Drapht

Drapht grew up in North Perth, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth. His father, Gary Ridge, a jazz drummer{{Cite web | url = http://3degree.ecu.edu.au/articles/1764 | title = Drapht dominates with debut | publisher = Edith Cowan University | work = 3rd Degree |date = 22 August 2008 | last = Richardson |first = Fiona | access-date =28 March 2011}}{{Cite web | url=http://www.jazz.org.au/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=viewlink&link_id=176&Itemid=84 |publisher=Jazz Australia | title = Roz Pearson |access-date=28 March 2011}} introduced Drapht to music from a very young age—he first experienced hip hop at the age of eight. The name "Drapht" is based on a Western Australian Swan Brewery beer, Swan Draught; the company's logo was written on a watch that his father brought home when Drapht was 13 or 14.{{Cite web|url=http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-features/artists/2011/03/29/the-life-of-drapht/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324144357/http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-features/artists/2011/03/29/the-life-of-drapht/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 March 2012 |title=Life of Drapht |publisher=The Music Network |last=Greco |first=Nell |date=29 March 2011 |access-date=12 April 2011}}

Drapht attended Perth Modern School in Subiaco but was not involved in the school's music program.{{Cite news | url=http://westernsuburbs.inmycommunity.com.au/going-out/gig-guide/Hip-hop-Drapht-broken/7521789/ | title=Hip-hop Drapht broken | publisher=Community Newspaper Group|work=Western Suburbs Weekly | last=Wilkinson | first=Craig | date=27 March 2009 | access-date=28 March 2011}} At school he became friends with Damien Allia (aka DJ Armee) who introduced him to hip hop via gigs at the Hyde Park Hotel.{{cite web |author=Cam |title=Drapht |url=http://certifiedscribe.com.au/?p=990 |work=Certified Scribe |access-date=27 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120233651/http://certifiedscribe.com.au/?p=990 |archive-date=20 January 2011}}

Drapht became a vital part of Perth's hip hop crew, Syllabolix, at the age of 17.{{cite web|url=http://3degree.ecu.edu.au/articles/1764 |title=Drapht dominates with debut|publisher=Edith Cowan University |last=Richardson|first=Fiona|date=22 August 2008|access-date=16 October 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/oct/01/rhymes-n-rhythm/ |title=Rhymes 'n' rhythm|publisher=Sunshine Coast Daily|date=1 October 2008|access-date=16 October 2008}}

"I was extremely fortunate. Right place, right time. I was right in the middle of it all, I had access to one of the best producers at the time Dazastah, freestyle sessions at Hunter's and constant schooling from the rest of the MC's within the crew. So I was very blessed with it all." — Drapht{{Citation needed|date=September 2012}}

This involvement resulted in his first contributions being recorded and included on Hunter and Dazastah's 2000 debut album, Done DL, only months after he had started seriously writing.

Drapht's first track, "Misunderstood", was released as part of the Culture of Kings – Volume 3 release in 2003 with Drapht saying "It was a song I wrote in a span of a day or so, and it was just lying around. So I had the opportunity to put it on Culture of Kings. And then it ended up being the opening track for the release, which was awesome. That definitely helped in the early days of my career."{{cite web|url=http://www.drumperth.com.au|title=Third Time's The Charma|publisher=Drum Media|last=Schlechte|first=Ted|date=21 August 2008|access-date=31 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829034533/http://drumperth.com.au/|archive-date=29 August 2008}}

His debut album, Pale Rider, was released in October 2003,{{Cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Drapht-Pale-Rider/release/1864500|title=Drapht - Pale Rider|date=October 2003 |publisher=discogs|access-date=28 March 2011}} with all production handled by Dazastah (Downsyde), Fdel and Drapht.{{cite web|last=Force G|title=Drapht Interview – Pale Rider Interview|url=http://forceg.wordpress.com/category/drapht/|work=STRAIGHT UP! – Australian Hip Hop Interviews|publisher=WordPress.com|access-date=22 March 2011|date=26 July 2007}} Special appearances on the album include: Fdel (Invada Records), Downsyde, MC Layla, Hunter, Selekt, Carlsani and Porsah Lane.{{Cite web |url=http://www.amo.org.au/artist.asp?id=4063 |title=Australian Music Online - 'Who Am I' |access-date=9 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210194254/http://www.amo.org.au/artist.asp?id=4063 |archive-date=10 December 2007 |url-status=dead }} {{blockquote|"With my first album, around the surrounding time I was fortunate to be hanging out with the Downsyde boys and the rest of SBX who were hugely influential. Essentially I got into music because It really amazed me how Daz [Dazastah] tackled his writing style with his witty punch-lines. Aggression was one thing I wanted to rid myself of though, at that time in my life it was my venting process. An angry teen mad at society, and myself. But we live to grow through that."|Drapht (2008)}}

The follow-up, 2005's Who Am I, was co-produced by Dazastah (Downsyde) and Fdel, and co-mixed by Drapht with Dazastah.{{cite web|title=Drapht – Who Am I|url=http://www.discogs.com/Drapht-Who-Am-I/release/1790730|publisher=discogs|access-date=14 September 2012|year=2012}} The songs touch on topics including politics, sex, and addiction to drunken antics. Guest appearances on the album include Pressure (Hilltop Hoods), Downsyde, Layla,{{cite web|last=Mitchell|first=Tony|title=Layla|url=http://www.localnoise.net.au/site-directory/interviews/layla/|work=Local Noise|publisher=University of Technology, Sydney|access-date=22 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231085527/http://www.localnoise.net.au/site-directory/interviews/layla/|archive-date=31 December 2012}} Pegz (Obese Records), Clandestien, MJ (Funkola) and Hunter. It was released by Obese Records in both in a CD and a limited 2 LP vinyl format. Two tracks from the album, "Drink Drank Drunk" and "The Music", received airplay on Triple J, mostly on the Super Request program.[http://www.jplay.com.au/JSite/Pages/Song/0002055/ViewSong.aspx "Drink Drank Drunk" airplay] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210133337/http://www.jplay.com.au/JSite/Pages/Song/0002055/ViewSong.aspx |date=10 December 2007 }} at JPlay[http://www.jplay.com.au/JSite/ViewSong.aspx?SongID=7190 "The Music" airplay] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415005518/http://www.jplay.com.au/JSite/ViewSong.aspx?SongID=7190 |date=15 April 2008 }} at JPlay Who Am I is more an introspective album. {{blockquote|"I tried to focus more on my flow and the structure of the tracks but at the end I wasn't really happy with the subject matter of the songs."|Drapht (2008)}}

The song, "The Music", was selected by Triple J as a featured track for "AusMusic Month" in 2005. Drapht also released a music video for "The Music", which was shown on Rage.[http://www.abc.net.au/rage/playlist/archive/2005/20051125.htm Rage playlist], 25 November 2005. He also performed a guest verse on the track, "The Blue Blooded", which was included on the Hilltop Hoods' 2006 album, The Hard Road.

Drapht has opened for acts such as; Hilltop Hoods, Dilated Peoples, Downsyde, Koolism, Apathy, Rodney P & Skitz, Mystro,{{cite web|last=Mitchell|first=Tony|title=The DIY Habitus of Australian Hip-hop: Embodied Histories, Community and Scene|url=http://www.localnoise.net.au/site-directory/papers/the-diy-habitus-of-australian-hip-hop-embodied-histories-community-and-scene/|work=Local Noise|publisher=University of Technology, Sydney|access-date=22 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409150704/http://www.localnoise.net.au/site-directory/papers/the-diy-habitus-of-australian-hip-hop-embodied-histories-community-and-scene/|archive-date=9 April 2011|url-status=dead}} Killa Kela, and Resin Dogs.

