Iakopo Esera: OneFour member allowed to pursue rap career
A Supreme Court judge has thrown out an order forbidding a musician from mixing with fellow members of the notorious western Sydney drill group. The self-confessed music loving judge said he should be given his chance at global rap success.
Blacktown
Don't miss out on the headlines from Blacktown. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A member of notorious western Sydney rap group OneFour will be able to continue his music career after successfully appealing against a bail condition that banned him from contacting his bandmates.
Iakopo Esera was prevented from contacting 12 members and associates of the Mt Druitt-based drill rap group as he awaits a hearing for an affray offence police claim was retaliation to a gang-related stabbing.
Self-confessed “music-lover” Justice Natalie Adams on Thursday described the band’s provocative lyrics as “anti-police, anti-court and anti-law”.
Justice Adams ruled the “very broad” condition imposed on Esera was “more onerous than necessary” and was preventing his pursuit of global music success.
“I’ve never seen anything quite like it,” she said.
“It seems to me that if this applicant is genuine (about his music career) he would not risk the opportunity to gain overseas success by doing something stupid.”
Justice Adams also varied orders that he not associate with or contact members of six gangs, allowing him to communicate with street-gang OneFour – which is not related to the band - and its allies MF14, Greater West Brotherhood and Notorious Familia.
But it remains in the 20-year-old’s bail conditions that he must not come into contact with members of rival groups Inner West and District 21, which contains the complainant of Esera’s alleged affray.
Police allege CCTV footage depicts Esera and the unnamed male wrestling outside a western Sydney kebab store following a stabbing that injured two of the rapper’s friends.
Defence barrister Stephen Lawrence told the Supreme Court his client would be claiming self defence, alleging the fight was not planned and the rival gang member was known to carry knives and firearms.
Police prosecutor Scott Jaeger and Mr Lawrence both spoke of OneFour’s meteoric success before the court, noting the group’s music is streamed more than 600,000 timed each month on Spotify.
Mr Jaeger opposed the bail variation but conceded the defence had a valid argument in claiming the conditions were holding back a “genuine” music career.
“This seems to have more legs than most of those who claim to have music careers,” he said.
OneFour, praised by the likes of UK grime superstar Skepta, were on the verge of stardom in 2019 before attracting controversy.
But the band’s first headline tour of Australia was abandoned, with the group also claiming police pressure persuaded several venues to cancel gigs.
News tips: heath.parkes-hupton@news.com.au