Munkimuk
Encyclopedia
Mark Ross, known as Munk or Munkimuk is a Sydney based Indigenous Hip Hop performer. He is known as The Godfather of Indigenous Hip Hop 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.
Munkimuk was the founding member of Deadly
award winning group South West Syndicate
. He has since gone solo and released his debut album in 2005. He raps in Jardwadjali
(from the Grampians in Victoria) 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.
A remix 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.
Also in 2011 / 2012 Munkimuk's long awaited album "Better Late Than Never" is slotted for release.
Munkimuk has also is well known for his production and recording of various artists over the last 15 years including Dukebox, Trindoe, Yothu Yindi, Nabarlek Band, Ebony Williams, Swannz, Mas-siva and many other groups and artists. 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.
Munkimuk also hosts a nationally syndicated weekly radio program "Indij Hip Hop Show" every Tuesday 6pm-7pm which is produced from Koori Radio in Sydney and has been going since October 2007 and has won CBAA Award in 2008 for Contribution to Local Music. He also hosts Munk's Funky Lunch every Thursday from 1pm-2pm featuring funk, soul and rare grooves from the 60's, 70's & 80's. Munk also has 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 & has for many years and most recently is the facilitator for Jimmy Little Foundation and the Thumbs Up program.
Munkimuk has been breakdancing since 1983 and still is active.
Munkimuk was the founding member of Deadly
The Deadlys
The Deadlys are an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. Vibe Australia hosts the awards, which for have been held at the Sydney Opera House since 2001. The first Deadly awards were held in 1995...
award winning group South West Syndicate
South West Syndicate
South West Syndicate were an Australian hip-hop collective from Sydney. They started performing in 1992. and have been made up of Aboriginal, Lebanese-Australian, Pacific Islander, Croatian, German and Anglo hip hop artists...
. He has since gone solo and released his debut album in 2005. He raps in Jardwadjali
Jardwadjali
The Jardwadjali people are Indigenous Australians who occupy the lands in the upper Wimmera River watershed east to Gariwerd and west to Lake Bringalbert. The towns of Horsham, Cavendish, Coleraine, Asply, Minyip and Donald are within their territory...
(from the Grampians in Victoria) 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
The Deadlys
The Deadlys are an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. Vibe Australia hosts the awards, which for have been held at the Sydney Opera House since 2001. The first Deadly awards were held in 1995...
in the category of Single Release of the Year for his song Dreamtime.
A remix 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
Sharnee Fenwick
Sharnee Fenwick is a country singer from Newcastle. Her song "How 'Bout Never" reached the Top 20 on the Australian Country Music Charts. She won a Deadly in 2006 for best new talent. and was nominated in 2007 for single release of the year. She was featured in an episode of SBS's TV series Living...
called "Mighty Rabbitohs" for South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
Rugby League team.
Also in 2011 / 2012 Munkimuk's long awaited album "Better Late Than Never" is slotted for release.
Munkimuk has also is well known for his production and recording of various artists over the last 15 years including Dukebox, Trindoe, Yothu Yindi, Nabarlek Band, Ebony Williams, Swannz, Mas-siva and many other groups and artists. 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.
Munkimuk also hosts a nationally syndicated weekly radio program "Indij Hip Hop Show" every Tuesday 6pm-7pm which is produced from Koori Radio in Sydney and has been going since October 2007 and has won CBAA Award in 2008 for Contribution to Local Music. He also hosts Munk's Funky Lunch every Thursday from 1pm-2pm featuring funk, soul and rare grooves from the 60's, 70's & 80's. Munk also has 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 & has for many years and most recently is the facilitator for Jimmy Little Foundation and the Thumbs Up program.
Munkimuk has been breakdancing since 1983 and still is active.