Artists Biographies

JOHNNY MAC (John McGuinness)

Johnny Mac has been writing and performing hip-hop for the last 10 years, but made a living working as a radio presenter at 3CR community radio, where he has won numerous awards for the “Beyond the Bar” prison broadcasts as well as a Centennial Medal and a written congratulations from the Prime Minster and the Queen, He also has a diploma in broadcasting and Journalism but his passion has always been hip-hop and rap music. Johnny Mac never got into the music business to become a superstar or a millionaire, rather to inspire young and old in the lyrics he has written and to motivate young people to give rap music a go (he even used to get Tjimba on the stage with him).

Johnny Mac has performed at almost every koori event around Victoria also at numerous events and festivals in the wider communities but he has never recorded an album.

Johnny Macs future projects include various collaborations with the Payback Records artist and an album which he is working on at the moment with his partner Meriki Hood titled “The Mac & Hood Experiment.”

DJ DEADLY (Henry Thorpe)

DJ Deadly is one of Melbourne’s most sought, after DJ’s. Began to DJ professionally three years ago he has performed at some of Melbourne’s most known night clubs and exclusive after parties. DJ Deadly has evolved into his own style, dropping beats most DJ’s have forgotten about.

After studying at one of the worlds best audio schools the SAE institute, Deadly has Begun expanding his musical Knowledge into music production; producing beats under his self labeled “Deadly Entertainment” and remixing tracks for club play.

DJ Deadly is a DJ to look out for!

RAKIA (Hadley Mooney)

Rakia , aka Hadley Mooney, was born in Renmark, South Australia, grew up in Mackay, Queensland and then moved to Nangara, Western Australia. He is a descendant of the South Sea Island and the Noongar people from the south west of Western Australia.

Rakia has been pursuing a rap career for the last 10 years and has performed in Mackay and on Channel V in a hip-hop tour in 2005.

Rakia is an artist with Payback Records and hopes to be able to play music professionally. His ambition is to help his people right throughout Australia.

Tjimba (Tjimba Possum–Burns)

Tjimba is a young man from the Yorta Yorta tribe, Barmah forest and also a “unugu” Lavitja and Majuta man from the Northern Territory.

Tjimba has always been inspired to rap and represent his people; before he started rapping he played a lot of guitar and keyboard, then he got into composing and producing music also adding most of his incitements to hip-hop making something different.

Inspired by his father who is a guitarist as a young man Tjimba joined him on stage along side Carlos Santana and it was then he got more passionate about music.

Tjimba and his brother decided to get together and form a rap crew “The Yung Warriors”. since they started their rap group they have performed all over Victoria at so many amazing places and met so many great people.

Tjimba says the best experience is joining Payback records and working with other artist such as Johnny Mac, Meriki Hood, Alter Egos (Cappa Ack & M2thaB), Mr. Morgs, The OUTLAWZ and many more.

Little G ( Georgina Chrisanthopoulos)

Female Indigenous M.C. has been involved in the Hip Hop community since 1999 doin gigs with Dj Krissy, She Kat the Heroin, and Spare Change Society, Doin the hip hop musical in 1999 launched her into the hip hop scene and has had her music on a host of different compilations over the years, done festivals Moomba, st kilda festival, sydney rd festival, from The Big Day Out to support for Black Eyed just to name a few! and is ready to release her first CD in 2009.

She's an actor, M.C and writer, worked in juvenile justice Malmsbury and Parkville centres in 2002 - 2004, completed a Diploma in Performance Arts between 1999 and 2002, taught voice and improvisation at Swinburne University in 2003.

At the moment she is working on her music writing and traveling, also working with payback records, and other projects, check out my myspace/littlegina007 leave a msg dont be shy! xoxo g

Lady Luck (Meriki Hood)

The Queen of PAYBACK Records. Meriki has been performing and writing music for 7 years and is now ready to release her first solo album. Influenced by Missy Elliot, 2Pac and Bone Thugs and Harmony. Highlights also include meeting and collaborating a song with the OUTLAWZ in 2008.

Completed a Sound Engineering course through Songlines, involved in music workshops and mentoring young indigenous children with the Indigital Program and attended the music program at the Kangan Batman TAFE.

Performed at various Indigenous Community events through out Victoria and now ready to perform around the country.

Meriki started listening to rap music when she was 8 following in the steps of her big sister who was also a fan of rap music. Happiest moment in music was meeting her partner/boyfriend on stage (Johnny Mac) and having her beautiful daughter Lyrik.

Meriki hopes to take the music industry by storm and show them what a real Aboriginal Female M.C can do.

M2thaB (Matthew James Beattie)

Born Blacktown Sydney NSW and moved to Melbourne in 88 after my Dad died. Lived in Whittlesea and through out the Northern suburbs. Started rapping and writing music since I was 15.

