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Live Review: Triple One destigmatise conversations around mental health in hip-hop via 'Butter'

14 March 2019 | 10:51 am | Caitlin Medcalf

There's a reason why you're probably seeing Sydney hip-hop group TRIPLE ONE absolutely everywhere, and that's because 2018 saw them ramp it up and take a relentless approach to basically everything. They played countless shows around town, released a run of singles that racked up some pretty heavy accolades (in a year they were profiled by ComplexGQ and Highsnobiety) and in the process, have changed the face of Australian hip hop.

The last five years has been an incredibly transformative time for hip hip in Australia. Where artists like the Hilltop Hoods or Bliss N Eso once dominated the international perception of rap coming out of the country, it's artists like Triple One who are paving the way for that stereotype to be totally busted.

They've returned this week with a heater of a new track that sees them digging deep. 'Butter' is their most personal track to date, detailing the struggle against poor mental health. The track acts as a diary of sorts that details the headspace of each of the group's members at the time it was being made.

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The clip was directed by Gabriel Gasparinatos and Martin Guilfoyle, and through the varying shades of imagery, they've delivered a piece that puts to the front constructive discussions about mental health that actually rarely happen in hip-hop. The directors said “mental health is often an overlooked topic in hip-hop and we chose to frame the video around themes that tap into these sensibilities - loneliness, anger, sorrow.

Keeping in stead with the group's expert ability to create lasting tracks, 'Butter' feels like a step up from their previous works. By tying their fearless approach to talking about a subject that is still stigmatised to both hip-hop artists and men as a whole with their penchant for writing fucking good music, 'Butter' emerges a refreshing track amongst the current global hip-hop landscape.

Marty Bugatti of the group said “I want the audience to feel like it’s okay if you don’t find peace inside your mind. It’s more about learning to embrace the chaos of life."

Words by CAITLIN MEDCALF

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