CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
A Director of Public Prosecutions has criticised New South Wales police, claiming they’re distorting counterterrorism laws in an attempt to crackdown on hip-hop artists in western Sydney.
Mount Druitt rap group OneFour has been targeted by police Strike Force Raptor over their lyrical content, which alludes to several of the band members taking part in the type of stuff that happens in Mount Druitt.
OneFour is one of the biggest musical acts in Australia with only 27 million views on YouTube and over 30 million streams on Spotify worldwide.
There are four official band members in the greater OneFour entourage: Spenny, YP, J-Emz and Lekks. In music videos, they wear the type of flashy designer clothing that would see them profiled as criminals by the NSW police. Two of the members also wear balaclavas and facemasks, in a dark reference to the highly surveillanced NSW police state.
However, NSW police says they’re even prepared to use serious crime prevention orders to stop live shows going ahead because they find Polynesian drill rap distasteful.
OneFour’s first official nationwide concert dates for ‘The Beginning tour of Australia’ in November was meant to be their first real opportunity to make it out of a life in the streets, converting a massive online following into ticket and merch sales.
However, one by one, the Australian dates were pulled after the NSW police expressed “safety concerns” and venues declaring “unavoidable circumstances” that came from spot licensing checks and unachievable safety requirements.
One prominent police officer who has made it his job to crush the band’s momentum is Sergeant Trueman. He says he is adamant OneFour won’t have a national platform.
Trueman told the band “I’m going to use everything in my power to make your life miserable, until you stop doing what you’re doing… Every aspect of your life. I’m going to make it uncomfortable for you.”
When asked by the ABC what his particular issue with the band was.
“Why can’t they sing about something else?” he asked.
“It’s tough to live in Mount Druitt, sing about that. Speak about how brilliantly beautiful your wife is.
“I don’t know, I’m not a songwriter.”
This follows a breaking story on the Betoota Advocate in November, where the NSW Police Commissioner Mick Muller defending his bans on all OneFour soncerts – stating “I’m More Of A Nickelback Kinda Guy”
In response to these awkward boomer guidelines, the band has this week down their best to win over the police by covering a shitty deodorised faux-Christian post-grunge rock song – in order to get clearance to perform live in their own state.
The band has this week covered ‘Photograph’ on Triple J’s ‘Like A Version’ – and the response from the NSW cops has been very positive.
“That’s the stuff fellas!” said Seargent Trueman.
“That’s the type of music you should be singing”
NSW Head of Police Mick Muller says he agrees, but still thinks some of the Nickelback lyrics could be toned back a bit.
“I’m not so sure about the Chad Kroeger lyrics about ‘why are our eyes so red?’ – that’s a bit out there”
“I didn’t come down in the last shower, I know that particular line was in reference to binge drinking”
“But still, it’s a good start. I reckon if they keep this up, I might let them open for a few bands at Bluesfest next year”
