We're going to be brutally honest here - this year hasn't been our favorite for rap. Yes, there have been some great songs dropped off, and definitely a couple solid albums, but we've only come across maybe one or two LPs that have really blown us away. To our great joy, the Adelaide legends, Hilltop Hoods, have come to satisfy our craving for an exceptional hip-hop project in the form of their brand new album, Walking Under Stars. The widely revered hip-hop trio has been making music since the '90s, so these guys definitely have some of the most experience out of any active rappers right now. Two double platinum albums, two platinum albums, and a couple number 1 spots on the ARIA charts all reflect Suffa, MC Pressure, and DJ Debris' efforts over their career, but besides these decorations, their music simply appeals to a wide audience because of its honest nature and listenability. About every 2 or 3 years, the boys will bless the world with a new album, and following their consistent pattern, Hilltop Hoods have finally dropped off their highly anticipated project, Walking Under Stars, and it undoubtedly soars past our already-high expectations. A combination of human commotion, grandiose instrumentation, and enthusiastic applause introduces the album on "The Thirst Pt. 4", which eventually transforms into a hard hitting, string-fueled hip-hop number. Piano keys, a pumping drum kit, and a few deep verses constitute the track, with a soulful chorus supplied by Aaradhna. Following immediately after is "Walking Under Stars", a feel-good hip-hop jam with a glimmering beat which features brass, electric guitar, and cheery piano chords. The song's bright nature compliments the heavy introductory track brilliantly, feeling like a refreshing breath out. Next is "Cosby Sweater", a style-filled, quick spitting jam with smooth guitar plucks that convey the vibe of a James Bond theme song. Suffa and Pressure really flex their clever lyricism and rapping-speed on this one, which is something that we absolutely love to hear. One of the already released songs, "The Art of the Handshake", follows next, and if you haven't already given it a listen, make sure that you do so, because it's one that definitely shouldn't be ignored. When we saw that Brother Ali is featured on the album, we could barely even contain our excitement, and that's for good reason, because the song that both he and Maverick Sabre are featured on, "Live and Let Go", is absolutely brilliant. With a heart-felt chorus from Maverick and an ingenious verse from Ali, the song is definitely one of the biggest stand-outs on the album. "Pyramid Building" is another deep track with its theme centered around money and happiness, and in the song, Suffa and Pressure provide some serious moral insight overtop a slower beat from DJ Debris. The lead single from the album, "Won't Let You Down", which features the vocals of Maverick Sabre once again, is a hip-hop symphony and a must listen if you haven't already. Next we have "Brainbox", which, if you've a keen memory of Hilltop Hoods, was already released a few years ago, but the boys recorded a newer, longer, more polished version which is now appearing on the album. And, finally, the album concludes with "The Thirst Pt. 5", a track that utilizes the same beat and chorus and part 4, but with some new verses from Suffa and Pressure. The sound of the audience, which applauded Hilltop Hoods' in at the beginning, actually applauds them out and you can hear them get up to leave at the very end, bringing the album to a close. As we previously mentioned, we at HD don't think that this year has necessarily been the strongest for hip-hop, but we couldn't be happier that Hilltop Hoods have stormed in and released such a phenomenal effort. And while there's a massive section of rap that focuses primarily on drugs, money, and sex, Hilltop Hoods are one of the fewer rap acts that have provided some serious insight and creativity into their music.
Hilltop Hoods