Hip-Hop is a true global entity, from its cultural roots in the South Bronx of NYC during the 1970s to its worldwide appeal and continuing expansion in this new decade. With that in mind when we received an email from producer/artist Big Haz who hails from Melbourne, Australia alerting to his debut album “Larger Than Life” we had to find out more.
Big Haz has been an admirer and fan of the genre since his exposure to the ’90s Westcoast sound and Gangsta Rap movement. His early inspiration came from artists including King T – with whom he collaborates on his debut album – this inspiration led him to try his hand as an MC in 2004.
Being from Melbourne, Australia, it took Big Haz a long time to develop as an artist and have the confidence to just be himself and not worry about being judged for being different and just rapping about my life. That confidence to just do him and talk about what he knew and had experienced in his music took until 2008 to emerge, in the two years since that time he has been working on “Larger Than Life.”
When we asked about the project Big Haz told Dubcnn; “The album is based on emotion and expressing feelings, telling the story of my life but with a recurring theme of that of a hungry MC trying to be as lyrical as possible whilst also conveying a message.”
Not only is he an MC, but Big Haz also produced all but two of the beats on his album and has put his debut out via his own Big Haz Records imprint.
For an artist from out of the US, “Larger Than Life” boasts an impressive feature list, Canibus, King T, Masta Ace, Slum Village, Triple Seis of Terror Squad and Chino XL all make appearances. The King T track is called “Kingz”M and can be listened to and downloaded below.
Big Haz – Kingz (Feat. King T)
In an unusual – perhaps even unheard of move – Big Haz has a record on his album where he is said to be dissed by an artist he asked to feature. On “30 Wishes” – which can be heard below – Big Haz received verses from Elzhi of Slum Village and Chino XL, the latter of whom Haz believes disses him on his own record. Upon discovering this Haz opted to leave the verse in but respond in his own subsequent verse. Haz told Dubcnn; “If you listen to his lyrics the situation surrounding the diss should become clear. I wanted to clarify the situation surrounding this song before you heard it.”
Big Haz – 30 Wishes (Feat. Elzhi of Slum Village & Chino XL)
Judge the music for yourself, if you like the material then checkout more on iTunes and order “Larger Than Life” today.
