Phrase (rapper)
Encyclopedia
Harley Webster—better known as Phrase—is an Australian hip hop
MC, originating from Melbourne
, Victoria
.
and J-Skub (Jan Skubiszewki), while working part-time for the Reach Youth foundation, an organization that Phrase credits with helping him overcome behavioral problems he had in his mid-teens. The album, Talk with Force was picked up for national release by Universal Music Australia
in 2005. Three singles were released from this album, "Here Now" featuring Mystro
, "Catch Phrase" featuring Daniel Merriweather, and "Hold On" featuring labelmate Max White.
In 2007 he founded the record label Crooked Eye with DJ Flagrant and J-Skub. The label's first release was a mixtape by Melbourne MC Illy
(which Phrase also appears on). The same year, he released the non-album single "Face It" featuring Ian Kenny from Karnivool
and Birds of Tokyo
; which was used in the marketing campaign for the Australian release of Halo 3
In 2009 Phrase released his second album Clockwork, which included the high-rotation Triple J
singles "Skylight" (featuring Kram
) and "Clockwork". The album reached #26 on the ARIA
albums chart and #6 on the ARIA Urban albums chart.
In 2011 Phrase returns with a new sound for his 3rd album Babylon. The first single was "Apart" featuring Davey Lane. Other guest artists featured on the album include Jimmy Barnes
, Sparkadia
's Alex Burnett, Guineafowl
, The Preachers and Jane Doe. During an interview with Reegan from Radar, Phrase said that 'Babylon is not a hip hop album but an album with rap on it'
. He attended Glen Waverley Secondary College as a teen
Australian hip hop
Australian hip hop music began in the early 1980s; originally it was primarily influenced by hip hop music and culture imported via radio and television from the United States of America. However, since the 1990s, a distinctive local style has developed. Australian hip hop is an underground music...
MC, originating from Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
History
Phrase began to piece together an album with producers Daniel MerriweatherDaniel Merriweather
Daniel Paul Merriweather is an Australian R&B singer-songwriter who has worked as a featured vocalist for other artists and has a solo career. His guest vocals are included on album tracks by Disco Montego, Mark Ronson and Phrase...
and J-Skub (Jan Skubiszewki), while working part-time for the Reach Youth foundation, an organization that Phrase credits with helping him overcome behavioral problems he had in his mid-teens. The album, Talk with Force was picked up for national release by Universal Music Australia
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
in 2005. Three singles were released from this album, "Here Now" featuring Mystro
Mystro
Kevin Amarfio is a British hip hop MC better known by the name Mystro.-History:Mystro first recorded appearance was in 1998, as the featured artist on Cane's "The Struggle" 12". In 1999, Mystro released the "Kiss That Arse Goodnight" single, featuring Jargon and Skinnyman, on Deal Real Records...
, "Catch Phrase" featuring Daniel Merriweather, and "Hold On" featuring labelmate Max White.
In 2007 he founded the record label Crooked Eye with DJ Flagrant and J-Skub. The label's first release was a mixtape by Melbourne MC Illy
Illy (rapper)
Illy is an Australian Hip Hop Artist from Melbourne, Victoria. He was a member of Crooked Eye and has since gone solo, releasing his first album, Long Story Short in 2009. Long Story Short reached #24 on the ARIA Top 40 Urban Albums chart and the lead single, "Pictures", was placed on national...
(which Phrase also appears on). The same year, he released the non-album single "Face It" featuring Ian Kenny from Karnivool
Karnivool
Karnivool are an Australian progressive rock band formed in Perth in 1997. The group currently consists of Ian Kenny on vocals, Drew Goddard and Mark Hosking on guitar, Jon Stockman on bass guitar, and Steve Judd on drums. Karnivool emerged from a band Kenny and Goddard formed during high school...
and Birds of Tokyo
Birds of Tokyo
Birds of Tokyo is a four-piece alternative rock band from Perth, Western Australia. Their debut album Day One, gained them domestic success with it reaching No. 3 on the AIR Independent Album charts, spending a total of 36 consecutive weeks in the top 10.In 2008, the band released Universes,...
; which was used in the marketing campaign for the Australian release of Halo 3
Halo 3
Halo 3 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie for the Xbox 360 console. The third installment in the Halo franchise, the game concludes the story arc begun in Halo: Combat Evolved and continued in Halo 2...
In 2009 Phrase released his second album Clockwork, which included the high-rotation Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
singles "Skylight" (featuring Kram
Mark Maher
Kram is the drummer/singer of Australian band Spiderbait. His stage name is an anagram of his first name; "Kram" is simply "Mark" spelled backwards...
) and "Clockwork". The album reached #26 on the ARIA
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
albums chart and #6 on the ARIA Urban albums chart.
In 2011 Phrase returns with a new sound for his 3rd album Babylon. The first single was "Apart" featuring Davey Lane. Other guest artists featured on the album include Jimmy Barnes
Jimmy Barnes
James Dixon Swan , better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer-songwriter. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. It was actually John who had encouraged and taught Jim how to sing as he wasn't really interested at...
, Sparkadia
Sparkadia
Sparkadia is the project of alternative pop musician Alexander Burnett. Originally a band, Sparkadia formed in Sydney, Australia, in 2004. Up until 2009, Sparkadia was a four-piece band.-History:...
's Alex Burnett, Guineafowl
Guineafowl
The guineafowl are a family of birds in the Galliformes order, although some authorities include the guineafowl as a subfamily, Numidinae, of the family Phasianidae...
