Release of the Week 13/5: Triple One ‘Sure’
Photography Cole Bennetts
“While on tour in London, the 111s still manage to drop straight fire.” @tripleoneofficial
Australian hip-hop artists Triple One have released the first track off their upcoming EP, The Libertine 2. Teasing the new EP back in January, the downbeat and emotionally driven sound that birthed previous tracks like ‘Lakes.’, ‘6 Speed.’ and ‘Breakin’ Dawn.’ is back. Triple One’s ‘Sure’ is proof that Sydney’s hottest rap prospects are not only diversifying their own sound, but also diversifying Australian hip-hop as a genre.
Compared to the releases since 2017’s The Libertine, ‘Sure’ is noticeably less radio friendly. While this year’s ‘Butter’, 2018’s ‘Showoff’ or anything off their second EP The Naughty Corner are crowd pleasers, this latest release isn’t the Triple One track to play at a house party. However, that is both the strength of the track and Triple One as a group. ‘Sure’ is slow, with a relaxed beat and a slow violin producing a melancholic tone. Producer Billy Gunns’ refusal to stay within his own boundaries adds another musical flavour into Triple One’s already hard to define, eclectic sound. With singer Lil Dijon bouncing back and forth between rapper Obi III Terrors’ verses, the lyrics are able to match the instrumental tone. The introspective lyrics, summed up by the penultimate line “I don’t want to die without a rosebud burial”, show a side to Australian hip-hop that is often ignored. Once again, Triple One have the maturity to write emotional and personal lyrics. It might not be as wild as ‘Jitter’ or ‘Doozy’, but it isn’t trying to be.
The accompanying film clip matches this tone beat for beat. Footage of the band in parks and local urban sprawl is cut together with candid images of these four friends, and with footage of their show-stealing performance at Ivy. It simultaneously shows how rapidly the group is growing as well as their humility in the face of this success. ‘Sure’ is a refreshing sharp turn from the previous Tripe One releases and only builds the hype around Libertine 2.
Triple One are playing at the Oxford Art Factory on June 21. Tickets are available here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2227379987484516/.
