Sport and music go hand in hand. From the unforgettable soundtracks of FIFA and NBA 2K games, to going to a live sporting event and hearing the DJ play songs that evoke a sense of nostalgia (and, in some cases, really annoy people)—the two pursuits are inextricably linked, and for good reason. Both music and sport involve a lot of passion, a lot of sacrifices and a lot of investment from spectators/listeners.
For Triple J Unearthed’s Executive Producer and Arsenal superfan Tommy Faith, the link between music and sport is borne from the people involved in both areas. Speaking to Complex AU he says, “There’s a degree of overlap between those chaotic and charismatic personas that are in both sporting and music worlds, so it’s never really surprised me that those who gravitate to them in one area vibe them in the other.”
The synergy between musical and sporting excellence is evident in Perth MC MALI JO$E’s trajectory. Balancing a professional soccer career and music formed a huge part of MALI’s teenage years. He was recruited into the Perth Glory youth system at 14, spending four years there. Speaking about the experience to Complex AU, he says, “The experience was unreal. I’ll never forget those years. I’ve done things some footballers never see.” As a teenager, he played against Barcelona and Manchester City during his time at the Australian Institute of Sport for a tournament. Now, the MC is scoring goals off the field, releasing the punchy and introspective SUNSEEKER EP in 2022, and dropping a trio of singles so far in 2023.
The link between music and sport is evident in all eras of Australian hip-hop, from the Hilltop Hoods rapping about Friday night footy on “The Nosebleed Section”, to ChillinIT appearing in full cricket whites for the “Wish You Well Pt. 2 (It’s A Vibe)” music video. In more recent times, OneFour performed at a Western Sydney parade to celebrate Samoa’s recent run all the way to the Rugby League World Cup final, while Australian UFC hero Alex Volkanovski appeared in the music video for HP Boyz’s “Watch The Wick”.
Australian MCs love referencing sporting heroes in their lyrics, and we wanted to celebrate by taking a look at some of our favourite sports-related references in Australian hip-hop. Whether you’re a fan of the round ball, the oval ball or the contest between bat and ball, read on to find out how Australian rappers have immortalised some of the world’s biggest sporting stars in their lyrics.