JK-47

Jacob Paulson (born 15 January 1997), known professionally as JK-47, is an Indigenous Australian rapper, musician, and activist from Tweed Heads South, New South Wales.

JK-47
Paulson performing at Adelaide Festival in 2021
Background information
Birth nameJacob Paulson
Born (1997-01-15) January 15, 1997
Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia
OriginTweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • activist
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
Years active2012–present
Labels
Websitelinktree/jk_47

His debut album, Made for This, was released independently on 4 September 2020.

Early life

Jacob Paulson was born in Tweed Heads, New South Wales.[1][2] Paulson is a Minjungbal/Gudjinburra man of the Bundjalung community.[3][4] He attended Tweed River High School for his secondary education from 2009 to 2015.[4] He began rapping and writing music at the age of 14.[3][5] In a July 2020 interview with the Tweed Valley Weekly, Paulson discussed how he came to be a rapper, stating: "I have always been into rap since I was in third or fourth grade. My brother and cousin used to rap and so I always wanted to be a rapper... I like to keep it real and I like my music to have a message."[6]

Career

2019: Career beginnings and "Came for the Lot"

On 13 September 2019, Paulson released his debut solo single "Came for the Lot", featuring Brisbane rapper Nerve.[7] Later that month, he featured on Nerve's single "Sunday Roast", a song credited as both artists' breakthrough.[8] At the end of the month, Paulson was Nerve's support act at Listen Out Festival.[8][9]

2020–present: "The Recipe" and Made for This

On 22 January 2020, Paulson was announced as a support act for Adrian Eagle's Mama Tour in support of Eagle's EP of the same name.[10] On 29 May, Paulson released the single "The Recipe".[11] The track received frequent rotation on Triple J and saw him become a Triple J Unearthed Feature Artist on the station.[8] On 1 July, The Music revealed in an exclusive that New World Artists had signed Paulson to their roster and additionally announced an initial August release date for his forthcoming debut album.[12] On 3 July, Paulson released the single "I Am Here (Trust Me)", featuring Phoebe Jacobs & Hazy.[13] The song discusses mental health and Aboriginal deaths in custody.[1] On 8 August, Paulson performed his track "Outta Here" virtually at the 17th Annual National Indigenous Music Awards.[14] "Outta Time" was later featured on his debut album Made for This.[15] On 4 September, he independently released his debut album, Made for This.[15] In January 2021, Paulson performed at Yours and Owls Festival.[16]

On 11 February 2021, Paulson performed a cover of 2Pac's "Changes" with Bronte Eve for Triple J's Like a Version segment, alongside a performance of "The Recipe" as his original track.[17] In March, Paulson performed at the Adelaide Festival's hip hop finale concert. The event had an all-indigenous line-up, featuring Jimblah, Ziggy Ramo and J-Milla. On 1 July, Australian record company Waxx Lyrical announced Made for This as their "Record of the Month". Following the announcement, the company reissued the album on vinyl for a limited run of 150 copies.[18]

In August 2022, Paulson released "At One (reVision)" and announced the forthcoming release of his second studio album, Revision for Regrowth.[19]

Personal life

Paulson's partner Lauren gave birth to their son, Zuriel, in June 2020.[1][20]

Musical style and influences

Paulson is primarily a hip hop and Australian hip hop artist.[5] His music frequently discusses issues facing Indigenous Australians.[5]

Paulson's track "The Recipe" has been favourably compared to late American rapper Nipsey Hussle,[8] an artist whom he considers an influence.[21] He also lists J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, the Game, Joey Bada$$, and Lauryn Hill as musical influences.[21]

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, release date, label, and selected chart positions shown
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
Made for This —[upper-alpha 1]
Revision for Regrowth
  • Released: 2022[19]
  • Label: JK-47 (independent)
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 TBA

As lead artist
List of singles, with year released and album name shown
Title Year Album
"Came for the Lot"
(featuring Nerve)[7]		 2019 Non-album single
"The Recipe"[23] 2020 Made for This
"I Am Here (Trust Me)"
(featuring Phoebe Jacobs and Hazy)[13]
"Guess Again"
(featuring Dredub)[24]		 2021
"Healing"
(with Jay Orient)[25]
"Kentucky, We Fight (Flood Won't Last)"
(Devine Carama & JK-47 featuring Bryce Jamel)		 2022
"At One (reVision)"[19] Revision for Regrowth
"Rain"
(with Jay Orient featuring Adrian Eagle)[26]		 2023 TBA
"Avalanche"
(featuring Tasman Keith)[27]
List of singles, with year released and album name shown
Title Year Album
"Up Again"
(Gratis Minds featuring JK-47)[28]		 2018 Non-album singles
"No1 Knows the Lyrics"
(No1network featuring Nerve, Smak, Chiggz, Nate G, and JK-47)[29]		 2019
"Sunday Roast"
(Nerve featuring JK-47)[30]		 Mumma's Boy
"Land"
(Hazy featuring Narli and JK-47)[31]		 2020 Non-album single
"One in a Million"
(Nerve featuring JK-47)[32]		 2021 Tall Poppy Season

Promotional singles
List of promotional singles, with year released and album name shown
Title Year Album
"Changes (Like A Version)"
(featuring Bronte Eve)[33]		 2021 Non-album single

Notes
  1. Made for This did not enter the ARIA Albums Chart, but did peak at number 4 on the ARIA Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums Album Chart.[22]

