Movements & Sounds - Munkimuk a.k.a. Munk: Living and Breathing First Nations Hip Hop

·1 hr 24 min·5 clips

Monk, the grandfather of Indigenous hip-hop, reveals how he uses music to keep kids in school and passionate about their language.

The episode begins with host Charlotte introducing Monk, a Koori hip-hop artist from Sydney referred to as the grandfather of Indigenous hip-hop. Monk explains his use of hip-hop as a tool for Indigenous kids to engage with language and stay in school. He discusses co-founding the group Southwest Syndicate in the mid-1980s and its recent revival after the passing of a co-founder. Monk details the group's upcoming album 'Promised Land', conceived as a 12-track narrative that tells the story of Australia from pre-colonization to the present, starting with a 100-year-old elder. He describes the album's eclectic sound, blending hip-hop, punk, and soul, with tracks like a cover of The Hard-Ons' 'Wog Food' addressing racism. Monk traces his entry into music through breakdancing and busking in the early 1980s, leading to a production career spanning opera to death metal. He emphasizes that a producer's role is genre-agnostic, focused on making artists sound good. The conversation shifts to Monk's work at Koori Radio, where he hosts 'Making Tracks', showcasing First Nations artists and sharing stories. He highlights the station's origins from Radio Redfern in 1988 and its role during COVID-19. Monk discusses mentoring young artists through programs like Young Black and Deadly and his travels to Asia, where he produces music and learns local languages. He reflects on the historical struggles of Indigenous Australians, noting they were not citizens until 1967, and shares stories of trailblazers like Harold Blair, an opera star treated as royalty overseas but denied basic rights at home. Monk also talks about his involvement with Ngarra-burria, a First Nations composers program, where he writes classical music using a MIDI guitar. He concludes with advice to follow dreams, inspire others, and respect one's roots and destinations.

As heard by us

A steady conversation linking Indigenous hip-hop, radio, language, and community work.

Movements & Sounds frames hip-hop less as a genre than as lived cultural practice, with radio close behind as a form of community work. Charlotte's conversation with Monk, a Kori Yawajali hip-hop artist from Sydney, follows the lines that connect his music, visual art,…

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Why you'd press play

Hear Monk connect hip-hop, Indigenous language, school, and community radio from Sydney outward.

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