Using More Than His Voice To Call For Change

There are successful comedians who have become cred MCs, like Childish Gambino. Or semi-successful comedians who have become cred MCs, like Allday — 2011's RAW Comedy runner-up. And then there's the successful MC Adam Briggs, who has now joined the ABC's sketch show Black Comedy as a writer and actor. Not that Briggs is impressed with the mention of that indie kid Allday. "He's a failed rapper, too!" Briggs disses. Ouch.

Briggs, a Yorta Yorta man from Shepparton, Victoria, is Australia's first Indigenous solo rap superstar — even profiled by the UK's NME. The MC has issued two albums via the Hilltop Hoods' Golden Era Records — the last, 2014's acclaimed Sheplife, featuring Gurrumul on The Hunt. Technically, Black Comedy isn't Briggs' inaugural acting gig. He appears in the upcoming Cleverman (which the ABC's Richard Finlayson recently told the Sydney Morning Herald was akin to "District 9 meets the Dreaming").

"It's another avenue for me to express another different part of my personality — whereas before I only had music, now I've got a whole other platform to speak my mind."

For Black Comedy, now in its second season, Briggs has been working alongside the likes of writer/actor Steven Oliver and guest star Deborah Mailman. "I wasn't really keen on acting," Briggs admits. "I really enjoyed writing and writing jokes and all that stuff. There was a call-out online for people to be part of the workshop. I was part of the workshop for a day or two. I shared some of my ideas with the producers and they were really keen and [so] I started writing jokes for it." Briggs recognises the creative value of his venturing into comedy. "It's another avenue for me to express another different part of my personality — whereas before I only had music, now I've got a whole other platform to speak my mind," he says. "I don't have to try to remind people that I've got a sense of humour in my tunes all the time any more, because I've got it with Black Comedy. But my music has always had a very humorous approach. Even on serious topics there's always been some tongue-in-cheek moments." Briggs' tweets, too, are often sardonically funny.

Black Comedy is touted as "a sketch comedy show by blackfellas. For everyone." It subversively — and incisively — explores themes of identity, racism and cultural interaction. The program's return has coincided with the shocking circulation online of photos depicting two Ballarat partygoers in blackface — which Briggs himself has condemned as racist. Indeed, he's emerged as an important voice in both the Indigenous community and youth culture. Briggs previously penned a compelling response to the Adam Goodes booing controversy for the SMH. Today he stresses the cultural significance of Black Comedy. "I think it's important just to have a black presence on television — and in all facets of the industry," he observes. "If we're gonna see change, or if we're going to initiate change, there has to be a presence. This is part of that — it's a big part of that."

Briggs is plotting new music. He's recording a collab album with the Funkoars' Trials. He's also launched Bad Apples Music to foster Indigenous talent. And other top-secret stuff is happening… Briggs has networked in Los Angeles where, intriguingly, he met Josh Weinstein, former showrunner of The Simpsons ("one of my comedy-writing heroes"). Briggs is ambitious — but discerningly so. "I'm trying to create a legacy that I can be proud of, so my goals aren't necessarily this and that."