1200 Techniques

1200 Techniques is an ARIA Award-winning Australian hip hop group consisting of DJ Peril (producer/percussionist/DJ), N'fa Forster-Jones (vocalist under the name Nfamas) and Kemstar (guitarist). Whilst primarily being in the genre of hip hip, they drew influences from other genres including rock, funk, soul, electro, drum and bass, electro jazz and breakbeat.[1][2] They released their debut studio album in 2002.

1200 Techniques
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
GenresHip hop Funk
Years active1997–2005, 2014-
LabelsRubber Records/Sony
Members

Artist Direct said "Although Australia had an underground hip-hop scene starting in the late '80s, it wasn't until 2001 that it began to be recognized by the mainstream of Australian music. 1200 Techniques were an important part of that moment, with charting singles, appearances on TV shows like John Safran's Music Jamboree, and a sound that contained an eclectic blend of rock, dance, and funk influences to win over those Australians unconvinced their country had a place as a producer of quality hip-hop music."[3]

History

Brothers DJ Peril and Kemstar were involved in the hip-hop scene since the early 1980s as pre-teens.[4] DJ Peril started with The Island Boys, one of Melbourne's first ever hip hop crews[5] and DJ'd in a number of different bands.[4]

Peril formed 1200 Techniques in 1997 with brothers Nfamas and Kabba. Kemstar joined soon after, replacing Kabba who moved to London, England in 1998.[6][7] Kabba's vocals can still, however, be heard on some of the group's early tracks.[8] 1200 Techniques continued with the three remaining core members, recruiting a drummer for live shows.

In 2001, 1200 Techniques were signed to an independent label called Rubber Records and they released their debut Extended Play titled Infinite Style. The lead single from the EP "Hard as Hell" was released and had a low budget video clip which saw the song receive national recognition on Triple J.[9][10]

In April 2002, the band released the single "Karma", the lead single from their debut studio album Choose One. "Karma" became a crossover success.[11] Choose One was released in June and peaked at number 20 on the ARIA Charts. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2002, the group were nominated for five awards, with "Karma" winning ARIA Award for Best Independent Release and ARIA Award for Best Video.[12] Also in 2002, the band won Best Debut Artist" and Best Hip Hop Act at the Dance Music Awards.[6] The group supported Linkin Park on their 2002 Australian tour that year and headlined their own tour with support by American rapper Princess Superstar.

Their second album Consistency Theory was released in January 2004, and peaked at No. 38 on the ARIA album chart. Three singles were released from the album and all appeared on the ARIA singles chart. Following the album's release, the group appeared at the Big Day Out festival in early 2004. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2004, the lead single "Eye of the Storm" was nominated for two awards. The group went on hiatus in 2005 to allow the individual members to pursue solo work.[6]

In October 2014, the group broke nearly a decade of silence by announcing the release of a new extended play.[13] After a successful fundraising campaign on PledgeMusic, the band released Time Has Come in January 2015.

Band Members

Solo careers

DJ Peril released a solo album, King of the Beats in 2006, which includes the singles "It's About to Blow" and "Rock Ya Baby". the latter featuring singer Rahsaan Patterson.

Nfamas released a solo album, as N'fa, called Cause An Effect in 2006.[14] Both of the album's video clips were directed by his friend, actor Heath Ledger.

Kemstar played guitar with his band Quarter 2 Nine circa 1990 as well with the Australian supergroup The Jack (with members of You Am I, Grinspoon, The Living End, Spiderbait, and Sender) for the 2004 Thunderstruck film soundtrack, performing on the songs "Crash & Burn" and "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)".

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS[15]
Choose One
  • Released: March 2002
  • Label: Rubber Records (RUB137)
  • Formats: CD
 20
Consistency Theory
  • Released: January 2003
  • Label: Rubber Records (RUB159)
  • Formats: CD, 2xLP, CD+DVD
 38

Compilation albums
List of compilation albums, with selected details
Title Album details
1200 Techniques
  • Released: August 2006
  • Label: Tronador Music (TMSS36-2)
  • Formats: CD

Extended Plays
List of EPs, with selected details
Title EP details
Infinite Styles
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Rubber Records (RUB131)
  • Formats: CD, LP
Time Has Come
  • Released: February 2015
  • Label: Rubber Records (RUB289)
  • Formats: CD, download, streaming

Singles
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS[16]
"Hard As Hell" 2001 — Infinite Styles
"Karma (What Goes Around)" 2002 36 Choose One
"Eye of the Storm" 2003 84 Consistency Theory
"Where Ur At" 35
"Fork in the Road" 2004 55
"Time Has Come"[17] 2015 — Time Has Come
"Flow Is Trouble" )featuring Ghostface Killah)[18] —

Awards

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. 1200 Techniques have won two awards from eight nominations.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2002 Choose One Breakthrough Artist - Album Nominated
"Karma" Breakthrough Artist - Single Nominated
Best Dance Release Nominated
Best Independent Release Won
Michael Gracey and Babyfoot Productions for "Karma" Best Video Won
2003 "Eye of the Storm" Best Dance Release Nominated
Best Independent Release Nominated
2004 Consistency Theory Best Urban Album Nominated

References
  1. "1200 Techniques Biography". Take40.com. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  2. "1200 Techniques". Discogs. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  3. "1200 Techniques Biography". ARTISTdirect. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  4. "1200 Techniques". Waterfront Records. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  5. "DJ Peril w/ Suburban Intellect". International Music Concepts. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  6. "1200 Techniques Biography". ARTISTdirect. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  7. "1200 Techniques". Discogs. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  8. "1200 Techniques". International Music Concepts. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  9. "1200 Techniques". Waterfront Records. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  10. "1200 Techniques about". Facebook. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  11. "1200 Techniques". International Music Concepts. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  12. "2002 ARIA Award Winners". ARIA Awards website. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 11 December 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  13. "1200 Techniques Announce PledgeMusic Campaign And New EP Time Has Come". All Aussie Hip Hop. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  14. "Album Review: N'fa: Cause An Effect". inthemix. 2006. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  15. "ARIA Charts 1200 Techniques". Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  16. Peak chart positions for singles on the ARIA Charts:
  17. "1200 Techniques - Time Has Come by Rubber Records - Free Listening on SoundCloud". First single from the forthcoming Time Has Come EP
  18. "Flow Is Trouble (single)". Apple Music. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
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