Today, Gomeroi rapper proudly based in South Sydney’s Maroubra Bidjigal Land, Kobie Dee launches 2024 with his new single, Statistic available now via Bad Apples Music.
As a masterful storyteller, fierce go-getter and inspirational leader both to his immediate community, and wider generations, Kobie weaves across a poignant piano chord progression to punctuate his raps against the observations in his life that contribute to the devastating statistics that impact Aboriginal people and communities every day.
Kobie speaks about growing up as a young black man on Statistic, and how he has processed cultural shame and witnessed the reality of life expectancy for Aboriginal people when up against high suicide rates and an over-representation of Aboriginal people in custody – a direct result of the ongoing impacts of colonisation. Further, Kobie becomes a circuit breaker, as he refuses to be a statistic and shouts out to other mob breaking cycles and defying odds to carve their own futures – all while throwing pride to the oldest living culture on earth.
A musical moment that communicates worry, Statistic is translated visually, as Kobie teams up with Indigenous Artist from Central Australia, Oumoula McKenzie, to illustratively connect the facts to the daily impacts Aboriginal communities face through the track’s artwork and lyrical video.
Kobie says on Statistic: “This track is a reflection of the systemic racism and intergenerational trauma that affects our mob to this day. I wrote Statistic to share my frustrations on the constant fear of becoming another statistic, lost to a system that was deliberately built against us and designed to make us fail. Statistic is also my way to speak on the facts of our people, where we come from, and our strength in our resistance.”
Kobie Dee enjoyed a momentous 2023. Most recently, as his discography reached 61M+ global streams, he was awarded his first Gold certification for his 2019 single Jody which first debuted for triple j’s Bars Of Steel. This was preceded by a critical rapture for the release of his newest single, Father’s Eyes featuring Stan Walker, a nomination for NIMA’s Artist of the Year Award, and an invitation to perform live on stage at the NIMA Awards ceremony. Kobie appeared as GQ Magazine’s newest star and trailblazer within the September/October issue, and made waves on stages at the inaugural SXSW Sydney, Vivid Sydney, Brunswick Music Festival and the Powerhouse Museum’s Powerhouse Late x Re-Right initiative.
In 2023, with the help of Weave Youth & Community Services and Randwick Council, Kobie Dee threw his third Block Party from Maroubra’s Coral Sea Park, with free live music, food, and community activities. Stay tuned for South East Block Party 2024, details to be announced soon. Meanwhile, Kobie continues his role as Youth Ambassador for Weave Youth & Community Services, Just Reinvest NSW and joins the Mentoring Program for Young Mob of the Culture Is Life Program. At home, Kobie has announced he will launch a new recording studio in Lexington, for use by his Marboura and South East communities.
Kobie Dee shared his debut EP Gratitude Over Pity in 2021 to high acclaim from triple j, Pedestrian.TV, NME, GQ and more. That same year, Kobie launched his five-part podcast series, Know Role Models, featuring an inaugural episode with Australian of the Year and legendary sportsman, Adam Goodes. Since the release of Jody, Kobie Dee has continued to find connection with his peers and audiences across Australia via effortless flows, laser-sharp execution, and visceral storytelling that connects deeply with all who listen. On stage, Kobie has performed at Yabun Festival, Yo MTV Raps, Oxford Arts Factory, Better Daze, Sydney Festival, This That Festival, the Sydney Opera House as part of Briggs’ Bad Apples House Party for Vivid LIVE 2019 and more. In 2022, Kobie Dee completed his highly successful Gomeroi Nation tour. In partnership with Jackson Street and Create NSW, the tour made stops in Tamworth, Narrabri, Walgett and Boggabilla throughout March, before ending with a one-off Moree Block Party starring special guests Nooky, Triple One and Nter.
Sit up and listen, as Kobie Dee shares an intimate and straight-talking new single Statistic available now via Bad Apples Music, as one of Australia’s most admired and genuine rappers with a big 2024 to come.
STATISTIC IS OUT NOW VIA BAD APPLES MUSIC – BUY/STREAM HERE
With thanks to Thinking Loud