Drapht's third album, Brothers Grimm, was released 10 May 2008,{{cite web|url=http://www.planeturban.com.au/urban_news/hip_hop_release_drapht_brothers_grimm |title=Drapht : Planet Urban - Brothers Grimm |publisher=Planet Urban magazine |access-date=16 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613135200/http://planeturban.com.au/urban_news/hip_hop_release_drapht_brothers_grimm |archive-date=13 June 2008 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Artists: Drapht|url=http://www.obeserecords.com/artists_drapht.htm|work=Obese Records|access-date=22 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313193750/http://www.obeserecords.com/artists_drapht.htm|archive-date=13 March 2011|url-status=dead}} with the first song from the album, "Jimmy Recard", receiving significant airplay on Triple J,{{Cite web |url=http://www.jplay.com.au/JSite/ViewSong.aspx?SongID=14567 |title=J Play |access-date=8 May 2008 |archive-date=28 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080728145709/http://www.jplay.com.au/JSite/ViewSong.aspx?SongID=14567 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/kingsmill/playlist/ Triple J playlist] where it became the second most played song on the station in 2008{{Cite web|url=http://www.take40.com/artists/4056/drapht/bio|title=Drapht Biography|publisher=MCM Media|work=Take 40|access-date=29 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318232547/http://www.take40.com/artists/4056/drapht/bio|archive-date=18 March 2012|url-status=dead}}

{{blockquote|"With Brothers Grimm I focused on my song writing and concepts more than any previous album, also working on my pronunciation and delivery. I set out for it to be more of a personal and truthful account with what I stand for moralistically"|Drapht (2008)}}

The album debuted at No. 64 on the ARIA Album charts, reached No. 9 on the AIR (Association of Independent Record Labels) Charts{{cite web|url=http://www.air.org.au/charts_main/index.php?tab=logic&type=charts&apply=chartsw&database=web_charts_week&search_string=23rd%20June%202008%7CAIL |title=V Energy AIR Charts |publisher=Association of Independent Record Labels |access-date=17 December 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720032425/http://www.air.org.au/charts_main/index.php?tab=logic&type=charts&apply=chartsw&database=web_charts_week&search_string=23rd%20June%202008%7CAIL |archive-date=20 July 2008}} and No. 10 on the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Top 40 Urban Album charts.{{cite web |url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_urban.asp?chart=1Q40RB&chart2=1R40RB |title=Top 40 Urban Albums & Singles charts |publisher=ARIA |access-date=11 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080711045442/http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_urban.asp?chart=1Q40RB&chart2=1R40RB |archive-date=11 July 2008}}

In an interview with The Vine in November 2010, Drapht advised that he had not renewed his contract with Obese Records and that he will be releasing his forthcoming album The Life of Riley independently.{{cite web|url=http://www.thevine.com.au/music/news/exclusive-_-drapht-leaves-obese-records20101111.aspx|title=Drapht leaves Obese Records|date=11 November 2010|publisher=The Vine|access-date=16 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115033404/http://www.thevine.com.au/music/news/exclusive-_-drapht-leaves-obese-records20101111.aspx|archive-date=15 November 2010|url-status=dead}} The first song released from the album is "Rapunzel", for which he describes:{{Blockquote|The love hate relationship that is Rapunzel- a subject that I had that was extremely close to my heart, so naturally the song itself was one of the easiest to write, but one of the hardest to nail in the recording process. Has to be one of my favourites to date, has made me fall in love with her all over again! |Drapht{{cite web|url=http://theaureview.com/the-goss/drapht-rapunzel-tour-november-december-2010|title=Drapht Rapunzel tour|publisher=the AU review|date=15 October 2010|access-date=16 November 2010}}}}

The Life of Riley was released 1 April 2011 and was the first release on Drapht’s own label The Ayems,{{Cite web|url=http://www.onion.com.au/article/2847|title=Drapht.HQ. Thu Apr 21.|date=3 March 2011|publisher=Rip It Up Publishing|work=Onion|access-date=29 March 2011}} which is distributed through Sony Music. The album debuted at #1 on the ARIA Album Chart{{Cite web |title=ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart |url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_album.asp?chart=1G50 |work=Australian Record Industry Association |publisher=Australian Record Industry Association |access-date=11 April 2011 |date=11 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107030808/http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_album.asp?chart=1G50 |archive-date=7 November 2011 |df=dmy }}{{cite web|title = Monday's Chart Wrap|url = http://themusic.com.au/newsletter/monday-s-chart-wrap1104|work = The Music|publisher = Street Press Australia|access-date = 13 April 2011|date = 11 April 2011}} and was the first Australian artist to do so in 2011. The second track to be taken from the album was "Sing It (The Life of Riley)".

