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The
Def Wish Cast Story [without omissions]
Since the initial days when
hip hop culture first arrived in Australia, there are many who've become
obsessed with the traditional four elements; B-boying/B-Girling,
Emceeing, Deejaying and Graffiti. They symbolise hip hop at its most
pure and are the living embodiment of all four elements in their rawest
form as each member was born from the 80's explosion. DWC embraces all
the aspects and ideology but never imitates. They created something
localised that was revered and is now mythologised: they are Def Wish
Cast; they are Australian; they are Hip Hop. In 1990 Def Wish Cast began
taking there skills to the stage. Every show was an experience. Already
at this early period in their career they were perfecting stage
techniques and crowd interactions that hadn't been witnessed previously
by local crowds. Def Wish Cast championed the importance of representing
oneself by having a very identifiable style and sounding distinctly
Australian. Late 1991 DWC under contract to "Random records"
recorded the 500 limited four track vinyl "Mad as a Hatter" EP
and was eagerly snapped up. The EP was produced and engineered by
Geoffrey M. Laing at "Total
Sound" recording studio in
Australia, the beats for many of the tracks created by Robert Bleeker.
The cover artwork was co-created by Sereck (SirWreck) and Def Wish, the
cover designed by Robert Bleeker and became an instant collectors item
(an original pressing recently went on eBay to a German bidder for more
than AU$430, proving that even years later their importance is still
recognised by many fans). DWC became known around the underground scene
of Scandinavian countries. Def Wish's lightning speed and dextrous
wordplay impressed many as the track Proppa Ragga Style
became popular here and abroad. Coming in at number 2 on Norway's
Rainbow FM HipHop show (Tommy Tee) it was the first Australian hiphop
track to break into international recognition. Come 1992, DWC released
one of the hallmarks by which all Australian hip hop would be judged.
Again contracted to "Random Records" which was later bought by "Total
Sound", the 15 track "Knights of
the Underground Table" was finally unleashed, engineered by
Geoffrey M. Laing at "Total
Sound" recording studio in
Australia, who also created the cover layout [Sereck (SirWreck) and Def
Wish created the logos supplied the cover photo and cover artwork. The
unrelenting music contained within the Knights CD and single
cassette only release encapsulated everything that they had
displayed on stage, It was intense, layered and polished. It was an
instant classic and the first real album from an Australian hip hop
crew. With this The Cast started getting support acts for international
artists such as the Beastie Boys, Helmet, Young Black Teenagers, Wrecks
n' Effect, etc........ DWC ventured into a new realm by recording the
first non commercial Australian hip hop film clip for A.U.S.T
again produced and financed by "Random records" with the help of
film students and their friends. The clip clearly cemented the tracks
position as the official song to express patriotism wrapped in a blanket
of fortitude. It was 1995 and the Cast had just completed hundreds of
hardcore shows and DWC recorded [on license from Random
Records and again at Total Sound] for the prolific San
Francisco label, Bomb Records, for the international compilation
Bomb Worldwide (Feat: at the time a young Dilated Peoples/Swollen
Members etc). The track "Hear My Raw" indicated a different
style, yet not long after when their contract with "Random Records"
expired the crew disbanded amicably, to pursue other ventures.
This is the only
legal source of purchase for these original DWC tracks.
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