Hip hop is more than just a music genre, it is a cultural movement that has captured the hearts and minds of people from all walks of life.
It originated in the distressed streets of the South Bronx, New York in the mid-1970s, born from the creativity and resilience of African-American and Puerto Rican youth. As the years went by, hip hop gained widespread recognition and by the late 1980s it had reached new heights of popularity.
However, it wasn’t until the 2000s that hip hop truly took over as the most dominant and beloved music genre. In the midst of this global phenomenon, Greece embraced hip hop in the mid-1980s but it was in the following decade, the iconic 90s, where it truly made its mark in the country’s music scene.
The infectious beats, clever lyrics, and bold fashion that defines hip hop quickly became a symbol of self-expression and empowerment, spreading its influence throughout the world and transcending borders. Hip hop has indeed come a long way from its humble origins, and its impact continues to shape the cultural landscape of countries far and wide.
Names like Active Member, FFC, and TXC started to write their own history.
More than thirty years later, the genre is one of the most loved by the Greek public.
Every day, we are exposed to a vast array of new artists, each one with their unique sound and style, all trying to make it big in the music industry. However, it seems that many of these artists are simply attempting to replicate the tried and true formula of popular American music.
Their tracks all seem to follow a similar pattern, with heavy beats, psychedelic bass, and lyrics that glorify drugs, material possessions, and objectify women. While these may be common themes in mainstream music, it’s refreshing to come across artists who are breaking away from this mould and creating pieces that truly reflect their own experiences and perspectives.
As I sat down to talk with the members of H Division, I could feel their energy and passion radiating off of them. They are not just another young band following the current of what’s popular, but rather they are like a gramophone needle, carving out their own unique and authentic path. What struck me the most about them was their genuine connection to the struggles and realities of the community.
It was clear that they had experienced their fair share of difficulties and carried heavy burdens, yet their hearts remained pure and their souls full of dreams.
Skee, 2K, and Jason each possess an undeniable love for music, a fierce desire for freedom of expression, and an unquenchable passion for life.
“H Division is a team of 7-8 people, with some members being more active than others. Our main philosophy and goal is to provide a platform for people to express their artistic concerns through various art forms. When we arrived in Melbourne and realised the size of the Greek community, we knew we needed to create a hip hop microcosm where young artists like Skee and Jason could freely express themselves.”
The latter two have spent countless hours over the past few months bringing Skee’s first official album, the impressive Puzzle, to the world. This record was released on November 18 and can be found on Spotify.
“We released the album on November 18. Each song expressed not only my personal concerns but also reflected the values of H Division and our vision of freedom. I created “Puzzle” to embody our philosophy. We worked relentlessly for many months to craft something we are proud of. I do not want to look back later in life and regret something I have produced. Each piece tells its own story, and every verse symbolizes a philosophy.”
Of course, the differences between the reality of Greece and those experienced by young people here in Melbourne are significant.
“The music industry in Greece is constantly pressuring artists to fit into a certain mould in order to achieve success. It’s as if they have a checklist of specific lyrics and styles that must be adhered to in order to be deemed marketable. But let’s be real, conforming is overrated. As artists, we thrive on authenticity and refuse to succumb to the expectations placed upon us. And for those who think that living in Melbourne means our financial struggles are a thing of the past and we are living a life of luxury, let us set the record straight. We are still navigating through an unfamiliar environment, far from the comfort of our home, facing our own set of challenges. However, rather than conforming to the easy sell of glamorous and exaggerated lifestyles, our music aims to capture the raw reality of our everyday struggles and concerns. After all, true art is not about fitting into a mould, it’s about breaking it,” Skee says.
Various branches and eras of music inspired H Division.
Jason’s family had a music producer uncle who introduced him to his first musical influences.
“My introduction to rap came from my uncle, who was a music producer. As I grew up, I developed a love for listening to jazz from my father. I was later introduced to artists such as MF Doom and Nas. I also particularly enjoyed original UK Drill music, which is evident in the tracks we create with Skee.”
2K grew up in an environment surrounded by Greek music.
“Greek music was always playing at my home, from Gonidis to Vamvakaris, and Karras to Klarina. My first experience with rap came from a friend in my previous neighborhood, Yannis. In 1999, he bought Takis Chan’s album “Rima gia hrima” and introduced it to me, along with one by Terror X Crew. I was immediately hooked and fell in love with it.”
Skee, 23, was introduced to rap through the ZN and TXC.
“My sister and her boyfriend, used to listen to a lot of TXC and ZN. Naturally, these were the first rap groups I heard. Later on, I also became a fan of Mikros Kleftis and Lex. In Lex, I found the social expression that every young person, growing up in a country like Greece, is looking for.”
How deep does this “dream” go?
“We do not know where this will lead or what it will develop into. We are committed to doing the necessary work. As stated in our biography, our goal is to establish a multi-purpose space where people can freely visit and create art. This space will be open to individuals seeking a means of self-expression, similar to the way we have found through H Division.”
Where does the name ‘H Division’ originate from?
The idea was inspired by the movie “Chopper” which refers to a section of the maximum security prison known as H Division. The name symbolises the search for freedom in a society and world where true freedom is unattainable.
On November 30, H Division will participate in the music festival Mousiki at the Northcote Social Club (301 High Street, at 7.30pm).
“It is a wonderful opportunity that we were invited to attend, and we promptly accepted. The small festival will showcase Greek music and feature live performances by Anatreptix, Cats and the Canary, and Delyrium. The lineup will include a variety of rebetika, Greek folk music, swing, and of course rap, and we are thrilled to be performing on stage.”