Hooked up with Cappa in late 2005 to form the group ALTER EGOZ. Performing at various Night Clubs, Community Events, and Secondary Schools through out Victoria.

Since being involved with PAYBACK Records in 2008 have done a track with the OUTLAWZ and a video produced by the world famous JAMES WADE.

We are currently working on our debut album called SPLIT PERSONALITIES due out around March, while still working on the VIXFINEST mixtape and other music collabs.

MR MORGZ (Corithian Morgan)

Corinthian Morgan aka Mr Morgz was Born in Shepparton, Victoria raised in Melbourne and is a proud Indigenous Yorta Yorta M.C. Morgz started writing and rapping in 2001 while incarcerated as a way to stay motivated.

He continued practicing his flow and vocab creating his own style and has now been writing for 10 years! "I'll never give it up, rapping and writing are my healing"

Morgz is now with PAYBACK RECORDS thanks to his brutha boy NATRAT. In 2008 he recorded his Debut Album "LIFE ON THE RUN" in the INDIGITAL CENTRE Studio with the help of Cappa Ak which is currently being finalised including his track "PLAN PLOT" with Young Noble (The OUTLAWZ) and a list of other bangers with the Payback Crew.

Recently Morgz rocked the stage along side Alter Egoz as the Opening Act for one of New Zealand's Biggest Hip Hop Artists 'SAVAGE' The show was a Huge success and was a great way to promote some of the songs from "LIFE ON THE RUN" 

He is now working on his second album with more fire to come... STAY TUNED... MR M-O-R-G-Z

CAPPA AK (Casey Atkinson)

Casey Atkinson aka "Cappa Ak" was born in Melbourne and raised in his hometown of Shepparton alongside his Family and his Community. He was always a keen musician as a youngster starting out with Guitar at the age of 11 and teaching himself Bass and Drums by the time he was 15.

"I learned to use music as a way of really expressing myself and becoming more involved in a lifestyle that was out of my own comfort zone! My life so far has helped shape me to be who I am today! A Multi-talented, proud, strong willed young Koori with a LOT TO SAY!!!"

In early 2005 Capz met M2thaB (Matt Beattie) for the first time and was impressed by what he'd heard. After spending a few weeks vibing and mixing thier sounds the duo "ALTER EGOZ" had been created and there was a new energy around the music they were beginning to make together. Capz & M2thaB also created the brand "VIXFINEST" and most recently alongside Natrat (Nathan Lovett Murray) the boys have been a part of establishing the new lable "PAYBACK RECORDS"

D-BOY ( Danny Ramzan )

D-BOY Danny Ramzan is a nineteen year old Aboriginal musician, songwriter and beat producer who also performs live as a member of the Yung Warriors. Joined on stage by cuz Tjimba Possum Burns and Narjic Day Burns Danny also wrote songs and beats for their much played ‘Warrior For Life’ debut album.

Danny has played heaps of gigs for his own Indigenous communities and at the massive Big Day Out concert, the St Kilda Festival, Brunswick Festival Street Party and more including international support spots for 50 Cent.

Danny also encourages and develops the musical and technical skills of Indigenous youth as a mentor as a profession. ‘Its great to learn and teach as you go and I aim to be a producer as well as a writer performer in music.

Danny has lived on the remote Aboriginal community of Ernabella and in Melbourne’s northern suburbs. He shares the late genius painter Kunmanarra Clifford Possum as Grandfather with Tjimba Possum Burns and shares deep family pride in the Old Man’s achievements in the arts.

Danny continues to write and produce songs and beats for the Yung Warriors and others and looks forward to touring out bush and internationally. New material appears on the Yung Warriors website at www.myspace,com/tjimbaandtheyungwarriors.

Big GeorgieB ( Koori Boy )

Is a Aboriginal Rapper, from the Moirathban Tribe. He currently resides is Reservoir (Melbourne) but grew up in the large Aboriginal Community in Shepparton. Big Georgie B is very passionate about his Aboriginal Heritage and believes that the sacrifice his Elders and Ancestors made gives him the drive and determination to strive for his dreams, and pursue a career in Music.

Through his music Big Georgie B would like educate the rest of Australia and the world on Aboriginal Culture, because he believes Music speaks all languages and crosses all Cultural and Social barriers. Big Georgie B likes all forms of Music from Rap to Country Music, because all forms of music have stories to tell. He is musically influenced by the following artists, Tupac, Biggie Smalls, Naughty by Nature, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, G-Unit, T.I, Young Joc, Eagles, Gun’s n Roses, John Fogerty, Alan Jackson, George Jones and many more.