Drapht released Seven Mirrors in August 2016, which peaked at number 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

Arabella Street was released in November 2018.

In March 2009, Drapht undertook a national tour of Australia with fellow Western Australians, Downsyde with a number of the eastern states performances being supported by Pez.{{cite web|url=http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/gigguide/sydney/event/31389/Downsyde--Drapht-City-Brothers-tour-w-special-guests-Pez.htm|title=Downsyde & Drapht: City Brothers tour w/special guests Pez|publisher=FasterLouder.com.au|date=18 March 2009|access-date=24 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408003018/http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/gigguide/sydney/event/31389/Downsyde--Drapht-City-Brothers-tour-w-special-guests-Pez.htm|archive-date=8 April 2009|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thedwarf.com.au/nd/news/national/downsyde_drapht_pez_announce_city_brothers_national_tour|title=Downsyde/Drapht/Pez announce City Brothers National Tour

|publisher=The Dwarf.com.au|last=Dib|first=Lisa|date=27 January 2009|access-date=24 March 2009}} Drapht also made appearances at Homebake, Pyramid Rock Festival, Southbound, Open Arms and MS Fest.

Drapht appeared at the 2011 Groovin' the Moo festival and undertook a national tour to promote the album, with support from Mantra and The Tongue.{{Cite web|url=http://www.shoutoutmusic.com.au/news/1-local-news/349-drapht-touring-the-life-of-riley|title=Drapht touring The Life of Riley|publisher=Shout Out Music|access-date=29 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305032349/http://www.shoutoutmusic.com.au/news/1-local-news/349-drapht-touring-the-life-of-riley|archive-date=5 March 2011|url-status=dead}}

Drapht was the opening act for American musical duo Twenty One Pilots during the Australia and New Zealand leg of The Bandito Tour in December 2018.

{{Infobox artist discography

| Artist = Drapht

| Studio = 5

| Singles = 10

}}

• Culture of Kings Volume 3 (2003, Obese) (song: "Misunderstood")

Alongside many other Australian hip hop artists, Drapht appears in the music video for the Hilltop Hoods song, "Rattling the Keys to the Kingdom" (2012).{{cite web|title=Watch: Hilltop Hoods 'Rattling The Keys to the Kingdom'|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s3595310.htm|work=triple j|publisher=ABC|access-date=24 September 2012|date=21 September 2012}}

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

{{awards table}}

|-

| 2008{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnsw.com/2008/11/2008-air-awards-nominees-announced/|title=2008 AIR AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED|website=Music NSW|date=11 November 2008|access-date=19 August 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.air.org.au/awards/history|title=History Wins|website=Australian Independent Record Labels Association|access-date=18 August 2020}}

|himself

| Best New Independent Artis

| {{nom}}

|-

| rowspan="2" |2011{{Cite web|url=http://ausindies.com/id-2011-awards.html|title=Independent Music Awards|publisher=Australian Independent Record Labels Association|access-date=28 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212010413/http://ausindies.com/id-2011-awards.html|archive-date=12 December 2011|url-status=dead}}

| rowspan="2" | The Life of Riley

| Best Independent Album

| {{nom}}

|-

| Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album

| {{won}}

|-

{{end}}

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".{{cite web|url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards.aspx |title=APRA Music Awards 2012 |publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) |access-date=1 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525120222/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/apraawards/musicawards.aspx |archive-date=25 May 2010}} Drapht has been nominated for four awards.

