Feeds: Def-Wish-Cast
DEF WISH CAST
Def Wish Cast are like the abusive father of Australian hip hop. Not always around, often drunk, and their seed is widespread. Despite that, deep down, you always love them. These pioneers from Penrith know what makes Australian hip hop so permanently potent.
“I suppose where you’re from, the accent, relating it to your neighborhood, speaking to people who are close to you, and the sound as well. Everywhere has its own sound, you know. Sydney has a certain sound, a diverse sound that stretches from the city to suburbs and changes a lot.”
Sounds may differ from state to state, Tasmania just sounds like cousins in love, but no matter how much variety there is, its important to remember your roots. Australian hip hop is tied up with a fierce pride, sometimes trying to dissociate itself from the bling bling of American gangster rap but still acknowledging where it all began.
“I think hip hop is about freedom for everyone to talk. They talk about their issues, and while we’re obviously concerned with our own culture, America will always be a massive influence, that’s where it started. People who think ‘I don’t listen to American crap, I listen to Aussie hip hop’ — that’s pretty bad, it’s a bit closed-minded. Through American hip hop I learnt about the black culture, then jazz and blues, I didn’t have a clue before that. I was raised in the suburbs where rock music was prominent.”
It’s trendy to push the boundaries — Michael Jackson did it with masculinity. But as with MJ and Larry Emdur, less is sometimes more. Hip hop has rules, Def Wish Cast operate within that framework, and have created some of the most influential Australian hip hop. Now some new acts are forgetting the basics.
“People say ‘oh you know hip hop is anything’ but its not. Hip hop has fundamentals and people got to respect that. People who don’t probably just fear it. The fundamentals are with the B boys and DJs and Emcees, and graffiti writers, it’s about finding a place where you can communicate.”
Communication can be an issue today, with older generations thinking hip hop is a nasty affliction resulting in aching joints.
“You tell people you’re into rap and they say oh so you’re a DJ, or your into Snoop Doggy Dog. The other day a guy asked me if I was into New Kids on the Block, like what the hell?”
But the real problem isn’t with the painfully ignorant middle-aged, but the obnoxious bedroom dreamers, with grand plans built on stilts.
“That’s the change in hip hop. Nowadays it has become this personal multimedia thing where people can make a hit in their bedroom. Everyone is going to a formula, which can lead you into a hole. I hear a lot of people saying, ‘when am I going to break out, when is it going to happen for me’ and that’s bad, man, that’s the commercialism of it. That’s showing what they really want it for, money and stardom and fame. We just don’t have that, we have eternity in our head.”
Although elder statesmen of the Hip Hop scene, Def Wish Cast are still in touch with the new breed of artists, stepping up to the hip hop mantle.
“Hermitude are one of my most favorite groups. I adore them and all the other guys, Horrorshow, Urthboy, Bliss n Eso, I know them well, and they’re all nice guys.”
In a world where a major record deal often means leaving your cred at the door, for the first time the ball seems to be in the court of independent labels and artists.
“I definitely believe so. Hip hop is much closer to the ear of the street as well, people are saying the right stuff and people are listening.”
Smaller labels are hitting high notes with different artists, not relying on one song from one band to pass one year.
“For sure. Don’t forget there has been an industry that has always been about pop and rock music, whereas hip hop had to learn how to make its own records, set up its own distribution labels, its evolved. That’s what hip hop is, an evolving culture, it’s like a parasite, feeding off everything around itself and making it better.”
Def Wish Cast hope to get parasitical and infect us all with their new collaboration, teaming up with punk rockers Toe To Toe, in a musical orgy set to blow all our minds.
“We’re in the studio, its magic what we are coming up with, absolutely amazing. That’ll be dropping early next year, it’ll be a very first. I’m telling you, no one has done it like this.”
Def Wish Casts’ new CD will be surfacing in 2009, but for now check them out at http://www.myspace.com/defwishcast and at Hermans bar on 14th December.
Photo By Jim Skouras
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AW says
Based on the music video I saw of Def Wish Cast looking like a manufactured boy hop group on Video Hits, I thought the article was extremely flattering.
If they can’t handle that tiny bit of criticism (when they deserved a lot more), how have they survived in the industry at all?
jimmywhistlebritches says
Oh no isn’t everybody the spawn of abusive parents these days, get over it!! The fact that Feeds even bothered to print anything about Def Wish Cast is worthy of appreciation. You guys should realise, especially with the current state of aussie hip hop, that any attention is a blessing. Two bit ‘crews’ from the suburbs are a dime a dozen. I should know, I used to be in one. Do you think front runners like “The Herd” and “Bliss n Eso” etc received nothing but praise in the beginning? Of course they didn’t. I agree with Maztank by saying that many people not into hip hop would quickly pass over the article without something to grab their attention. Don’t hate, appreciate.
The Real Gnarls Barckly says
Everyone sucks, I rule!
englishgentleman says
Hahaha there are so many idiots on this forum. hilarious. particularly the one below! what a douche.
davo says
FUCKn BITCHS. DEFWISH 4 LYF STOOPID JOURNO CNT RITE SHIT. DEFWISH DONT DESRV DAT SHIT FRM NO1
Dr. Jesus H. Sanchez says
everyone’s an idiot…everyone’s right…everyone’s wrong…everyone’s music is crap…everyone’s taste is rubbish…everyone’s perception is perfect…everyone’s opinion doesn’t matter…everyone’s band is the greatest ever sound ever ever…everyone’s important…everyone’s really smart sounding for using curse words…everyone’s less intelligent than they think…everyone’s completely insignifigant…everyone’s going to change the balance of all matter and energy in the universe…everyone’s a target…everyone’s the bow and arrow…everyone’s annoyed at what other people say about them…everyone doesn’t care
myself included
JHS
x
ilooklikeangelinajolie says
i think Thomas Mitchell is a bright young talent. i cannot wait for his next article
kerouac says
kaiserwillhelm, my mother was an adulterous saudi arabian woman and i have previously choked on hefty loads of semen from burly men. i take great offence to these statements.
