Briggs enlists Archie Roach, Paul Kelly for new video
Melbourne rapper Briggs is bringing indigenous hip hop further into the mainstream with his latest video for The Children Came Back.
The clip, a sequel of sorts to Archie Roach’s now 25-year-old song They Took The Children Away, features Roach, Paul Kelly and 3-year-old Samara Muir who made prime time mainstream TV following her experience of racism by children her own age.
The track began as a collaboration for triple j’s Like A Version between Briggs and Skinnyfish Music signings Gurrumul, Dewayne Everettsmith and B2M. The artists rearranged and recorded the track with producers James Mangohig and Michael Hohnen.
Briggs told TMN that while the track references PM Tony Abbott, his hope for its release is all encompassing: “The song and video is for anyone who wants to enjoy it. It will grow organically and be what it is meant to be to whoever it reaches. If it crosses the desk of the PM I can only hope he has great taste.”
Archie Roach AM said in a statement today: “I love Briggs’ song. It's about our Indigenous heroes. Using a part of my song, where it says 'the children came back' is really what the song is about. I feel proud to be a part of what Briggs hopes to achieve and I really love that he used young children to play the heroes because they are our future heroes.”
Briggs released sophomore LP Sheplife through Hilltop Hoods’ label Golden Era in August last year. It peaked at #16 on the ARIA chart.
The release of the video today coincides with NAIDOC Week. Reconciliation Australia is this year celebratingthe history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with the theme: 'We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate.’