Munkimuk
Mark Ross, known as Munk or Munkimuk is a Sydney-based Hip Hop performer & music producer. He is known as The Grandfather of Indigenous Hip Hop [1] and has been performing since 1984 as a breakdancer and rapping since 1988. He is known for his music production, MCíng, breakdancing, event hosting and radio broadcasting. He has also been quoted as an influence on quite a few Australian hip hop artists.
In 2014 Mark Munk Ross was inducted into the National Indigenous Music Awards Hall Of Fame.[2]
Munkimuk was the founding member of Deadly Award-winning group South West Syndicate.[3] He has since gone solo and released his debut album in 2005. He raps in Jardwadjali (from the Grampians in Victoria) [4] as well as in English. He is also an accomplished freestyle MC and has toured internationally playing shows in Europe, Canada & USA. He has played hundreds of shows since 1989 including Big Day Out, Yabun, The Deadlys, Corroboree 2000, Barunga Festival, AFL, NRL, Arafura Games, Sydney Writers Festival, NT Writers Festival, Carnivale, Stylin Up, Klub Koori and Vibe 3 on 3 Basketball & Hip Hop Events.
In 2006 Munkimuk was nominated for a Deadly in the category of Single Release of the Year for his song Dreamtime which was originally recorded by South West Syndicate in 1999. Another mix of the track Dreamtime features on 2009 compilation CD "Making Waves - Indigenous Hip Hop" released through Gadigal Music and ABC. In 2011 Munkimuk released a song and video clip with singer Sharnee Fenwick called "Mighty Rabbitohs" for South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League team.
Munk in late 2012 formed a new band named "Renegades Of Munk" and in 2014 the band released their debut self-titled album, featuring an array of guests including Midnight Oil's Rob Hirst, Anne Kirkpatrick, Eric Grothe Jnr, Wilma Reading, Warren H. Williams, Kutcha Edwards, Stiff Gins and a host of others.
Munkimuk has also is well known for his production and recording of various artists over the last 15 years including Shellie Morris, Dukebox, Trindoe, Yothu Yindi, Nabarlek Band, Ebony Williams, Swannz, Mas-siva and many other groups and artists including hits in Asia. He also plays bass, rhythm and lead guitar, keyboards and drums. He has his own studio and also is a producer / engineer at Gadigal Studios.
Munk is the host of The Funky Lunch Show every Thursday from 1pm-2pm on 93.7FM Koori Radio with Dave Marsalis & Claude "The Black Diamond" Williams featuring funk, soul and rare grooves, as well as giving insight into the history of different artists. He was previously the host of a nationally syndicated weekly radio program the "Indij Hip Hop Show" from October 2007 until September 2014, before the show gained new hosts. He won a CBAA Award in 2008 for Contribution to Local Music. Munk also had a segment on the Deadly Sounds program called Hip Hop Drop. In 2011 Munkimuk was nominated for a Deadly Award for Community Broadcaster of the Year.
Munkimuk works around Australia on community educational hip-hop projects[5] & has for many years including Jimmy Little Foundation and the Thumbs Up program.
Munkimuk has been breakdancing since 1983 and still is active.
Discography
- Ten Years Too Late (2005 Demo)
- " Renegades Of Munk" (2014) through Impossible Odds Records & MGM Distribution.
References
- ↑ ABC, Thursday 23 April 2009 Making Waves Hip Hop launch by Renee Williamson and Frank Trotman-Golden
- ↑ http://www.musicnt.com.au/national-indigenous-music-awards/about-the-awards/2014-winners/
- ↑ Local Noise Munkimuk - interview
- ↑ The Age October 14, 2006 With pride and defiance by Sian Prior
- ↑ The Age April 1, 2006 The new corroboree by Tony Mitchell
