I once had a discussion with hiphop heads about Aussie hiphop, where they claimed they didn’t think Australians should get ‘serious’ and rap about ‘issues and shit’. And my answer to that was why the hell not?

Hiphop is simply a way for people to express themselves, and is now a worldwide phenomenon that now reaches beyond the ghetto of America. Sure, Aussie hiphop should never focus on gatts and bullets, as gun culture isn’t a big part of Australian life, and it can seem a bit disingenuous for someone to be busting rhymes about being poor, because Australian’s have a pretty good way of life.

But that doesn’t mean Australia is all beats, battles and BBQs though. Although we are indeed the lucky country, we face issues such as violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and poverty here. Why should someone be prevented from expressing themselves if these issues have touched their lives?

This is not to imply that Muph and Plutonic’s latest …And Then Tomorrow Came sees the party rocking duo go all emo on us, crying into an empty cup about missed opportunities. It’s a reflective and introspective album, an honest look at life and where they are at and realising it’s not “heaps good” as one may suspect, but even so it never comes across as “oh woe is me, I need to slit my wrist” that so many other bands have done in the past *cough* Silverchair *cough*

Issues such as alcoholism and drugs are touched in a couple of tunes. Balloon Heads featuring Kye talks about the over inflated egos of pill poppers amongst others, and Beautiful Ugly explores the ecstasy and agony of escapism through alcohol, and yet it is backed by an upbeat 60s go-go type track which belies the serious nature of the topic.

Yesterday’s Basement and Wrong deal with issues of the heart, without being too soppy and overly emotional. Filthy Rich talks about how even though they’re not rich, they’re still happy. Don’t Worry About Nothing, featuring Jess Harlen’s wonderful soul infused vocals, tells us to if we’re going to worry, make it about something worthwhile.

I don’t think this album heralds a watershed moment in Aussie hiphop exactly, but it is a sign that it is developing and maturing well, and that Aussie hiphop artists are able to focus and discuss topics other than who’s got the biggest BBQ in their backyard without facing scorn and ridicule.