J-Milla Explained

J-Milla, often styled J-MILLA, is an Aboriginal Australian hip hop musician . He was born as Jacob Nichaloff in Darwin in the Northern Territory.

Early life and education

J-Milla was born as Jacob Nichaloff, and is of the tak Mak Marranunggu people of the Litchfield Park area in the Northern Territory (NT). He spent his childhood in the NT (where he started rapping at the age of 11), but came to Adelaide, South Australia, to attend Scotch College, where he made a lot of friends.[1]

Career

His first single, "My People", was released in 2018.[2] [3]

In 2020, J-Milla pledged to donate the earnings from his single "Unlock the System" to the family of Kumanjayi Walker, an Aboriginal man who was killed during an arrest attempt. The song was strongly supported by the ABC radio station Triple J.[4] In November 2020, he performed at the TREATY festival as part of NAIDOC Week at Tandanya in Adelaide, along with Dem Mob, MLRN x RKM, and shared the MC duties with actor Natasha Wanganeen.[5] J-Milla was selected for TikTok's online music festival that year.[6]

He performed on the closing day of the Adelaide Festival in March 2021, at an event called "Hip Hop Finale", along with Ziggy Ramo, JK-47 and Jimblah.[1] [7]

Discography

Singles

List of singles, with year released and album name shown! Title! Year! Album
"My People"2018rowspan="15"
"Juice"2019
"No Lie"
"Lately"
"Route 66"
"Unlock the System"2020
"Fresh"
"60K+"
"Lit"
"Thang for Me"2021
"Ball and Chain"
2022
"Nicest"
[8]
2023
"On My Soul"[9]
"Gammon"[10]
"Boomerang"[11] 2024

Awards and nominations

National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises the achievements of Indigenous Australians in music. The award ceremony commenced in 2004. Electric Fields have won one award from four nominations.

! |-| rowspan="1"| 2022| "Ball and Chain" (with Xavier Rudd)| Song of the Year| | [12] [13] |-

Notes and References

  1. Web site: J-MILLA is a rising star in Adelaide hip hop . CityMag . 4 March 2021 . 29 August 2021.
  2. Web site: Hayley. 2020-11-16. J-MILLA Releases His New Single '60K PLUS'. 2021-03-15. 3 Kool n Deadly. en.
  3. Web site: 2020-02-07. Get to Know: uncompromising NT rapper J-MILLA. 2021-03-15. Tone Deaf. en-AU.
  4. Web site: Knowles. Rachael. 2020-01-21. J-Milla to donate song earnings to family of Kumanjayi Walker. 2021-03-15. National Indigenous Times. en-US.
  5. Web site: Looking forward to NAIDOC Week: things to do . ArtsHub Australia . 6 November 2020 . 29 August 2021.
  6. Web site: First Nations TikTok creators in the spotlight for NAIDOC Week. 2021-03-15. NITV. en.
  7. Web site: The Music . Adelaide Festival: Ziggy Ramo + JK-47 + Jimblah + J-Milla Elder Park. 29 August 2021.
  8. Web site: RAPPER J-MILLA RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE “NICEST FT THIR13EEN” PROVING – ONCE AGAIN – THAT HE IS ‘THE ONE TO WATCH’. Silly MC Wiggles. 26 April 2023. 6 May 2023.
  9. Web site: j milla on my soul single . Tone Deaf. 25 August 2023. 9 September 2023.
  10. Web site: J-MILLA's 'GAMMON' release sets the stage for jam-packed end to 2023. National Indigenous Times. 27 October 2023. 30 October 2023.
  11. Web site: J-MILLA is back like a ‘BOOMERANG’ with infectious new single. Happy Mag. 5 July 2024. 6 July 2024.
  12. Web site: Nominees and Performers Announced For National Indigenous Music Awards 2022. Music Feeds. 13 July 2022. 14 July 2022.
  13. Web site: 2022 NIMAs: Baker Boy Wins Two Awards, Archie Roach and Gurrumul Honoured . The Music Network. 6 August 2022. 7 August 2022.