PEZ

PEZ’s sensitive, melody-driven hip-hop often takes the form of potent confessionals that air his anxieties in real time. Born Perry Chapman in Melbourne in 1984, PEZ turned to rapping after an injury sidelined his youthful basketball ambitions. His 2008 debut album, A Mind of My Own, yielded the feel-good breakthrough “The Festival Song”, an ode to Australia’s summertime music gatherings that featured both touring vocalist Hailey Cramer and frequent collaborator 360. PEZ didn’t release a proper follow-up for another eight years, due in part to some health struggles. But 2016’s Don’t Look Down reasserted the rapper’s appeal beyond strictly hip-hop circles, thanks to vocal cameos from veteran singer/songwriter Paul Kelly on “Livin’ On” and alt-rock hero Paul Dempsey (of Something for Kate) on “Calling Out”. As emotionally articulate as ever, PEZ unpacked the tough intervening years on the album’s stirring centrepiece, “Whatever It Takes”.