''Reclaim Australia'' is the debut studio album from Australian hip hop duo A.B. Original, released on 28 November 2016 through

Golden Era Records Golden Era Records is a record label that specializes in Australian hip hop music and is based in Stirling, South Australia, Australia. The label was founded in 2008 by South Australian hip hop trio Hilltop Hoods. History 2009–2011: ''State Of ...

. The title refers to the

far-right Far-right politics, also referred to as the extreme right or right-wing extremism, are political beliefs and actions further to the right of the left–right political spectrum than the standard political right, particularly in terms of being ...

Australian political party of the same name, and the album covers issues themes including

police brutality Police brutality is the excessive and unwarranted use of force by law enforcement against an individual or a group. It is an extreme form of police misconduct and is a civil rights violation. Police brutality includes, but is not limited to, ...

, Indigenous deaths in custody and

Australia Day Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and raising of the Union Flag by Arthur Phillip following days of exploration of Port Ja ...

. ''Reclaim Australia'' peaked at number 10 on the

ARIA Albums Chart The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...

and won various awards, including the

Australian Music Prize The Australian Music Prize (often shortened to the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The award was made by Australian Music Pri ...

, Australian Album of the Year at the 2016 J Awards, and both Best Independent Album or EP and Best Independent Hip Hop Album at the 2017 AIR Independent Music Awards.

Critical reception

Ariana Norton from Beat Magazine said "Simmering with anger and set to classic '80s hip hop beats, ''Reclaim Australia'' is immediately reminiscent of

N.W.A N.W.A (an abbreviation for Niggaz Wit Attitudes) was an American hip hop group whose members were among the earliest and most significant popularizers and controversial figures of the gangsta rap subgenre, and the group is widely considered ...

in its unapologetic approach to the injustices still faced by

Aboriginal Australians Aboriginal Australians are the various Indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and many of its islands, such as Tasmania, Fraser Island, Hinchinbrook Island, the Tiwi Islands, and Groote Eylandt, but excluding the Torres Strait Islands ...

. The album includes excerpts of speeches made about 'breeding out' Aboriginal people, as well as an introduction by

Archie Roach Archibald William Roach (8 January 1956 – 30 July 2022) was an Australian singer, songwriter and Aboriginal Australian, Aboriginal activist. Often referred to as "Uncle Archie", Roach was a Gunditjmara and Western Bundjalung people, Bundjalu ...

, who remembers protesting for land rights in the '70s... There's a deep pain and anguish that underlies ''Reclaim Australia''s ferocity. Briggs and Trials demand that we sit up, take notice and take action. Bernard Zuel from

Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper i ...

said "''Reclaim Australia'' is the most forthright, engaged and wholly committed political musical statement made here in a long time." adding "You will find yourself saying hell yeah this is appalling, still; shouting at the radio/stereo/phone in unison with Briggs and Trials; and declaring I'm seriously bloody angry". David James Young from Music Feeds called the album a "successful experiment" saying "It's playful, but never to the point of losing sight of the message. It's forthright and unapologetic about the issues it discusses, but neither Briggs nor Rankine are ever in a position to let a punchline or sarcastic quip slip through their fingers." Sosefina Fuamoli from The AU Review called the album "a masterclass" saying "What's great about A.B Original and ''Reclaim Australia'' is that their approach leaves no stone unturned; this isn't rap music doled out for its pure shock factor. This is music that channels the anger and pain of people who have long been stood over and have been demeaned and dehumanised for generations. It might be hard to listen to, but that's the point. Where the majority of listeners (myself included) have had the opportunity to turn a blind eye and turn the volume down, this album is an insight into the lives of those who have been stripped of that choice."

Track listing

Personnel

A.B. Original * Briggs – writing, vocals *

Trials In law, a trial is a coming together of parties to a dispute, to present information (in the form of evidence) in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to adjudicate claims or disputes. One form of tribunal is a court. The tribunal, w ...

– vocals , production Other musicians *

– writing, vocals * Daniel Rankine – writing * Darren Reutens – writing, production *

Guilty Simpson Byron Dwayne “Guilty” Simpson is an American rapper and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan whose recording career spans more than 20 years. He is signed to Stones Throw Records, and is known for being one of the late producer J Dilla’s favo ...

– writing, vocals *

Caiti Baker Caiti Baker is an Australians, Australian Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Harmony Arranger, Vocal Engineer, Music Workshop Facilitator, Mentor. Early life Baker's home is Darwin on stunning Larrakia land in the Northern Territory. Caiti's father, ...

– writing, vocals * SmokeyGotBeatz – writing, production *

Dan Sultan Daniel Leo Sultan (born 1983) is an Australian alternative rock singer-songwriter and guitarist, actor and author. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2010 he won ARIA Award for Best Male Artist, Best Male Artist and ARIA Award for Best Blues and Root ...

– writing, vocals * Rodney-O – vocals *

Hau Latukefu Langomi-e-Hau Latukefu (born 1976), better known as Hau Latukefu, or sometimes MC Hau or simply Hau, is an Australian hip hop musician and radio host. He is best known as half of the duo Koolism (with Danielsan) and as the host of Triple J's hi ...

– writing, vocals * Michael Hohnen – writing * James Mangohig – writing, production *

King T Roger McBride (born December 14, 1968), better known by his stage name King T (formerly known as King Tee), is an American West Coast Hip hop rapper from Compton, California. Emerging as one of Compton's earliest hip hop artists, he was signed ...

– writing, vocals * Jacob Turier – writing * Jayteehazard – production *

Thelma Plum Thelma Amelina Plumbe (born 21 December 1994), known professionally as Thelma Plum, is an Aboriginal Australian singer, songwriter, guitarist and musician from Delungra, New South Wales. Her father is renowned lore-man Paul Winanga-li Gii Spear ...

– writing, vocals * M. Bryant – writing * Rob Conely – writing, production *

Gurrumul Yunupingu Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (22 January 1971 – 25 July 2017), commonly known as Gurrumul and also referred to since his death as Dr G. Yunupingu, was an Aboriginal Australian musician of the Yolŋu peoples. A multi-instrumentalist, he played ...

– writing, vocals

Charts

Release history

References

{{Authority control 2016 debut albums A.B. Original albums Golden Era Records albums