Bukkcity
Encyclopedia
Andre Knight better known by his stage name Bukkcity, is an Australian-American
rapper who is currently signed to the Unda K9 Records
record label.
, relocating to Irvington, New Jersey
. His father departed the family soon after, and the family moved several more times. He struggled being the only young male in the household with his single parent mother and two sisters, in a place of ubiquitous violence, drugs and more violence. After numerous altercations with the law, he found himself in and out of state penitentiaries, including a one year sentence for assaulting an undercover police officer. During his troubled adolescence, Bukkcity witnessed the death of his cousin shot in gang-crossfire in New York
and the loss of his younger sister to a heroin overdose.
Against his will, Bukkcity's mother forced him to move back to Australia to live with his sister at the age of 21. Although he did not know it at the time, his move to Melbourne
was a major crossroad in his life, which he now says, was probably the move that saved his life. The move had allowed him to move on from a troubled past and to focus on his life and music.
. He featured on mixtapes and albums in Sweden
, Germany
, Atlanta and New York and became one of the most downloaded hip-hop artists on MySpace
Australia
. In 2007 he released his first mixtape release, 1st & 15th Mixtape, putting him on the local radar. His second release, Underbelly: The Mixtape, was a concept album inspired by the characters of the popular Underbelly TV Series
. Although the mixtape generated ill-informed controversy for its presumed glorification of gangland activities, it was widely lauded by critics and listeners both inside and outside the hip-hop scene. Both mixtapes were offered as free digital downloads.
Since 2007, Bukkcity has appeared on tours with hip-hop legend Ice Cube
, Paris
(of Public Enemy and Dead Prez
fame), Brisbane hip-hop group Butterfingers, DJ Rectangle
and Snob Scrilla
.
In 2009, Bukkcity's long awaited mini-album debut Same Place
was released by Unda K9 Records
and distributed through MGM Distribution
. The album contains seven tracks including the single 'Nobody Wanted This' featuring Sarah Blasko
.
His underground mixtape releases, extensive touring and community hip-hop workshops have since lead towards bridging the cultural gap.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper who is currently signed to the Unda K9 Records
Unda K9 Records
Unda K9 Records is an independent Australian record label that represents a number of hip-hop acts including Bukkcity, Tycotic, 13th Son, Syntax , DirtBox Kings, Herb and DJ Crusador.-History:...
record label.
Early life
Bukkcity was born Andre Knight in Canberra, Australia to an African American father and a South African mother. At the age of one, his family moved back to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, relocating to Irvington, New Jersey
Irvington, New Jersey
Irvington is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 53,926, a decline of 11.2% from the 60,695 residents enumerated in the 2000 Census.-Geography:...
. His father departed the family soon after, and the family moved several more times. He struggled being the only young male in the household with his single parent mother and two sisters, in a place of ubiquitous violence, drugs and more violence. After numerous altercations with the law, he found himself in and out of state penitentiaries, including a one year sentence for assaulting an undercover police officer. During his troubled adolescence, Bukkcity witnessed the death of his cousin shot in gang-crossfire in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and the loss of his younger sister to a heroin overdose.
Against his will, Bukkcity's mother forced him to move back to Australia to live with his sister at the age of 21. Although he did not know it at the time, his move to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
was a major crossroad in his life, which he now says, was probably the move that saved his life. The move had allowed him to move on from a troubled past and to focus on his life and music.
Music career
Bukkcity began to make a name for himself in 1998; entering underground freestyle competitions in New York. His move back to Australia saw the beginning of his career battling live on the Melbourne radio station PBS 106.7FMPBS 106.7FM
PBS 106.7FM , also known as the Progressive Broadcasting Service, is a co-operatively owned community radio station in Melbourne, Australia, that broadcasts on 106.7FM, Digital radio and online...
