The Funkoars are one of the only local bands I know of at the moment to have garnered such a cult following. Since their inception back in 2003, the four MCs have been throwing down some hilarious rhymes and beats all around the place, garnering them a solid reputation as both a live act and as decent producers. Their latest offering, The Quickening, follows the same wit that The Funkoars have become well-associated with, but delivers an album full of punch, fifteen tracks strong.
Production-wise, The Quickening highlights the actual level of talent these four guys have going between them; It’s All Good (Is Very Good) and D Letter, both produced by Trials, are slick as and the pace of the rapping is just as good. Law And Order samples Jay-Z’s 99 Problems and couples it with some abrasive guitar and percussion, while Sesta and Hons throw out some equally as uncompromising lyrics defying authority.
I Got This (I Got That) is a badass track that is filled with all the cusses and satirical commentary a hip-hop lover could want. There are signs that this track and Being Vincent D’Onofrio in particular would go down especially well amongst a festival crowd, with catchy lines littered throughout. The featured artists on The Quickening are also great to take note of as well, as they really bolster the matured and sharpened tone of the record as a whole. With appearances by label-mates Vents, Ad-Fu and of course, label founders and Australian hip-hop maestros Hilltop Hoods, the MCs behind The Funkoars have really done well in showing off not only their talent, but that of our up-and-coming artists.
The Quickening has proven two things. The first is that Australian hip-hop artists aren’t narrow minded in terms of how they craft their music. The Funkoars are testament to this, as they have shown, on many occasions, to incorporate different influences into their hardcore hip-hop sounds, which appeal to both the cult followers and people only just dipping their feet in the water.
Second thing? This is a record which proves that, while a rap artist can gain notoriety for immature and situation-specific rhymes (something that can also kill a career), this is a group of producers who started off this way but cleverly honed their style into a sharp-witted and satirical commentary, blended with that same original humour which has made The Funkoars the compelling live act they are now. Forget Bliss N Eso, I’d put money on these guys to start the take over, even if this is album number five.
WORDS BY: Sose Fuamoli
