If you ask an Australian to name an Aussie hip hop group they will probably say Hilltop Hoods. Formed in Adelaide 20 years ago Hilltop Hoods are one of the first Australian hip hop acts that defined their own sound instead of just trying to recreate what was happening in the US. As a genre Aussie hip hop is a little difficult to define, obviously the Australian accent and slang is part of it  but there is also an Australian attitude. It’s more playful and real than the bravado and posturing that comes with a lot of US rap.

The Hoods released a couple of albums before their commercial break through The Calling was released in 2003. This album featured two singles Nosebleed Section and Dumb Enough that garnered a lot of national radio play (I’ve linked a video of Dumb Enough below where you can see just how popular they are).

The Hilltop Hoods have just released their seventh studio album Walking Under Stars. For the most they have stuck to their formula of past albums, the beats are bouncing and there’s the little piano samples through out.

They have clearly tried to push their limits on this album. The lyrical content sounds more mature (see their track by track description) and the production is clean and often elaborate with violins and ballad-esque piano. Guests like Dan Sultan provide soulful hooks. Unfortunately to me it all feels a little contrived. I feel much more comfortable with their playful style on tracks like Cosby Sweater and The Art of the Handshake.

They have a dedicated web site for Walking Under Stars the album is also embedded below as a Youtube playlist.