ONEFOUR Manager Ricky Simandjuntak Steps Down
Ricky Simandjuntak is stepping away from ONEFOUR, the controversial drill act that he guided from a project in Sydney’s Mount Druitt into one of the most popular hip-hop collectives to emerge from Australia.
Simandjuntak announces his decision on social media.
“After 5 years of working with one of Australia’s most iconic hip-hop acts, I’ve decided it’s time to finish up as manager of ONEFOUR,” he writes.
Taking stock of their achievements together, Simandjuntak notes that he’s “proud,” particularly “having faced so many obstacles.”
He continues, “It’s been a privilege to be a part of these young men’s lives as they’ve grown from teenagers into community leaders, providers for their families and opportunity creators, on top of being some of the most talented and accomplished artists to emerge from Western Sydney.”
Simandjuntak, founder of When Worlds Collide, has an enviable track record in hip-hop, which includes discovering Sampa the Great, developing The Kid Laroi, representing Becca Hatch, and discovering, developing, and managing ONEFOUR.
He’s the reigning recipient of the Patron’s Gift at the 2023 AAM Awards, held in Sydney.
Those obstacles Simandjuntak addresses are quite unlike any faced by a homegrown recording and touring act.
Comprised of Pacific Islander lads, ONEFOUR gained notoriety – and million of streams – with their own, sometimes brutal brand of drill.
The lyrics, and the individual members’ reputations, also caught the attention of New South Wales police, which deployed unorthodox tactics to shut them down at every conceivable turn.
Despite their bad rap with law enforcement, many hip-hop experts vouch for ONEFOUR as the country’s most culturally impactful rap group.
Unable to tour and perform live, and with several members incarcerated for a time, or ordered to stay away from each other, the ONEFOUR story grew. Stadiums await.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 16: (L-R) Spenny, Celly and Lekks of ONEFOUR attend the world premiere screening of “ONEFOUR: Against All Odds” at SXSW Sydney on October 16, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for SXSW Sydney)
Simandjuntak exits precisely at the moment when ONEFOUR surfaces into the glare of the mainstream spotlight.
The story of ONEFOUR and the NSW police force’s response with Strike Force Raptor is the subject of the documentary, ONEFOUR: Against All Odds, now available for streaming on the Netflix platform worldwide.
Simandjuntak was on hand to present the feature-length film for its world premiere last year at SXSW Sydney, along with the filmmakers, members of the group and others.
ONEFOUR scored an ARIA Award nomination in 2023 in the best hip-hop/rap category for “Comma’s” featuring featuring CG, eventually losing out to Genesis Owusu.
“Comma’s” couldn’t be defeated on YouTube’s end-of-year list, as its clip finished 2023 as the Top Australian Music Video, ahead of promos by Kylie Minogue, The Kid Laroi and others.
Two years ago, at the 2022 APRA Music Awards, ONEFOUR and their good friend and collaborator The Kid LAROI earned a nomination in the most performed hip-hop/rap category for on “My City.”
Later in the year, ONEFOUR is expected to open for Laroi’s The First Time stadium tour of Australia, which has been pushed back from February to October.
The group was in the headlines again last week, when two men were charged over an alleged murder plot to kill four members of the act. According to the ABC, ONEFOUR were not aware of the alleged murder plot before police informed them.
As he calls time on his five-year stint managing the notorious act, Simandjuntak remarks, “I’m particularly proud of helping to shape the new West Sydney identity, and bring attention to the immense talent of our young creative people.”
He pays thanks to his many supporters, adding “I feel really privileged to have worked alongside some insanely talented people. Managing a group like ONEFOUR would never have been possible without your contributions. I’ll save the thank you’s for when we get to speak in person.”