Remi & Sensible J Talk Collab With Sampa, Normalising Controversy & Bluesfest

Isn’t it incredible that without even noticing it, your reception and critique of music evolves without your consent? Perhaps you’ve grown up with it, perhaps you’ve grown out of it. The music world is so rapidly evolving and developing in its platforms, exploits and presentation that by the time your fingers update your status it’s no longer #trending.

So how does one understand it? Better yet, how does one get ahead of it? Creating innovative and unique music in such a rapidly diversifying (and incredibly competitive) culture has proudly seen new avenues created, exceptional cross-genre collaborations and a quality of taste-makers Australian hip hop now defines itself by.

Enter House Of Beige. Unless you live in an early 90s gangsta rap incubator (which I wouldn’t judge you for, I’d just have some questions...) you’ll know that artists Remi and Sensible J have been an un-fuckwithable backbone in defining Australian rap culture. Their heritage, multicultural influence, unapologetic content and sheer musical-charisma render them some of the most forward thinking icons in Australian music. The announcement this week that Remi and J are hitting the road with HOB friend and featured artist Sampa The Great affords you an opportunity to experience just why House Of Beige are Melbourne’s response to Andre 3000. I managed to catch Sensible J on his way to rehearsal before their massive appearance at this year’s Bluesfest and asked how the 'Fire Sign' Tour came about.

"Man it’s been a long time coming," answered J. "We saw Sampa, her sister and a friend in the front row at a show touring with Hiatus Kaiyote in 2014. We had stayed in touch and 9 months later when I sent her a mixtape I was working on, we got to see her play an in-store show at Northside Records. She was instantly fam to us, a long lost sister we never had."

In the event you haven’t been following Sampa, she herself has been absolutely tireless in her recent exploits. Appearances in Michelle Grace Hunder’s Her Sound Her Story and recently in Mushroom Group’s Voice For Change, we’ve been given a backstage pass to Sampa's history and experience in navigating the hip hop scene. Again I’m reminded just how hard these artists grind. "The 'Fire Sign' tour is mainly weekends, so we don’t have to put our life on hold, life comes on the road with us," he laughs.

Remi and J have been on tours with an incredibly impressive line-up of artists in the past. From Hiatus Kaiyote, Blackalicious, Joey Badass, L-FRESH The LION and Seth Sentry, but most impressively, ever since Remi crashed onto our scene with Raw X Infinity the duo have been selling out their own headline shows. They’re interactive, the show is high energy and inexplicably inclusive...

"We’re always looking at our live show, studying the acts that I love and respect. How they can for example share a down moment with their audience, and make the higher moment that much greater. While we couldn’t bring our whole live band on the 'Fire Sign' tour, we definitely have sections in there you won’t have seen before including some new tracks with Sampa."

I asked J about being on the same line-up as hip hop godfather Nas. Are you bringing an A-game for that I’ll personally resent you for as I can’t make it? He laughs. "Man we’re taking a six-piece band. I couldn’t rock up to Blues & Roots with my laptop and a drum kit! I’m on bass guitar, Leigh Fisher on the drums, Silent J on the keys, a talented guitarist by the name of Bradley Green and the dope percussionist Nui Moon (Cool Out Sun and Public Opinion Afro Orchestra)."

Yep, as I thought I will resent you for that. Talk about an all-star line-up!

I didn’t want to bring J down but after the release of the duo’s latest clip I thought I would ask about the band's dirty stuff. The thought-provoking honesty the act represents in their addressing of “controversial” issues (I use quotation marks there for you soft-hearted folk in fear of normalising an everyday conversation) such as racism, misogyny or in this case, drug use.

“I don’t think it was a conscious decision. It’s honestly what we talk about in our everyday conversations with our friends and social group. For me, hip hop is about people’s stories so I think it naturally comes out in our music. I applaud Remi for being able to unapologetically address topics like drug abuse, racism or inequality. I don’t want to speak for him, he’s just telling you his experiences and you can’t fault someone on something they’ve experienced.”

What I’ve been tracing out in previous pRhymetime pieces however, is that people (unjustly) will fault others experiences... Just like the next white male I’m trying to learn about the privilege we have and address the ‘bubble’ I/we live in. One thing I know about bubbles is that they burst, so understanding it can either expand the bubble or pop it, either way, it’s a step towards creating an even playing field.

“Man, I know that I’m in a position of privilege number one for being born in Australia and number two for being a male. I’m aware of that because I see the struggles of those around me. How hard it can be for them to have a safe space to perform their art or music... I’m just trying to push something that’s genuine and people can authentically relate to..."

At this point an enthusiastic Remi bounds into the conversation as (I assume) he’s jumped in the car... “Ey yo Antixx we gotta do this man, we gotta bounce out to rehearsal man!” They both laugh. “Man, I’m just trying to lead by example," J says. "My parents came out here in ‘75 from South Africa and now I meet kids saying they’re from the same area I’m from or their parents are from overseas and they’re now inspired to make their own music – that’s my favourite thing to hear, it makes my heart warm bro."

While I knew I was holding some incredibly talented people up from rehearsing for an incredibly important performance I had to ask Remi about the upcoming shows.

"For Bluesfest we’re doing a live band for the first time. We’ve wanted to do it since J and I first started kickin’ it. It’s a beautiful thing man, we’re gonna make sure that shit is poppin’ and as good as it can be. The tour with Sampa though? We got a few songs dropping, we got Australia’s best MC and myself going back to back all across the country. We’re trying to create a vibe that hasn’t been seen out here before. We’re really trying to create something special that lives in the mind of people for as long as they can remember."

Remi and Sensible J drop me a little secret that the two have a new single coming out with Sampa that the tour's actually named after: Fire Sign. I asked them if there’s anything that Remi and House of Beige had any limits or ‘no-go’ areas they wouldn’t address to which Remi replies, “Man only thing I won’t talk about is shit outside of my personal experience. We just here to be ourselves, I think I’ve been quite vocal about my opinions and experiences. We just tryin to do us bro...

A damn fine response from the MC. I love that the rapper dances between arrogance and confidence. Argues bravado with matter-of-fact skill and is grateful for my time. The name may be beige, but I assure you there’s far more to the house...