. He featured on mixtapes and albums in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Atlanta and New York and became one of the most downloaded hip-hop artists on MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In 2007 he released his first mixtape release, 1st & 15th Mixtape, putting him on the local radar. His second release, Underbelly: The Mixtape, was a concept album inspired by the characters of the popular Underbelly TV Series
Underbelly (TV series)
Underbelly is a 13-part Australian television mini-series that retells the real events of the 1995–2004 gangland war in Melbourne, and is the first series in the larger Underbelly Franchise. It depicts the key players in Melbourne's criminal underworld, including the Carlton Crew and their rival,...
. Although the mixtape generated ill-informed controversy for its presumed glorification of gangland activities, it was widely lauded by critics and listeners both inside and outside the hip-hop scene. Both mixtapes were offered as free digital downloads.
Since 2007, Bukkcity has appeared on tours with hip-hop legend Ice Cube
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
, Paris
Paris (rapper)
Oscar Jackson, Jr. , better known by his stage name Paris is an American rapper from San Francisco, California, known for his highly charged political and socially conscious lyrics...
(of Public Enemy and Dead Prez
Dead Prez
Dead Prez stylized as dead prez is a hip hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City, New York. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice and Pan-Africanism...
fame), Brisbane hip-hop group Butterfingers, DJ Rectangle
DJ Rectangle
DJ Rectangle is an American DJ/Turntablist and Hip hop/R&B record producer.DJ Rectangle first won the U.S DMC championship in 1993 and in the same year became the official DJ for West Coast rapper Warren G....
and Snob Scrilla
Snob Scrilla
Sean Ray is an American rapper, producer and musician.- Biography :Sean Ray known by his alias Snob Scrilla was born in Clovis, California. He went to Buchanan High School. He moved to Australia to study and while living in Newcastle began making music before later moving to Sydney. His hometown...
.
In 2009, Bukkcity's long awaited mini-album debut Same Place
Same Place
Same Place is the debut mini-album from Australian-American hip hop artist, Bukkcity. Originally meant for released in October 2008, due to several delays it wasn't released until January 2009, through Australian hip hop label, Unda K9 and MGM Distribution....
was released by Unda K9 Records
Unda K9 Records
Unda K9 Records is an independent Australian record label that represents a number of hip-hop acts including Bukkcity, Tycotic, 13th Son, Syntax , DirtBox Kings, Herb and DJ Crusador.-History:...
and distributed through MGM Distribution
MGM Distribution
MGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....
. The album contains seven tracks including the single 'Nobody Wanted This' featuring Sarah Blasko
Sarah Blasko
Sarah Elizabeth Blaskow , is an Australian singer-songwriter and musician. After fronting Sydney-based band Acquiesce from the mid-1990s, Blasko developed her solo career from 2002. In 2007, she won the 'Best Pop Release' for What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have at the ARIA Music Awards, which...
.
Acceptance in Australian hip-hop
Initially, Bukkcity struggled to win over his Australian audiences. He quickly discovered that the local hip-hop scene was very different both lyrically and in content from his cultural hip-hop upbringing in America. Bukkcity admitted that on moving back he felt an instant segregation in the local hip-hop scene. Australian emcees related to their audience on a local level, a level he genuinely did not understand at first upon his arrival back to the land of Oz, but has since grown to understand and deeply respect.His underground mixtape releases, extensive touring and community hip-hop workshops have since lead towards bridging the cultural gap.
Awards
- Winner of the Nokia Urban Song of The Year for the song “Days Have Gone” (2006)
- Winner of the MusicOz Best Urban Award for the song “Days Have Gone” (2007)
- Winner of the MusicOz Best Urban Award for the single “Nobody Wanted This” (2008)
- Winner of the MusicOz Best Urban Artist (2008)
Guest appearances
- "Come Get It" by Ace Wonder Vs. Mark 'Chopper' ReadChopper ReadMark Brandon "Chopper" Read is an Australian ex-criminal, who wrote a series of semi-autobiographical and fictional crime novels. The 2000 film Chopper was based on his life.-Early life:...
(2008)