A.B. Original

A.B. Original is an Australian hip-hop duo formed by Indigenous rappers Briggs and Trials, who first performed together backstage at Triple J’s 40th anniversary concert «Beat the Drum» in January 2015. The pairing quickly became one of the most politically charged and boundary-pushing acts in Australian rap, using their music to confront racism, colonial history, and the ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous Australians.

Their debut album, «Reclaim Australia» (2016), was a landmark release that fused hard-edged production from Trials with Briggs’s sharp, confrontational lyricism. The album’s most notable track, «January 26», directly challenged the celebration of Australia Day, sparking national conversation and even prompting some communities to shift their own Australia Day observances that same week.

A.B. Original’s sound blends classic boom-bap and rock-influenced rap production with unflinching social commentary, drawing comparisons to politically engaged hip-hop acts worldwide while remaining distinctly rooted in Indigenous Australian identity and experience. Their work has made them key voices in Australian music’s ongoing reckoning with race and history.