Beats, basketball and Black excellence gathered at Barangaroo at the NAIDOC free festival on Saturday.
Surrounded by First Nations culture, music and community, the festival and street basketball event was the start pointing of kicking off NAIDOC week in Sydney
Many Mob showed up to participate in celebrating the decorative week, including headliner and ARIA-nominated rapper BARKAA, and many more First Nations hip hop and R&B artists.
Hosted by Indigenous storytellers and performers, Luke Currie-Richardson and Ghenoa Gela, NAIDOC Up Late: Trailblazers was a free celebration of First Nations urban beats and street basketball competition during NAIDOC Week.
Leaning into this year's theme For Our Elders, the free event honoured the trailblazers and advocates that have led the way for generations.
The incredible line-up of First Nations artists included:
● BARKAA - ARIA-nominated rapper and proud Malyangapa, Barkindji woman described as 'the new matriarch of Australian rap' by GQ Magazine
● Tasman Keith - 26-year-old Gumbaynggirr rapper whose music carries on the storytelling traditions of his family
● Nooky - Community-focused Yuin rapper who aims to promote Blak excellence through his music.
● B Wise - Critically-acclaimed Nigerian-Australian MC and winner of the FBi SMAC Award for Record of the Year in 2018 and AIR Awards 'Best Independent Hip Hop Album' in 2019
● A.GIRL - 22-year-old Maori R&B singer-rapper who has been recognised as a rising star and 'one to watch' by FBi, Triple J Unearthed, and Ticketmaster.
● Mau Power - Dhoeybaw rapper who is a greatly respected voice of empowerment and inspiration amongst the Torres Strait Islander community.
● WIZZ - Wiradjuri MC and producer and Deadly Award-winning artist whose music speaks to the experiences and struggles of First Nations people.
● DJ Nino Brown - Australia's leading R&B DJ and radio host on The Edge.
● Munkimuk - Sydney-based hip hop performer and music producer known as 'The Grandfather of Indigenous Hip Hop'.
● AIM 4 More - Australia's first ever Indigenous R&B acapella group hailing from Brisbane in the 90s.
