Indigenous rap group A.B. Original add new song to Voice vote soundtrack

Hip hop heroes A.B. Original have revealed a new song for undecided young Voice voters ahead of the referendum.

Rap duo A.B. Original will perform their new song Yes at Now & Forever concert. Picture: Supplied.

First Nations hip hop duo A.B. Original have made their pitch to young undecided voters on the Voice to Parliament with an uncompromising rap track called Yes.

The ARIA award-winning rappers Briggs and Trials, with guests DJ Total Eclipse and Marlon rap in the chorus: “That’s why I’m writing a yes vote, Anything less is signed with a death note.”

The song drops ahead of Now & Forever, the concert in Shepparton on Friday curated by Briggs and also starring Hilltop Hoods, Paul Kelly, Jimmy Barnes, Baker Boy, Emma Donovan and Barkaa which bears the motto “Don’t know? Come to the show.”

Rap duo A.B. Original featuring Briggs and Trials release Yes. Picture: Supplied.

Briggs said the duo were inspired to add their voice to the referendum soundtrack after their mate and collaborator Paul Kelly released his song If Not Now last month.

“We can’t let PK be the only fella doing it,” Briggs said in a statement.

“This is what we are supposed to do as hip hop artists. If we didn’t do this, there’s a big piece missing. Hip Hop is all about voice, and all about community rallying together. This is what Hip Hop is for. This is exactly what we’re meant to be doing.”

Trials said the timing of the track in the final stages of the referendum campaigns was important because of an inherent “distrust” of government and the polarising debate raging online.

The Indigenous rapper said the national conversation around the Voice hit close to home when the official referendum pamphlet landed in his letterbox.

“When the Yes / No pamphlet arrived in my family’s letterbox it was more than a voting guide, for me it was attack on my children’s innocence,” he said.

“I wanted to answer the No campaign’s attempt at making us feel ashamed.”

The ARIA award-winning duo are well known for their socially conscious raps. Picture: AAP.

The Yes track echoes his stand in the verse “They wanna know what the Voice does? It makes it hard for the parliament to avoid us, All I wanna do is give advice on my life, And if they terrified then you need to ask em why.”

@senatorbriggs

Far Enough? Remember when you wanted to find the best coffee within walking distance of where you’re at and you googled it? You can apply the same tactic to so many other aspects in life! For example; referendums that over 80% of Indigenous people are in favour of. What a time to be alive. 🎭 @freudiannip (@bigjwow x @viczerbst) 🎬 @nashedgerton for @blue_tonguefilms

♬ original sound - Briggs

The song also follows a short film called Far Enough? which landed on social media yesterday.

The satirical film made by acclaimed director Nash Edgerton features Briggs and two young women in a pub discussing the vote, and encourages people to “google it” to inform themselves of the Voice to Parliament.

The video has been shared in its fist 24 hours on social media by Thor director Taika Waititi and actors Jason Momoa, Dacre Montgomery and Phoebe Tonkin.

The Now & Forever concert opens at the Shepparton Showgrounds at 2pm with tickets via ticketmaster.com.au/nowandforever and proceeds distributed to not-for-profit and charity organisations.