, The Preachers and Jane Doe. During an interview with Reegan from Radar, Phrase said that 'Babylon is not a hip hop album but an album with rap on it'
Personal life
Phrase is married to Australian R&B singer Jade MacRaeJade MacRae
Jade MacRae is an Australian R&B/Soul singer and the daughter of two professional New Zealand musicians living in the UK. Her debut single "You Make Me Weak" debuted in the top 50 of the Australian singles charts in November 2004...
. He attended Glen Waverley Secondary College as a teen
Albums
- Talk with ForceTalk with Force-Track listing:# "Talk with Force!# "Here Now" Featuring Mystro# "Hold On" Featuring Max White# "Taking Care of Business" Featuring Saigon# "Hookville" Featuring Lee Sissing# "Does She Like It" Featuring Brad Strut & Daniel Merriweather# "Nothin's Gonna Change"...
- Marlin/UniversalUniversal Music GroupUniversal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
(987 382-4) (19 September 2005) - Clockwork - Marlin/Universal (24 April 2009) #26 AUS
- Babylon (12 August 2011) #29 AUS
Singles
- "Here Now" / "Talk With Force" - Universal (27 September 2005)
- "Catch Phrase" - Universal (2006)
- "Hold On" - Universal (17 June 2006)
- "Face It" - Universal (27 October 2007)
- "Clockwork" - Universal (27 September 2008) - Download release only
- "Skylight" (feat. KramMark MaherKram is the drummer/singer of Australian band Spiderbait. His stage name is an anagram of his first name; "Kram" is simply "Mark" spelled backwards...
) - Universal (December 2008) - Download release only - "Spaceship" - Universal (20 March 2009) - Download release only
- "All Good" - Universal (2009) - Download release only
- "Day You Went Away" - Universal (2009) - Download release only
- "Push Up" - Universal (2010) - Download release only
Guest appearances
- Daniel MerriweatherDaniel MerriweatherDaniel Paul Merriweather is an Australian R&B singer-songwriter who has worked as a featured vocalist for other artists and has a solo career. His guest vocals are included on album tracks by Disco Montego, Mark Ronson and Phrase...
— "Pot Of Gold", "Crimson Stone" (Merriweather promo EP, 2004) - Jade MacRaeJade MacRaeJade MacRae is an Australian R&B/Soul singer and the daughter of two professional New Zealand musicians living in the UK. Her debut single "You Make Me Weak" debuted in the top 50 of the Australian singles charts in November 2004...
— "Superstar" (Crooked Eye remix) (single, 2005) - MystroMystroKevin Amarfio is a British hip hop MC better known by the name Mystro.-History:Mystro first recorded appearance was in 1998, as the featured artist on Cane's "The Struggle" 12". In 1999, Mystro released the "Kiss That Arse Goodnight" single, featuring Jargon and Skinnyman, on Deal Real Records...
— "MC Sick C*!t" (Diggi Down Under, 2006) - Jase — "Four Seasons" (Jase Connection Vol. 1, 2006)
- Juse — "Tied Up" (Global Casino, 2006)
- Chopper ReadChopper ReadMark Brandon "Chopper" Read is an Australian ex-criminal, who wrote a series of semi-autobiographical and fictional crime novels. The 2000 film Chopper was based on his life.-Early life:...
— "Real Life" (Interview with a MadmanInterview with a MadmanInterview with a Madman is an album from infamous Australian criminal Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read. Read's foray into hip hop features gritty tales of organised crime, jail time, and ear removal...
, 2006) - Infallible — "Two Sides of a Coin" (The Stratosphere)
- AmielAmiel DaemionAmiel Muki Daemion born on in New York, is an Australian pop singer, songwriter and actress. She moved to Australia with her family at the age of two and starred in films in the 1990s, including The Silver Brumby which also starred Russell Crowe and Caroline Goodall. Her music career shot to fame...
— "Following the Sun" (Crooked Eye remix) (Be Your Girl single, 2006) - Tycotic — (The People vs. Tycotic mixtape, 2006)
- IllyIlly (rapper)Illy is an Australian Hip Hop Artist from Melbourne, Victoria. He was a member of Crooked Eye and has since gone solo, releasing his first album, Long Story Short in 2009. Long Story Short reached #24 on the ARIA Top 40 Urban Albums chart and the lead single, "Pictures", was placed on national...
— "Talk with Force 2007" (The Illy Mixtape, 2007) - Tyree (rapper) — "Ryders" (Now or Never, 2007)
- Bliss n EsoBliss n EsoBliss n Eso are an ARIA Award-winning Australian hip hop band based in Sydney, and were originally known as Bliss N' Esoterikizm for their debut EP The Arrival...
- "Happy In My Hoody" (Flying Colours, 2008) - Illy - "For You" (Long Story Short, 2009)
- M-PhazesM-PhazesM-Phazes is an Australian Hip Hop producer and artist based in Melbourne, Victoria. Born on the Gold Coast he relocated to Melbourne to further his musical career...
- "Music Box" (Good Gracious, 2010)
Awards and nominations
- Nomination, 2006 ARIAARIA Music AwardsThe Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
Best Urban Release Talk with Force - Nomination, 2007 Urban Music AwardsUrban Music Awards Australia and New ZealandThe Urban Music Awards Australia and New Zealand were established in 2006 as a means of celebrating hip hop, soul and R&B acts throughout the two countries. Two awards ceremonies were held, in 2006 and 2007....
Best Male Artist - Winner, 2007 Urban Music Awards Best Hip Hop Single "Hold On"
- Winner, 2007 Urban Music Awards Best Video Clip "Hold On"