Kickin’ to the Undersound: Sound Unlimited

‘Kickin’ to the Undersound’ was the first single released by Sound Unlimited from their debut studio album A Postcard from the Edge of the Under-side (1992), becoming the first Australian hip hop song to reach the Top 20 in the Australian charts.

Sound Unlimited, formerly Sound Unlimited Posse and Westside Posse, was also the first Australian hip hop act signed to a major label (CBS Records/Sony BMG) during the 1990s. Group members included brother and sister Rosano (El Assassin) and Tina Martinez, MC Kode Blue and Vlad DJ BTL. In 1990, following the release of their single ‘Peace by Piece (By Piece Mix)’, they supported the Australian tours of visiting artists Public Enemy, De La Soul and New Kids on the Block.

In ‘Kickin’ to the Undersound’, members introduce themselves over sampled and programmed beats, with the ‘land down under’ line accompanied by a Men at Work sample. The lyrics to ‘Undersound’ draw on Sound Unlimited’s Western Sydney roots and Spanish, Filipino and Russian heritage.  

The music video matches the infectious energy of the song, with the visuals cut to the dance-friendly beat. The band members are in constant motion, their outfits offering joyous pops of colour against an otherwise nondescript studio background. The pace slows for a brief black-and-white interlude with the iconic Harbour Bridge used as backdrop, but otherwise the energy and movement doesn’t let up for three minutes.

‘Kickin’ to the Undersound’ was the highest charting of five singles from the album. Their success led to performances at Big Day Out later the same year and an ARIA Award nomination in 1994 for the album’s last single, ‘One More from the City’, the same year the group split up. 

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