The Rise of Hilltop Hoods

Hilltop Hoods are an Australian hip-hop group from Adelaide, South Australia, who formed in 1991. The group consists of Suffa, MC Pressure, and Debris. Hilltop Hoods are considered to be pioneers of the Australian hip-hop scene, with their success and influence in the genre often compared to the likes of American hip-hop groups such as Wu-Tang Clan, Notorious B.I.G., and Dr. Dre.

The Group's Early Years

The group first started out by putting on local shows at small venues around Adelaide, before gradually gaining traction. Over time, Hilltop Hoods developed a unique sound that was a mix of traditional hip-hop production with jazz and soul influences. This allowed them to stand out from the crowd and led to their first big break in 2002 when they were invited to perform at the Big Day Out festival.

Breakthrough Success

It was after this performance that Hilltop Hoods began to gain recognition across Australia. Their debut album, Old School New Rules (2002), won two ARIA Music Awards and went on to become one of the highest selling Australian albums of all time. Their second album The Calling (2005) went triple platinum and included collaborations with some of Australia's biggest acts such as Paul Kelly, Montaigne and Ecca Vandal.

Continued Influence

In the years since their breakthrough success, Hilltop Hoods have released seven more albums and have sold over 1 million records in Australia alone. They are widely considered to be one of the most influential groups in Australian hip-hop history and have inspired countless other artists in the genre.