Awards and nominations

National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) recognise excellence, dedication, innovation and outstanding contribution to the Northern Territory music industry. In 2020, Paulson was nominated for one award,[34] which he won.[35]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2020 Himself Triple J Unearthed National Indigenous Competition Won [35]
2021 Made for This Album of the Year Won [36][37]

J Awards

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2020 Made for This Australian Album of the Year Nominated [38]
Himself Unearthed Artist of the Year Won [39]

Rolling Stone Australia Awards

The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year.[40]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2021 JK-47 Best New Artist Nominated [41]

Concert tours

Supporting

References
  1. Butler, Abby (16 July 2020). "The ten best Unearthed discoveries of 2020 (so far…)". Triple J. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  2. Fuamoli, Sose (16 September 2020). "JK-47's striking debut album proves he was Made for This". Triple J. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  3. Tremain, Frank; Craig, Matthew (5 September 2020). "JK-47 proves undisputedly that he is "Made for This" on debut album". AUD. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  4. "Talented Ex-TRHS student wins Music Award" (PDF). Tweed River High School. 11 September 2020. p. 5. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  5. "Congrats to JK-47, the winner of our Unearthed NIMAs comp!". Triple J. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  6. Albany, Megan (20 July 2020). "Local rapper wins coveted Triple J award". Tweed Valley Weekly. p. 37. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  7. "Came for the Lot (feat. Nerve) – Single by JK-47 on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  8. "JK-47 is writing the manual on how to make a perfect Unearthed debut". Triple J. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  9. Langford, Jackson (11 September 2019). "Listen Out announces 2019 set times". Music Feeds. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  10. "Adrian Eagle Aus Tour starting Jan 31st. Adrian also welcomes tour supports: Philly, P-Unique, Dyspora, JK-47, Ms. Thandi, and Maina Doe". The Partae. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  11. "The Recipe – Single by JK-47 on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  12. Griffiths, Neil (1 July 2020). "Exclusive: New World Artists sign "one of the slickest lyricists in the game"". The Music. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  13. "I Am Here (Trust Me) [feat. Phoebe Jacobs & Hazy] – Single by JK-47 on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  14. "Watch 5 great performances from the 2020 NIMAs". Double J. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  15. Martin, Josh (5 September 2020). "JK-47 releases debut album 'Made for This'". NME Australia. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  16. Crabb, Brendan (16 July 2020). "Yours and Owls festival to return in 2021 – with an Aussie and NZ only line-up". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  17. Bruce, Jasper (11 February 2021). "Watch JK-47 cover 'Changes' by 2Pac for triple j's Like a Version". NME Australia. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  18. "Record of the Month". Waxx Lyrical. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  19. "JK-47 Shares New Single "At One (reVision)", Announces Second Album". MusicFeeds. 17 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  20. Fuamoli, Sose (13 September 2020). "JK-47's striking debut album proves he was Made For This". Triple J. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  21. "JK-47 – Triple J Unearthed". Triple J Unearthed. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  22. "ARIA Top 10 Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums for week of 12 July 2021". Australian Recording Industry Association. 12 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  23. "JK-47 heats things up with new single 'The Recipe'". All Aussie Hip-Hop. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  24. "ABC Playlist". Online Radio Box. March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  25. "Healing - single". Apple Music. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  26. "JK-47 and Jay Orient Release New Single 'Rain', Featuring Adrian Eagle". Music Feeds. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  27. "Good Nights". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  28. "'Up Again' is the brand new single from Gratis Minds feat. JK-47". All Aussie Hip-Hop. 22 March 2018. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  29. "No1 Knows the Lyrics (feat. Nerve, Smak, JK-47, Chiggz & Nate G) – Single by No1network on Apple Music". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  30. Thompson, Russell (25 September 2019). "Review: Nerve ticks all the right boxes with 'Mumma's Boy' EP". Music Is My Muse. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  31. Davies, Hayden (9 November 2020). "Premiere: Narli and JK-47 celebrate their ancestors in the clip for Land". Pilerats. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  32. Triscari, Caleb (5 May 2021). "Nerve reunites with JK-47 for new single 'One in a Million'". NME Australia. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  33. "Changes (triple j Like A Version) [feat. Bronte Eve] – Single by JK-47 on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  34. Cross, Hannah (13 July 2020). "Miiesha and Baker Boy set to clean up National Indigenous Music Awards". National Indigenous Times. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  35. Gooley, Cameron (8 August 2020). "Baker Boy wins top prize at National Indigenous Music Awards, Ruby Hunter inducted into Hall of Fame". ABC News. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  36. Cashmere, Paul (8 July 2021). "NIMA Nominees Revealed". noise11. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  37. "The Kid LAROI, JK-47 lead National Indigenous Music Award winners". ABC. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  38. Fuamoli, Sose (2 November 2020). "Here are your nominees for the 2020 J Awards!". Triple J. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  39. Triscari, Caleb (19 November 2020). "Lime Cordiale take home Australian Album of the Year at the 2020 J Awards". NME Australia. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  40. Barnes, Amelia (5 December 2011). "Rolling Stone Magazine Australia announces 3rd annual awards event". The AU Review. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  41. "Tash Sultana, Tkay Maidza, and Tame Impala Lead Rolling Stone Australia Awards Winners". Rolling Stone Australia. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
External video
video icon JK-47 performing "Outta Time" at the 17th Annual National Indigenous Music Awards, National Indigenous Television (NITV), SBS
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