1200 Techniques
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1200 Techniques are an Australian hip hop group formed in 1997 in Melbourne, Australia, consisting of DJ Peril (Jason Foretti) as producer, percussionist, DJ; N'fa Forster-Jones as lead vocalist (under the name Nfamas) and Kemstar (DJ Peril's brother, Simon Foretti) as lead guitarist. Whilst primarily being in the genre of hip hip, they drew influences from other genres including rock, funk, soul, electro, drum and bass, electro jazz and breakbeat.<ref name=take40>Template:Cite web</ref> They released their debut studio album, Choose One, in March 2002.
AllMusic's Jody Macgregor wrote, "Although Australia had an underground hip-hop scene starting in the late '80s, it wasn't until 2001 that it began to be recognized by the mainstream of Australian music. 1200 Techniques were an important part of that moment, with charting singles, appearances on TV shows like John Safran's Music Jamboree, and a sound that contained an eclectic blend of rock, dance, and funk influences to win over those Australians unconvinced their country had a place as a producer of quality hip-hop music."<ref name="Mcgregor">Template:Cite web</ref> The group disbanded in 2005 and reformed in 2014.
History
Brothers DJ Peril (Jason Foretti) and Kemstar (Simon Foretti) were involved in Australian hip hop, since the early 1980s as pre-teens.<ref name="Drever">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Nimmervoll">Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> DJ Peril started with the Island Boys, one of Melbourne's first ever hip hop crews and he was the DJ in a number of different bands: Big Pacific, Rollercoaster, Dub and Reggae, and Blow Sound Unit.<ref name="Nimmervoll"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Peril formed 1200 Techniques in 1997, as producer, percussionist and DJ, with the English-born brothers Nfamas (N'fa) on lead vocals and Kabba Foster-Jones on vocals.<ref name="Mcgregor"/><ref name="Nimmervoll"/> The Foster-Jones brothers had moved from London to Perth in 1983, they were both in a hip-hop crew, Deadly Fresh, during the mid-1990s before relocating to Melbourne.<ref name="Nimmervoll"/> When DJ Peril saw the duo working with another band, he approached them, "I thought they were wasting their talent."<ref name="Nimmervoll"/> The group's name references, "the Technics 1200 turntable the name also represents the multi-direction attitude of the group's music."<ref name="Nimmervoll"/> Kemstar joined soon after, Kabba then returned to London in 1999.<ref name="Nimmervoll"/> Kabba's vocals can still, however, be heard on some of the group's early tracks, "Don't Stop".<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref> 1200 Techniques continued with the three remaining core members, recruiting a drummer for live shows.
In 2001, 1200 Techniques were signed to an independent label called Rubber Records and they released their debut Extended Play titled Infinite Style. The lead single from the EP "Hard as Hell" was released and had a low budget video clip which saw the song receive national recognition on Triple J.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In April 2002, the band released the single "Karma", the lead single from their debut studio album Choose One. "Karma" became a crossover success.<ref name="auto"/> Choose One was released in June and peaked at number 20 on the ARIA Charts. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2002, the group were nominated for five awards, with "Karma" winning ARIA Award for Best Independent Release and ARIA Award for Best Video.<ref name=aria-2002>Template:Cite web</ref> Also in 2002, the band won Best Debut Artist" and Best Hip Hop Act at the Dance Music Awards.<ref name="Mcgregor"/> The group supported Linkin Park on their 2002 Australian tour that year and headlined their own tour with support by American rapper Princess Superstar.
Their second album Consistency Theory was released in January 2004, and peaked at No. 38 on the ARIA album chart. Three singles were released from the album and all appeared on the ARIA singles chart. Following the album's release, the group appeared at the Big Day Out festival in early 2004. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2004, the lead single "Eye of the Storm" was nominated for two awards. The group went on hiatus in 2005 to allow the individual members to pursue solo work.<ref name="Mcgregor"/> In October 2014, the group reformed and announced the release of a new extended play.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After a successful fundraising campaign on PledgeMusic, the band released Time Has Come in January 2015.<ref name="AHearn">Template:Cite web</ref>
Band members
- Jason Mark Foretti<ref name="APRA Hard">Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Abbr DJ Peril: Founder, producer, turntablist, percussionist
- N'Fa Deynde Jo Jo Forster-Jones<ref name="APRA Hard" /> Template:Abbr Nfamas: vocals
- Kabba Adewale Verne Forster-Jones<ref name="APRA Hard" /> Template:Abbr MC Kabba: vocals (rapping) Template:Small
- Simon Chris Foretti<ref name="APRA Hard" /> Template:Abbr Kemstar: guitar
Solo careers
DJ Peril released a solo album, King of the Beats in 2006, which includes the singles "It's About to Blow" and "Rock Ya Baby". the latter featuring singer Rahsaan Patterson.Template:Citation needed
Nfamas released a solo album, as N'fa, called Cause An Effect in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Both of the album's video clips were directed by his friend, actor Heath Ledger.
Kemstar played guitar with his band Quarter 2 Nine circa 1990 as well with the Australian supergroup The Jack (with members of You Am I, Grinspoon, The Living End, Spiderbait, and Sender) for the 2004 Thunderstruck film soundtrack, performing on the songs "Crash & Burn" and "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)".Template:Citation needed
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS <ref name="ARIA Charts">Template:Cite web</ref> | ||
| Choose One |
|
20 |
| Consistency Theory |
|
38 |
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1200 Techniques |
|
Extended plays
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Infinite Styles |
|
| Time Has Come |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS <ref name="ARIA Singles Charts">Peak chart positions for singles on the ARIA Charts:
| |||
| "Hard as Hell" | 2001 | — | Infinite Styles |
| "Karma (What Goes Around)" | 2002 | 36 | Choose One |
| "Eye of the Storm" | 2003 | 84 | Consistency Theory |
| "Where Ur At" | 35 | ||
| "Fork in the Road" | 2004 | 55 | |
| "Time Has Come"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 2015 | — | Time Has Come |
| "Flow Is Trouble" Template:Small<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | — |
Awards
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. 1200 Techniques have won two awards from eight nominations. Template:Awards table |- | rowspan="5"| 2002 | Choose One | Breakthrough Artist - Album | Template:Nom |- | rowspan="3"| "Karma" | Breakthrough Artist - Single | Template:Nom |- | Best Dance Release | Template:Nom |- | Best Independent Release | Template:Won |- | Michael Gracey and Babyfoot Productions for "Karma" | Best Video | Template:Won |- | rowspan="2"| 2003 | rowspan="2"| "Eye of the Storm" | Best Dance Release | Template:Nom |- | Best Independent Release | Template:Nom |- | 2004 | Consistency Theory | Best Urban Album | Template:Nom |-
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