Reclaim Australia (album)

Reclaim Australia is the debut studio album from Australian hip hop duo A.B. Original. It was released in November 2016 and peaked at number 10 on the ARIA charts. The title is in reference to the Australian far right political party of the same name and the album lyrics cover issues such as police brutality, deaths in custody and Australia Day.[6]

Reclaim Australia
Studio album by
A.B. Original
Released25 November 2016
GenreHip hop
LabelGolden Era
Singles from Reclaim Australia
  1. "2 Black 2 Strong"
    Released: 20 April 2016[1]
  2. "Dead in a Minute"
    Released: 6 May 2016 [2]
  3. "Firing Squad"
    Released: 6 May 2016[3]
  4. "Take Me Home""
    Released: 5 July 2016[4]
  5. "January 26"
    Released: 19 August 2016[5]

In 2016, the album won the Australian Music Prize and at the J Awards of 2018, the album won for Australian Album of the Year.[7]

At the 2017 AIR independent Music Awards, the album won two awards; Best Independent album or EP and Best Independent Hip Hop album.[8]

Reception

Ariana Norton from Beat Magazine said "Simmering with anger and set to classic '80s hip hop beats, Reclaim Australia is immediately reminiscent of N.W.A in its unapologetic approach to the injustices still faced by Aboriginal Australians. The album includes excerpts of speeches made about 'breeding out' Aboriginal people, as well as an introduction by Archie Roach, who remembers protesting for land rights in the '70s... There's a deep pain and anguish that underlies Reclaim Australias ferocity. Briggs and Trials demand that we sit up, take notice and take action.[9]

Bernard Zuel from Sydney Morning Herald said "Reclaim Australia is the most forthright, engaged and wholly committed political musical statement made here in a long time." adding "You will find yourself saying hell yeah this is appalling, still; shouting at the radio/stereo/phone in unison with Briggs and Trials; and declaring I'm seriously bloody angry".[10]

David James Young from Music Feeds called the album a "successful experiment" saying "It's playful, but never to the point of losing sight of the message. It's forthright and unapologetic about the issues it discusses, but neither Briggs nor Rankine are ever in a position to let a punchline or sarcastic quip slip through their fingers."[11]

Sosefina Fuamoli from The AU Review called the album "a masterclass" saying "What's great about A.B Original and Reclaim Australia is that their approach leaves no stone unturned; this isn't rap music doled out for its pure shock factor. This is music that channels the anger and pain of people who have long been stood over and have been demeaned and dehumanised for generations. It might be hard to listen to, but that's the point. Where the majority of listeners (myself included) have had the opportunity to turn a blind eye and turn the volume down, this album is an insight into the lives of those who have been stripped of that choice."[12]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Foreword" (featuring Archie Roach)
1:31
2."2 Black 2 Strong"
  • Briggs
  • Rankine
  • Darren Reutens
4:03
3."Call 'Em Out" (featuring Guilty Simpson)
  • Briggs
  • Rankine
  • Reutens
  • Byron Simpson
  • Dazastah
4:11
4."Dead in a Minute"
  • Briggs
  • Rankine
  • Caiti Baker
  • Isiah Sominique Libeau
  • SmokeyGotBeatz
3:13
5."January 26" (featuring Dan Sultan)
  • Briggs
  • Rankine
  • Dan Sultan
  • Trials
3:17
6."Strong Arm (Robbery)" (featuring Rodney O)
  • Briggs
  • Rankine
  • Reutens
  • Dazastah
1:44
7."Firing Squad" (featuring Hau)
  • Briggs
  • Langomi-e-Hau Latukefu
  • Rankine
  • Reutens
  • Dazastah
2:58
8."Sorry" (featuring Caiti Baker)
  • Briggs
  • Baker
  • Michael Hohnen
  • James Mangohig
  • Rankine
  • James Mangohig
3:29
9."The Feast" (featuring King T)
  • Briggs
  • Roger McBride
  • Rankine
  • Reutens
  • Dazastah
3:54
10."Report to the Mist"
  • Briggs
  • Rankine
  • Jacob Turier
  • Jayteehazard
3:56
11."I C U" (featuring Thelma Plum)
  • Briggs
  • M. Bryant
  • Rob Conely
  • Thelma Plum
  • Rankine
  • Rob Conely
3:51
12."Take Me Home" (featuring Gurrumul Yunupingu)
  • Briggs
  • Rankine
  • Gurrumul Yunupingu
  • Trials
5:51

Charts
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] 10

Release history
Country Date Format Label Catalogue
Australia 25 November 2016[14][15] Digital download, CD Golden Era Records GER025
Australia LP GERV024

References
  1. "2 Black 2 Strong single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  2. "Dead in a Minute single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  3. "Firing Squad single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  4. "Take Me Home single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  5. "January 26 single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  6. "AB Original on Reclaim Australia, the album: 'Being black, everything you do becomes a protest'". The Guardian. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  7. "The J Award 2018". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  8. "2017 AIR independent Music Awards". AIR. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  9. "A.B. Original : Reclaim Australia". Beat. November 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  10. "A.B. Original album Reclaim Australia is a necessary shock to the system". Sydney Morning Herald. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  11. "ALBUM REVIEWS A.B. Original 'Reclaim Australia'". Music Feeds. November 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  12. "Album Review: A.B ORIGINAL – Reclaim Australia (2016 LP)". The AU Review. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  13. "Australiancharts.com – A.B. ORIGINAL – Reclaim Australia". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  14. "Reclaim Australia by AB Original (DD)". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  15. "Reclaim Australia by AB Original (CD)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
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