Album Review: Allday - Startup Cult

Don't let the lackadaisical, chilled-out style of Adelaide rapper Allday fool you. The lyricist means business on his debut album, creating something that sounds as carefully thought out as it does spontaneous.

"One of the most refreshing debut Aussie hip hop releases, period."

“I can literally rap forever” Allday tells us on slick opener Got It, which kicks off this contrasting album filled with stories of his childhood and teenage years, chasing his dreams and, um, “chasing pussy”. Yep, the North American rap influences are heavy on Allday's Startup Cult, despite what his Aussie accent may tell you. Several moments on the record give you the hint the rapper is a fan of melancholy king Drake – particularly on the double entendre style of Fuckin and current single Right Now. And like the Canadian hip hop star, Allday can also hold a decent tune.

But this is not a rip-off record by any means. Where Allday differs from the other rappers of the world is in the humour and quirkiness laced throughout his work. On Wolves, he rhymes about everything from UFOs to Zooey Deschanel and admits he was drunk while he wrote Anything But Sober. You get the impression Allday doesn't take himself too seriously, but views his work in a different light. Other highlights include God Starve The Queen and Wasting Time, but it's hard to pick standouts when, overall, the album is pretty damn good.

Startup Cult is one of the most refreshing debut Aussie hip hop releases, period.