Thundamentals’ Tuka returns today with his first solo track in four years, and he does not mess around on this one. Titled ‘F*ck You Pay Me’, he’s also treated us to a clip AND some accompanying tour dates around the country for later in the year.
“‘F*ck You Pay Me’ is a playful song about my relationship with money as an artist in the rap/hip hop industry,” he explained. “I’m basically taking the piss out of myself, I’ve always been unsettled by the need or want for money in others, it’s never been my drive so I couldn’t relate.”
“I’ve always enjoyed creating art for art sake and working out how to “sell it” later. The idea for this song has been floating around my head for years but because I don’t align with the ‘get money’ lifestyle I never got around to actually seeing it through and writing the song till recently. I guess because I’ve managed to somehow stay relevant in the Australian hip hop industry for so long I’m comfortable bragging a bit, carving a career out of Oz rap is a pretty surreal reality if you ask me? Especially if you had asked me 10 years ago when I started, it wasn’t really an option back then. My mum was supportive so that was nice lol.”
He says that this track gave him the opportunity to really “rap”, something that he feels he’s shied away from these past few years.
“I wanted to channel the aggression/ desperation that I see money bring out in our society. I think people feel trapped by not having money and wanted to write an anthem to empower them.”
He’s slapped his careful, poetic approach to creating hip-hop over the top of a mad grime beat and the result is potentially his hardest track yet. Watch the ‘F*ck You Pay Me’ video below.
He’ll be taking to stages all around the country later this year to debut the track. Starting off in Newcastle on Friday, 1st November, he’ll take the show to the Blue Mountains, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and at the end of November on the 30th, the tour will wrap up in Hobart. Check out those dates below.
Tuka National Tour, 2019
Friday, 1st November
The Cambridge, Newcastle
Tickets: Oztix
Saturday, 2nd November
Baroque House, Blue Mountains
Tickets: The Carrington
Friday, 8th November
Fat Controller, Adelaide
Tickets: Moshtix
Friday, 15th November
Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth
Tickets: Oztix
Saturday, 16th November
Howler, Melbourne
Tickets: Moshtix
Friday, 22nd November
The Foundry, Brisbane
Tickets: Oztix
Saturday, 23rd November
The Lansdowne, Sydney
Tickets: Intix
Friday, 29th November
UC Hub, Canberra
Tickets: Moshtix
Saturday, 30th November
Republic Bar, Hobart
24 hour pre-sale from 9AM today: Oztix
Tickets from 9AM Friday: Oztix
