DJ Nino Brown, Arona Mane, Lil Spacely and Kobi Spice link up for Wanna Act Like

Collaboration is a big part of what makes hip-hop what it is, way back from day-dot - where artists would often battle off in battles and team up in the process - to day, where many artists - Kanye West the most obvious - strive of their collaborational natures; large-scale, big-release records often thick with high-tier collaboration both within and outside of the hip-hop genre. It's something crossing into Australia too, with the next generation of rappers often bouncing ideas of each other to create brilliant works of art amongst career-bests, such as Manu Crooks and his ONEFOUR-featuring latest as a recent example.

Premiering today on Pilerats ahead of its full release later this week, Wanna Act Like is a new single from a combination of Australian hip-hop's brightest and most forward-thinking musicians. On the production, there's DJ Nino Brown (whose name often litters hip-hop lineups as one of the country's most in-demand R&B and rap DJs) and Arona Mane, someone who has come a long, long way since we last met, and is constantly at the cusp of creative 'future-funk'. Then, we have Lil Spacely and Kobi Spice jumping on vocals, two rappers that exemplify Australia's rising rap prowess and the sheer talent held within.

The end result, is a single that bursts out from the get-go and doesn't quite ease up until it finishes almost three-minutes later. Held down by a clanging beat that somehow feels both forward-thinking to present-day's Drill-inspired sound and nostalgic for hip-hop's early, funk-incorporated days, Lil Spacely and Kobi Spice showcase exactly why they're forces to watch in the growing hip-hop world locally, each bringing their signature styles together in a way that makes them blend and fall perfectly into place without losing their individual charms - evidence of a real close-knit partnership that hopefully, in future years, reunites again.

"This was my first time spitting on a drill style beat and I love how it made me switch my flow up to suit. It's so dope to be on a track with Lil Spacely, & I'm super happy to be able to work on a track with Arona Mane & DJ Nino Brown, who's been a long-time supporter of my music," says Kobi on the track, before Lil Spacely continues: "Another great song to work on with Nino Brown to follow up our club single Flex earlier this year, awesome to work on a song with legendary producer Aroma Mane, Nino Brown and Melbourne artist Kobi Spice who slayed her verse."

Dive into the track below: