Today, Gomeroi rapper Kobie Dee, proudly based in South Sydney’s Maroubra Bidjigal Land, shares his latest single Warriors & Storytellers available now via Bad Apples Music.
As a celebratory nod of recognition to both personal and professional achievements, Warriors & Storytellers speaks to a year of milestones: proposing to his partner, welcoming their son and embracing a surge of confidence to level up on his journey.
An arpeggiating trumpet lays down a melodic hook before Kobie raps at record speeds, fuelled by pride and a revived energy to chase his goals. A trap beat delivers goosebumps as the reverberated space between each kick prompts Kobie’s raw lyricism. As ever, a storyteller and inspirational leader, Kobie invites his community and people along for the ride – emphasising that a strong work ethic and the power found in solidarity are responsible for his past and future chapters in life.
Warriors & Storytellers arrives ahead of Kobie’s performance at his fourth self-curated festival, South East Block Party 2024 on Wednesday 24 April at Maroubra’s Coral Sea Park on Bigjigal Land. Alongside a day of free live music, food and community activities, with the help of Weave Youth & Community Services and Randwick Council, Kobie will also launch Lexo Studios, a new recording studio in Lexington Place for use by his Maroubra and South East communities at the end of April.
Kobie says on Warriors & Storytellers: “This track for me is like a victory lap – the end of a journey and the start of a new chapter. In this track I highlight the year where a lot has changed for the better and where a lot of hard work has paid off.
Releasing this after Father’s Eyes and Statistic is my way of showing that although I’ve had some harder times in my journey and there are still things I am working on – there is hope. I’ve reached a time in my life where I feel I am able to express the excitement of the times I have arrived at and what is to come in the future.
I want people to realise that no matter where you start – things get better when you put in the work. I want people to hear this track and feel they can conquer anything, whether it’s in the gym, music, or just life in general. This is my victory lap song – the start of a new chapter.”
Kobie Dee enjoyed a momentous 2023 and start to 2024. Most recently, he released Statistic to speak on observations in his life that contribute to the devastating statistics that impact Aboriginal people and communities every day. He was also a podcast guest on hip-hop series Take Flight, delivering powerful bars in his Sky Session. These moments coincided with Kobie’s discography reaching 80M+ global streams, and as 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 critical rapture for the release of his recent 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. Next, Kobie will support New York’s Oddisee at Sydney’s Liberty Hall later next month.
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, 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.
As the curtains roll back on Kobie Dee’s newest chapter, listen to Warriors & Storytellers today – and witness one of Australia’s most hard-working and talented rappers continue to rise.
With thanks to Thinking Loud
