A.B. Original score AMP’s first Indigenous win

When Reclaim Australia by Victorian Indigenous hip hop act A.B. Original was last night announced as the recipient of the 2016 Australian Music Prize, the duo accepted the win with humility.

Rapper Briggs, who formed the duo with producer Trials, called the PPCA-sponsored $30,000 win for creative accomplishment a “reflection of all the artists that came before us, who allowed us to be able to walk up tonight and win this”.

He reeled off such names as Archie Roach, Kutcha Edwards and Ruby Hunter, who shaped Victoria’s outspoken socially conscious Indigenous music scene.

“All these artists paved the way for artists like us to be able to achieve this. It’s because of them, they made the foundation. So I think that’s what us walking up tonight and accepting this thing is going to be about.”

While they held up a giant cheque, Briggs quipped, “Trials and I are from two different communities. My old man is here tonight. He’s never been to a show.”

Briggs, a Yorta Yorta man, and Trials, from the Ngarrindjeri tribe, came together in January 2015 after invited to perform at triple j’s 40-year anniversary celebration Beat The Drum.

Reclaim Australia, their debut album, included contributions from Roach, Thelma Plum and Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, and went on to become a Top 10 hit when released last spring.

Its lead-off single January 26 was a demand for the date of Australia Day to be moved, complete with a Hottest 100 campaign to make the point as strongly as possible on the day itself. The song reached number 16 on the countdown.

The duo explained, “When we made this album – we thought it was career suicide. For us to be afforded this platform with so many listeners is not lost on us. We went all out because we thought it was the last one we’d make. All of this support is igniting us to do another one! We are very grateful.”

“’Reclaim Australia’ is more than just a great Australian album, it’s a cultural landmark,” said Dave Faulkner, Chair of the 16-strong judging panel of artists, retailers and media.

“It’s an angry, funny, heartfelt, slamming hip hop album that takes its inspiration from ’90s gangsta rap, and filters it through a modern Aboriginal perspective.

“It hits hard politically, musically and emotionally and the stories A.B. Original are telling are ones we all need to hear right now.”

After eleven years in Sydney, the AMP announcement moved this year to Melbourne, as all the acts on the shortlist are based in Victoria.

The shortlist – whittled down from a record 364 entries – included The Avalanches’ Wildflower, Big Scary’s Animal, Camp Cope’s Camp Cope, D.D Dumbo’s Utopia Defeated, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s Nonagon Infinity, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ Skeleton Tree, Olympia’s Self Talk and The Peep Tempel’s Joy.

The AMP ceremony was held at the Toff In Town, in the heart of the city on Swanston Street, and open to the public.

PPCA CEO Dan Rosen and Deborah Conway hosted the event while Rat & Co, Ali Barter and Kingswood performed.

Previous AMP winners:

2015 – Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit by Courtney Barnett

2014 – Raw X Infinity by REMI

2013 – Not Art by Big Scary

2012 – Hyperparadise by Hermitude

2011 – Prisoner by The Jezabels

2010 – Bliss Release by Cloud Control

2009 – Wonder by Lisa Mitchell

2008 – Primary Colours by Eddy Current Suppression Ring

2007 – Devil’s Elbow by The Mess Hall

2006 – Moo, You Bloody Choir by Augie March

2005 – Wait Long By The River and the Bodies Of Your Enemies Will Float By by The Drones