‘DIAMOND MINING’
BABY PRINCE: — INTERVIEW & PERFORMANCE
Amid an ever-changing cultural landscape, the Australian music scene has witnessed a hip-hop renaissance. The popular formats of drill, 808-heavy trap and British influenced grime have collectively mutated to become a sound that is now starting to gain recognition as its own.
Brisbane MC ‘Baby Prince’ has spent the last 3 years moving the colloquial ‘flag’ forward for Brisbane independents, as well as Australian hip hop. We were fortunate enough to share thoughts and words with the 22-year-old earlier this year.
Words & Interview by MATHEW SIEBUHR
T-SHIRT — PRO CLUB, LIQUID METAL TROUSERS — HELIOT EMIL, SHOES — JORDAN 1’s (STYLIST’S OWN)
When speaking on his earlier influences, he was eager to reminisce on several global icons, and the impact they shared within his life.
“It was just – Mike, Mike, Mike (Jackson)…whenever I wanted to listen to music”.
With age, his music taste began to expand towards the realm of commercial hip hop.
“2 Chainz was probably the first rapper”, “-and from then I found Lil Wayne, from 2 Chainz”.
“It’s just the way he says things (Lil Wayne) – just the cadence”, “there’s a whole bunch of character in what he says”.
LEATHER JACKET — BERSHKA, T-SHIRT — PRO CLUB, BELT — LOUIS VUITTON, TROUSERS — VINTAGE VIA (CHEEP STORE), SHOES — JORDAN 1’S (STYLIST’S OWN)
With every work force industry having to adjust to the COVID pandemic, we wanted to know the obstacles he faced as a creative.
“If you ask me bro, I’ve been ‘quarantining’ for the last year – year and a half, two years.”
“Regardless of the situation, I wasn’t going out anyway. So, it’s really just given me more time to lock in and record more.”
Australia’s current improvements regarding the pandemic, has afforded a new level of optimism for creatives looking towards the near future.
“The next move for me would be dropping the tape, and then trying to pack a tour together. Set up wise, the way my team is moving – I’ve got a booking agent now, it’s a whole lot different movement, whole different game.”
Coming off the back of his most recent hits, “Leap” featuring OGM and “Dollar $igns” featuring BLESSED, we asked about what lead to his success.
“Honestly just taking my time, the last thing I dropped before ‘Dollar $igns’ and ‘Leap’, it was like 9 months or so.” “I guess I was waiting for the ‘right’ song.”
— BABY PRINCE
ALL GARMENTS, VINTAGE — CHEEP STORE, JEWELLERY — STYLIST’S OWN, SHOES — NIKE M2K TEKNO (STYLIST’S OWN)
“I had ‘Leap’ that whole time, it was more so about waiting and waiting and waiting, because – all it is, is playlisting, you just got to reach out to curators.”
“Within that time, I made all these new connections”. “Patience is why that is.”
When asked about the process of recording, he was quick to acknowledge the role his newfound connections had played.
“When I started, I’d just go straight on YouTube, get a YouTube beat, put it into whatever recording system I had and just write to it.”
— BABY PRINCE
“-the last six months, it’s completely different, now it’s like beat packs from producers around the country. I don’t even write no more, I just go off cuff.”
“Process wise, it’s a lot quicker, but it takes more time (overall) as well.”
“It’s more patience again, that one line – you just need to do it over and over again.”
T-SHIRT, SIDE BAG, VINTAGE — CHEEP STORE, LIQUID METAL TROUSERS — HELIOT EMIL, BELT — LOUIS VUITTON, SHOES & JEWELLERY — JORDAN 1’S (STYLIST’S OWN)
We asked about his roots, his Zimbabwean heritage and how that impacts his craft as an Australian based artist.
“The two cultures are completely different, so when I make a deep track, it’s more connected to me and my family.
“The whole reason I do this music thing is for my family, the end goal is to bring everyone from Zimbabwe – family wise, out of that situation.”
ALL GARMENTS, VINTAGE — CHEEP STORE, JEWELLERY — STYLIST’S OWN
The importance of cultural diversity has progressively become a major focal point for artists around the world. We touched on the Australian music scene in particular and how diverse it’s become, and where that affects him.
“Now we’ve got artists like ‘(The Kid) Laroi’, ‘Manu Crooks’, ‘BLESSED’”. “- a whole lot more that people haven’t heard of.”
“The culture is definitely moving, it’s a whole lot better.”, “It’s a whole lot further along, closer to the American Hip Hop culture than it was five years ago”.
With all attention moving towards his next step, we wanted to know his greatest challenge with future progress.
“Being in the same studio environments as artists, that maybe two years ago I was looking up to. Now, I can get into the same room with.”, “The biggest challenge is trying to match with those other artists, and ‘bat on the same field’”.
“Now I’m lucky enough to have those opportunities, I got to deliver”.
HOODIE — PURGATORY, PANTS & SHOES — STYLIST’S OWN
Amongst the uncertainty of 2020, lies the convictions of hungry up and coming Australian artists. Artists with a voice worth amplifying, eager to take up the baton in the direction it needs to. Baby Prince is more than a name to look out for, he’s quickly becoming a showman that you’re best not to miss.
5 Fingers Of Death with Baby Prince
CREATIVE CREDITS
ART DIRECTION — MATHEW SIEBUHR @mateo_tololo & MONTEL SALIFU @montelsalifu
PHOTOGRAPHY — ELIZ LE @elizabeth.le & BRONSON MOYLE @bronson.moyle
VIDEOGRAPHER — BRONSON MOYLE @bronson.moyle
VIDEO EDITING — JADON PATTERSON @jadon_pattersonnn
FASHION STYLIST — CHARLOTTE LACEY @charlottel4cey
SHOOT COORDINATOR — MACAMI @macami__
BTS — SAMUEL BAMFORD @skooes
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER — HAZE ALIEU @hazealieu
LOCATION — SIX DEGREES STUDIOS @sixdegreestudios
SPECIAL THANKS