Like A Diamond

The self-identifying Indigenous Australian MC has just dropped his second album, aptly entitled Bryte Side Of Life, which he's cheerfully promoting during a get-together. “I'm actually cooking a barbecue at the moment,” Lloyd laughs down the line. “I just got married, by the way. We're having a barbecue 'cause of my Missus' birthday.”

Born to a mother with cerebral palsy and paranoid schizophrenia, Lloyd was fostered as a baby – to white parents. The confused youth, 

got into graffiti and embraced hip hop, which offered him solace and a source of empowerment. Initially, he listened to US acts like A Tribe Called Quest and activist MC Immortal Technique. Then Lloyd, now rapping himself, discovered a wealth of homegrown practitioners, rattling off Hilltop Hoods, Bias B and Lazy Grey. “I was one of those cats who got into American hip hop first and then, when I heard Aussie-style, I was like, Oh, sweet. It gave me more confidence to use my own accent – 'cause I used to rap with an American accent when I was real young.” To this day, he's almost exclusively influenced by his peers. In 2007 Lloyd decided to move from Brisbane to Perth to pursue music. “I was hanging with some good friends, but also some less than reputable characters,” he says drolly. 

“We were doing what graffiti artists and rappers do – kinda hanging out and we were drinking a lot and we smoked a bit of weed, too. But I was in this tight circle, this repetitious kinda thing, where I wanted to try to get out of it and get serious about my music career.” His sister invited him to stay with her in Perth. Here, a determined Lloyd enrolled in Abmusic College, studying music business – and learning the drums. He's since worked with other young people. In 2009 Lloyd's debut, Full Stop, surfaced, the MC having hooked up with Downsyde member (and Hilltop Hoods beatmaker) Dazastah. Full Stop was autobiographical – and political. With his follow-up, Lloyd aimed for something more rounded lyrically. “The biggest thing that I learned from Full Stop is you don't have to take life so seriously all the time.” Bryte... is more upbeat. “There's a few quirky tracks on that album,” Lloyd laughs, referring to Chainsaw Dick, a clownish posse-cut with Chekid and Cortext – and not dissimilar to D12 or Odd Future. Not that Lloyd has left behind conscious fare. The post-GFC World On Strike is especially salient. Lloyd has reunited with Dazastah, who brings a trad boom-bap feel to tracks like the title-track (and lead single). Memory has a metallic edge.

However, Lloyd has already ignited controversy with the OTT cartoon violence of Chainsaw Dick as well as the blunt Big Bitches, an ode to bootylicious women that disses their skinny counterparts. It might be argued that such songs undermine Lloyd's social justice platform – but just possibly he'll reach new ears. Ironically, Chainsaw began randomly, Lloyd & Co fooling around in the studio. “I was really kind of stand-offish about putting it on the album at first, but I just thought, Nah, let's go for it – let's do it. You only live once.” It's comic relief. Lloyd is taken aback that some should construe his raps as misogynist. “I do know I love women – I totally love women.” He stands by his songs – it's his album and he's “happy” with it. “Like or loathe it, it's Bryte MC nonetheless!,” Lloyd says.

Together with Briggs, Lloyd is repping an Indigenous voice in Australian hip hop, challenging the confines of the old 'skip hop'. At the same time, Australian MCs – Seth Sentry, 360, Iggy Azalea – are enjoying unprecedented attention in the US. Lloyd, too, hopes to someday perform shows Stateside. Next he'll tour Australia nationally behind Bryte... “Unfortunately, I can't let any information out at the moment,” he teases. “I wish I could. All you need to know is that it's this year!”