WHEN notorious LA gangster rappers N.W.A burst onto the music scene in the late '80s, it prompted parent groups everywhere to condemn the expletive-laden and unapologetically violent and sexist protest songs.
Part of the new wave of American west coast rap that defined a generation - Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Ice T et al - the group's defiant sound and politically charged lyrics appealed to teenage boys searching for some street cred in the schoolyard.
For Kaz Hamilton - aka Perth hip-hop/soul/funk/reggae artist Fdel - N.W.A was his introduction to the genre, ultimately influencing the now 30-year-old to dig deeper.
“My cousin gave me a dubbed tape of NWA's F… Tha Police, which I thought was hilarious because it had swear words in it,” Hamilton laughed.
“I had no idea what hip-hop was and ended up looking for similar music.
“I stumbled on Run DMC and De La Soul through a mate of mine who heard me giggling away to N.W.A; his mum was really into hip-hop.
“Then I found (hip-hop luminaries) Tribe Called Quest, (Atlanta-based rapper) T-Rock (and so on).”
Hamilton has been refining his beat-making skills since the age of 14, and made his mark in 2003 producing the national hit El Questro for Perth's hip-hop pioneers Downsyde, before releasing his debut album Audiofidelity to critical acclaim in 2005.
With a new manager based in California's Venice Beach, a new album touted for release next year featuring the vocals of Blue King Brown front-woman Natalie Pa'apa'a and Japanese-American rapper Lyrics Born, and the addition of a full horn section to his live band, Hamilton is excited about releasing a dynamic new sound.
He heads into 2012 with home-grown hip-hop firmly entrenched in the national mainstream, thanks in part to the success of Perth's recently crowned ARIA award-winner Drapht.
“(That recognition) means more limelight for Australian hip-hop and shows (record) labels that you don't constantly have to put Rihanna out; there are people out there that will buy good music if you present it to them.”
Fdel and his six-piece live band play at the Funk Club Countdown to NYE party at Salt on the Beach, North Fremantle, on December 31.
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Emilia Vranjes