Mighty Big Crime

Mighty Big Crime were an early Australian hip hop duo, formed in 1986 by Tricky J (Julien Lodge) and Gumpy (A Phillips). They released one of the first hip hop recordings in that country with "16 Tons" (1987), a cover version of Merle Travis' country music song, "Sixteen Tons". Their debut album, Get Outta My Face, appeared in April 1989. By 1991 both were members of a flower power group, Freaked Out Flower Children.

Mighty Big Crime
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
GenresHip hop
Years active1986 (1986)–1991 (1991)
LabelsCriteria/Virgin
Associated acts
Past members
  • Gumpy
  • Tricky J

History

Mighty Big Crime were an Australian hip hop duo formed by Tricky J (Julien Lodge) and Gumpy (A Phillips) (ex-Battle Happy) in 1986 in Melbourne.[1] According to British record producer, David Courtney, he saw the pair MCing at an early performance in a pub, he got them signed to Virgin Records and provided their name.[1] In 1987 they issued one of the first hip hop recordings in Australia, "16 Tons" and "Humber Mania Time".[2] "16 Tons" is a rap cover version of Merle Travis' country song, "Sixteen Tons".[3] "Humber Mania Time" was co-written by Lodge and Phillips; both tracks were recorded at Metropolis Studios and Pig Pen Studios, Melbourne with Courtney, and John Phillips producing.[4] From March to July 1987 Tricky J also worked as a member of I'm Talking.

Michael Wellham of The Canberra Times described "16 Tons", "after listening to this it seems hard to believe that no one thought of doing a rap version of [it] before, no song was more deserving of the treatment. When you think about it Australia has been absolutely crying out for some rap artists of its own, and is now in the position where it can sigh with relief as the void is filled."[5] Wellham's colleague, Stuart Coupe, reviewed Australian rap and hip hop in June 1988.[6] He observed that Mighty Big Crime are, "the first Australians to make a record in this style... who seem to fancy themselves as the southern hemisphere's version of the Beastie Boys."[6]

That single and its follow up, a cover of Alice Cooper's "Schools Out", both reached the top 10.[1] Their music video for "Dr. Dynamite" (1990) was nominated for Best Video at the ARIA Music Awards of 1991.[7] From 1991 to 1993 both Gumpy, on guitar and vocals, and Tricky J, on synthesiser, were members of Freaked Out Flower Children.[8]

Members
  • Gumpy (A Phillips) – MC, guitar, vocals
  • Tricky J (Julien Lodge) – MC, synthesiser

Discography

Albums
  • Get Outta My Face[9]

Singles
  • "16 Tons" (1987) – Criteria Records/Virgin Records (VOZT-026) [4]
  • "Schools Out" (1988)
  • "Get Outta My Face" (1988)
  • "Dr. Dynamite" (1990)
  • "Sugar Daddy" (1991)

References
  1. Courtney, David (2011). The Truth Behind the Music. BookBaby. ISBN 1618420593.
  2. Te Koha, Nui (30 September 2007). "Twighlight Zone". The Sunday Mail.
  3. Mueller, Andrew (2013). It's Too Late to Die Young Now. Picador Australia. ISBN 1743289235.
  4. Mighty Big Crime (1987). "16 Tons (Criminal Mix)". Criteria/Virgin. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  5. Wellham, Michael (28 January 1988). "Venetians Fail to Deliver a Hit Stayer: A Punning Review of a Near Hit and an Almost Black Rap Track". The Canberra Times. 62 (19, 107). p. 26. Retrieved 8 January 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. Coupe, Stuart (12 June 1988). "Rap and Hip Hop Will Last, They Say". The Canberra Times. 62 (19, 242). p. 12. Retrieved 8 January 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "ARIA Awards – Winners by Year – 1991". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  8. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Freaked Out Flower Children'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  9. Wilmoth, Peter (29 April 1989), "Unrapt with Rap", The Sydney Morning Herald
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