Steve22 says
Cmon guys, DefWish are cool, everything is OK. As an article it is very flattering, and clearly the writer is not out to create ill-will. Though it makes me wonnder why DefWishCast chose to use this forum as a place to vent their anger…..
Polly says
Good response my arse. You’re a bunch of wances.
matty says
Good Response DWC respect to you guys!!! Matty
DefWishCast says
We love the interview and we love the photo shoot and appreciate any support but when we seen this yesterday we sparked up at the intro only and had a convo with the fellas(Musicfeeds) and all sorted but our passion is very high as you can see and when we do something like this we like all to know.Thanks for your opinions anyhow!
It just hit a nerve thats all…DWC
kaiserwillhelm says
“we can write of his opinion”
What are going to write OF me. Seeing as though you so accurately critiqued my spelling ability I would expect whatever thesis or aphorism you write OF me, would be a both telling and moving piece of prose.
Please do delight us with you rambunctious rantings and ramblings thou pimple on the anus of evolution.
matty says
I think the fact that kaiserwillhelm can’t spell and his abusive language we can write of his opinion
Polly says
This is turning so high school. i love it.
RoverWA says
Yeah I agree with TequilaStew its this type of bullshit attitude that makes hip hop shit what an ego …I have seen way worse stuff written abouts bands in my years get over yourself defwishcast don’t come near perth no one wants your ego here!
TequilaStew says
I’d rather be a fuckwit then YOU, kaiserwillhelm. At least all of us fuckwits can hangout and not listen to Def Wish together.
Who do you have to hang with? maybe you should take your own advice and “stop bothering people with your bullshit”?
kaiserwillhelm says
No, I’m not form Def Wish, I’m jsut not a fuckwit like you guys
Polly says
Wow, they’ve been around 18 years?? Must be reeeaaaly OLD! Funny…. I’ve never heard of them….
If I was in a band, I’d probably have the shits about a full page colour article in a newspaper too.
You music feeds guys ARE cunts.
especially you marto.
Badcunt says
By “not always around”… I’m pretty sure the writer’s referring to the fact it took 14 years for your second record to come out…
Marto says
I gotta say, Im lovin all the comments!
TequilaStew says
It this sort of stupid shit that ruined Aust hip-hop for me.
Just another egotistical whiner:
“That’s showing what they really want it for, money and stardom and fame. We just don’t have that, we have eternity in our head.”
No one knew you were offended until you went off about it. IMHO I thought the opening paragraph was a great literary technique to grab peoples attention and get them to read the article. It was well written and positive.
Now you’ve ruined all that.
maztank says
i appreciate creative writing in journalism - it’s supposed to grab you by the balls and reel you in, otherwise you’ll just skip to the next page. i wouldn’t think to take it literally. if anything, i’ll go and see Def Wish Cast now based on that first paragraph. they’ll definitely have a different story to tell and probably blow me away on their own account - but sometimes you need something a little eye catching/different to capture one’s interest.
peace!
angel says
A bit of controversy on music feeds .. I Love it!!
georgedusko says
the def wish cast guy has issues he should calm down this whole page is comedy is kaiserwillhelm from def wish cast?
kaiserwillhelm says
Not as bitter as your mouth must taste after the sailors come in to port
johnyt says
hahaha kaiserwillhelm You sound about as bitter as def wish cast haha
kaiserwillhelm says
fuck you johnnyt, what the fuck do you know. Def Wish would string you up like an adulterous woman in saudi arabia. What the fuck do you know anyway, I bet you spend all your time choking down hefty loads of semen from burly men wearing flannalettes, go such a chode you cock wrangling nob jockey and stop bothering people with your bullshit, you fucking cuntfaced rectal emission!
johnyt says
The fact that these guys have never been seen out as a crew pissed is probably why they are such whinger !! what dickheads “We run most of the main hiphop gigs in Sydney” hahaha I bet they all have day jobs
kaiserwillhelm says
Na fuck that I agree with the band, you music feeds cunts are a bunch of… well cunts. My father abused me as well and I take deep personal offense to you guys making light of such a serious issue in todays world. Maybe if you’d had experiences like I have you wouldn’t be such a bunch of wankers.
DEF WISH REPRESENT
K
mawd says
hahaha this is funny as shit the bands pissed of about the article hahahaha
stewart1 says
Woa ..is this the guy from the actual band ? he sounds pissed haha hip hop sux anyway! The articles not even that bad haha by the sound of it this band needs to get pissed
DEFWISHCAST says
By the way http://www.defwishcast.com is NOT our site and belongs to an old record company we are not happy with and owes us royalties from years ago….They make bad burns of our first album…Official= http://www.myspace.com/defwishcast
DEFWISHCAST says
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SUPPOSED TO MEAN!!!! FOR ONE THING I HAD AN ABUSIVE FATHER AND THE OTHER IS YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN US OUT AS A CREW PISSED MATE!! NOT ALWAYS AROUND????HUH!!! WE RUN MOST OF THE MAIN HIPHOP GIGS IN SYDNEY AS BASICEQUIPMENT AND HAVE BEEN GIGGING RECENTLY AND FOR THE LAST 18 YEARS…BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT IN YOUR LITTLE CIRCUIT>>>>NOT GOOD FELLAS!!!!
Good way to reck a nice day meeting you…
vvvvv
“Def Wish Cast are like the abusive father of Australian hip hop. Not always around, often drunk, and their seed is widespread. Despite that, deep down, you always love them”