal a new location. It used advanced special effects and is of the most expensive videoclips for an Australian hip hop group, mirroring the group rise in success and popularity.

They performed the Homebake Festival in late 2006.

On May 12 2007, the Hoods will be releasing their new album 'The Hard Road Restrung' which will be a remix of their previous album The Hard Road featuring the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Okwerdz. It will also include a unheard bonus track.