Hailing from South-Western Sydney, L-Fresh The Lion (aka Sukhdeep Singh Bhogal) has caught the nation’s attention with his pointed approach to hip hop, acknowledging and addressing social justice issues with vibrant and hard-hitting beats. The Elefant Traks signee has just released his third studio album, ‘SOUTH WEST’, dedicated to his 13-year-old self, and his experiences growing up in Australia with Punjabi roots.
The release arrives off the back of L-Fresh‘s ARIA award-winning album ‘Become’, along with a major performance on India’s MTV Hustle in India, an address at the United Nations HQ, and the artist being selected as an ambassador for YouTube’s social justice initiative Creators For Change. We had L-Fresh fill us in on the records that have inspired his multi-faceted sound.
Mos Def & Talib Kweli — ‘Black Star’ (1998)
Talib Kweli and Mos Def influenced me and my style greatly during my late teens. This album is hip hop personified. It pays homage to some old school classics by BDP (“Definition”) and Slick Rick (“Children’s Story”). And then elevates the culture with some real dope songs.
The collab with Common on “Respiration” transported me from South West Sydney to NYC and Chicago. The world they described in each of those verses was so captivating to me and showed me just how visual lyricism could be. “Brown Skin Lady” was one of my first introductions in to that whole concept of colourism, which is something I would see all around me, in my South Asian peers and cousins, some of who would try to lighten the colour of their skin by using lightening creams so they could, in their mind, be more attractive, because society (on many levels, even within South Asian communities) teaches us that lighter skin is better.
But to me, the pinnacle of this album comes in the second last song “Thieves In The Night”. Mos Def’s verse in that song has to go down as one of the all time greatest verses in rap. There’s so many layers to that verse, from talking about commercialism, to class, systemic racism, internalised racism and lateral violence, and modern day slavery. He does all of that while nailing his delivery and flow. It’s a masterclass on how to rap while making an impact.
The Fugees — ‘The Score’ (1996)
“How many mics do we rip on a daily?” One of my all time fav albums, not just for now, but since high school. Back then, I had my music teacher, my teachers for maths, english, science and all that. But then I also had Lauryn Hill. From ‘The Score’ to ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’. Both of those albums had a major impact on me over the years. The trio of Lauryn Hill, Wyclef and Pras was so different from any other rap crew at that time. They stood out not just visually, but sonically. Their sound was a combination of bars, melodies and harmonies, and a style that you couldn’t find anywhere else. Plus their steez in their videos was a vibe. Check that video for “Fu-Gee-La”. That song is still one of my favourite jams. “Ready Or Not” and “Killing Me Softly” are undeniable classics.
J. Cole— ‘2014 Forest Hills Drive’ (2014)
When I got introduced to J. Cole initially, I wasn’t a huge fan. “Young Simba” stood out to me and inspired my own hunger as a rapper, wanting to break through and have a career as an artist. But when I stumbled across the ‘Forest Hills Drive’ album, that was it. I became a fan. I actually discovered the album via his Homecoming documentary series for HBO. The way that series built up and told the story of not just the album, but also his team, was so dope.
At the time, I was on tour too so it resonated with me on that level, too. The album is one of the rare ones that is able to captivate you with its storytelling from start to finish. If you skip a song, then you’re missing a key part of the story. It reminds me of ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city’ by Kendrick Lamar, in that you get the full purpose of the album only when you get to the end. ‘Forest Hills’ is a go-to album of mine whenever I’m on the road, or in the sky, travelling for music. It takes me to a place that reminds me of good tour life memories.
The Roots — ‘How I Got Over’ (2010)
There’s so many dope Roots albums, but this one will always be my personal favourite because of how much it gave me on an energy level at a certain point in my life. I remember blasting this album on repeat during my Uni days, on the drive to and from the Campbelltown and Bankstown Western Sydney University campuses. “The Fire” is a stand-out for me. It’s been on a stack of my playlists for pre-gig hype, going to the gym and shooting hoops.
Over the years, I’ve jumped from favourite rapper to favourite rapper. Each year, having someone new in my top three. The only consistent throughout the years has been Black Thought. His mastery as a MC is understated. While many lose their sharpness as they age, Black Thought keeps getting better. And on top of that, his bars are always talking about something. He’s always touching on something important. He’s been a huge inspiration for me.
Common — ‘Be’ (2005)
My final pick is another all-time hip hop classic. For me, it’s Common‘s best album. And like my other picks, it really resonated with me at a certain stage in my life. For ‘Be’, it was high school again. I remember listening to them soulful songs on my discman, which I struggled to fit in my pocket, as I walked through the quad during recess and lunch. “I want to be as free as the spirits of those who left” — that intro is the best intro I’ve ever heard to an album. The lyrics, the production, not just on that song but throughout the entire album, gets me excited even now. It was peak Kanye West as a producer, and it had some joints on there by J Dilla. And for those who know, that Common x J Dilla connection is special on multiple levels. A classic album to round off my 5 Quintessential Records.
Listen to ‘SOUTH WEST’ here: