360 - Watch This Space
Written by: Rashid AlKamraikhi - Sense Music Media | Wednesday 27th September 2023
Photos by: Blacklisted Visions
“I’d love to battle Eminem but I know that will never happen.”
Australian hip-hop head 360 has been dropping new tracks in preparation for his regionally-focused Back To Life tour later this year. Sense Music Media got all up in his inbox to find out how his resurrection is going.
What was your first introduction to hip-hop in Australia and what were you first experiences in the culture like?
I remember hearing Aussie rap back in the day and really vibing with it, but then I heard Lyrical Commission and I absolutely loved it. They were the only rappers that were doing things like punchlines, wordplay and multi-syllable rhymes. That was a huge turning point for me. I made a name for myself at 16 for battle-rapping people in Melbourne. I got embraced by a lot of the people I looked up to, it was awesome.
Who was influential to you and your style both in terms of international and domestic artists?
Eminem, Wu-Tang and any underground hip-hop that was more lyrical was my main influence.
What is your take on the current state of hip-hop in Australia?
It’s changed so much. Back when I was in high school doing it, it wasn’t cool at all. I got picked on for it etc. These days, though, everyone is doing it. The game is in a healthy place at the moment, there’s heaps of different artists and styles out there. When I was young there was a lot of gatekeepers. If you pushed the envelope trying different genres you were considered a sellout, whereas these days it’s encouraged.
You have a reputation of being one of Australia’s best battlers with some killer takedowns that can be seen on YouTube. Are there any artists that you would love to face off against?
I’d love to battle Eminem but I know that will never happen. When I step in the ring again there are a few people I’d like to battle but I won’t reveal who that is just yet. Watch this space.
Throughout your career you have had a lot of legendary collab tracks with artists like Pez. Who are you keen to collaborate with currently that you haven’t yet had the chance to?
My dream is to work with Rick Rubin, Ye and Hans Zimmer. They’re on my bucket list or collabs.
Projects like Rapper Tag brought community together and provided an amazing platform for people to discover more of the talent that Australia has to offer. If you started another tag, who would be your first pick?
I did Rapper Tag 2 during the pandemic and I started with Nerve. He’s killer! If I do a third I might try it with UK rappers.
Who are the artists on the local scene that we should be keeping an eye on?
Nerve and Mason Dane are coming up super strong.
You’ve already released some killer tracks this year such as Hardly Talk and Lose It, what is the future for 360?
I plan to keep releasing songs, mixtapes and freestyles while I get my next album ready in the background. I’ll continue like this for a few years. I’m also planning to do a few collab projects too, but I can’t reveal who with yet.
I reached out to some members of the South East Queensland community to see if they had any questions for you. Besides the ones I’ve incorporated above, here’s a couple of fun ones. Feel free to answer them or not.
Do aliens exist?
Go and check out some videos of deep-sea octopuses. The deep sea is full of aliens. I’m sure there’s other life out there in space too. Space itself is a living organism in my opinion.
What is the superior ice cream flavour?
Cookies and cream
Who is the best Ninja Turtle?
Raph or Michaelangelo.
How do you feel about the current state of the rental market?
Luckily I’m not too aware, I hear it’s horrible though!
360 tours nationally in November. Get tickets here.