{{awards table}}

|-

|2011 || "Rapunzel" (Paul Reid, Daniel Rankine, Larry Siler) || Urban Work of the Year{{cite web|url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/Nominations/UrbanWorkoftheYear2011.aspx |title=Nominations > Urban Work of the Year – 2011 |publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) |year=2011 |access-date=1 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610002248/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/Nominations/UrbanWorkoftheYear2011.aspx |archive-date=10 June 2012}} || {{nom}}

|-

|rowspan="2"|2012 || rowspan="2"|"Sing It (The Life of Riley)" (Paul Reid, Daniel Rankine) || Urban Work of the Year{{cite web|url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/Nominations/UrbanWorkoftheYear2012.aspx |title=Nominations > Urban Work of the Year – 2012 |publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) |year=2012 |access-date=1 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512000442/http://apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/Nominations/UrbanWorkoftheYear2012.aspx |archive-date=12 May 2012}} || {{nom}}

|-

| Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year{{cite web|url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/Nominations/SongoftheYear2012.aspx |title=Nominations > Song of the Year – 2012 |publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) |year=2012 |access-date=1 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726072201/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/Nominations/SongoftheYear2012.aspx |archive-date=26 July 2013}} || {{nom}}

|-

|2013 || Paul Reid, Daniel Rankine || Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year{{cite web | url = http://www.apraamcos.com.au/awards/2013-awards/apra-music-awards/breakthrough-songwriter-of-the-year/ | title = Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year | publisher = Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) | year = 2013 | access-date = 11 April 2013 | archive-date = 1 April 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150401040036/http://apraamcos.com.au/awards/2013-awards/apra-music-awards/breakthrough-songwriter-of-the-year/ | url-status = dead }} || {{nom}}

{{end}}

The ARIA Music Awards are presented annually from 1987 by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). In 2011 Drapht won two awards from eight nominations.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/news/8/the-countdown-beginsnominations-announced |title=The Countdown Begins....Nominations Announced |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) |date=11 October 2011 |access-date=12 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016020511/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/news/8/the-countdown-beginsnominations-announced |archive-date=16 October 2011}}

{{awards table}}

|-

|rowspan="7"| 2011 || rowspan="2"|"Rapunzel" || Single of the Year || {{nom}}

|-

| Breakthrough Artist – Single || {{nom}}

|-

| "Rapunzel" – Dave Parkin || Engineer of the Year || {{nom}}

|-

| rowspan="3"| The Life of Riley || Best Male Artist || {{nom}}

|-

| Breakthrough Artist – Album || {{nom}}

|-

| Best Urban Album{{cite web|url=http://www.novafm.com.au/article_aria-awards-2011-live-blog_111157 |title=ARIA Awards 2011 – Live blog |publisher=Nova FM. DMG Radio Australia |access-date=1 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104154335/http://www.novafm.com.au/article_aria-awards-2011-live-blog_111157 |archive-date=4 January 2012}} || {{won}}

|-

| Drapht || Most Popular Australian Artist || {{nom}}

|-

| 2016 || Seven Mirrors || Best Urban Album || {{won}}

|-

{{end}}

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.

{{awards table}}

|-

| 2011{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/jawards/11/artists/drapht.htm|title=2011 J Awards - Drapht - Life of Riley|date=8 January 2011|publisher=Triple J|access-date=28 November 2011}}

|The Life of Riley

| Australian Album of the Year

| {{nom}}

{{end}}

The West Australian Music Industry Awards (WAMIs) are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on annually by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc (WAM). Drapht has won two awards.{{Cite web|url=http://wam.asn.au/Events/WAMiFestival/WAMiFestival2009/WAMiAwards/tabid/100/Default.aspx|title=WAMi Awards 2009|publisher=West Australian Music Industry Association Inc|access-date=29 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408070840/http://wam.asn.au/Events/WAMiFestival/WAMiFestival2009/WAMiAwards/tabid/100/Default.aspx|archive-date=8 April 2011|url-status=dead}}

{{Awards table}} (wins only)

|-

| 2009

| Drapht

| Best Urban/Hip Hop Act

| {{Won}}

|-

| 2011

| Drapht

| Best Urban/Hip Hop Act

| {{Won}}

|-

{{end}}

{{notelist-ua}}

{{reflist|25em}}

{{Commons category|Drapht}}

• {{Official|http://drapht.com.au}}

{{Drapht}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Drapht}}

Category:1982 births

Category:ARIA Award winners

Category:Australian male rappers

Category:Living people

Category:Obese Records artists

Category:People educated at Perth Modern School

Category:Rappers from Perth, Western Australia

Category:Sony Music Australia artists