Kobie Dee Explained

Kobie Dee
Birth Name:Kobie Duncan[1]
Birth Place:Maroubra, New South Wales
Genre:Australian hip hop[2]
Years Active:2018-present
Label:Bad Apples Music (2019-present)

Kobie Duncan (known professionally as Kobie Dee) is an Australian singer, songwriter and rapper.[1] Kobie Dee released his debut EP in 2021. At the 2022 J Awards he won the Done Good Award for enriching First Nations communities.[3]

He is a Gomeroi man from Maroubra, New South Wales.[4] [2]

Early life

Kobie Duncan grew up on Bidjigal country, modern day Maroubra, New South Wales.[4] He grew up without a father in his life.[1]

At age 10, Duncan wrote his first song after listening to "Eazy-Duz-It" by Eazy-E. At age 10, Kobie attended Weave's Kool Kids Program and met Mardi Diles, who would later become his manager.[4] Kobie "looked up to" Briggs, who he met at a local performance in 2018 and whose label he would sign to in 2019.[1]

Career

2018–present: Career beginnings and Gratitude Over Pity

Kobie Dee released his debut single "Right Now" in May 2018.[5]

In 2019 Kobie met Nooky, an artist signed to Bad Apples Music label, who heard and forwarded his song "About a Girl" to Briggs, who signed him to Bad Apples the same year.[4] [1]

In November 2021, Kobie Dee released his debut EP, Gratitude Over Pity. It was produced by Papertoy, Jaytee Hazard and Magic Nic.[1] As per the press release, the resulting EP is a "pen-to-paper journey, thematically encapsulating how real-time events and inspired moments have helped uncover a perspective of gratitude and appreciation towards the present through a lens of dedicated optimism."[6]

About the EP, GQ said "Kobie Dee implement his trademark technical flow over five tracks which range from bouncing, catchy songs to introspective, raw stories."

In January 2023, Kobie Dee completed a six-week residency hosting Triple J's Hip Hop Show.[7]

In July 2024, Kobie released his second EP ’Chapter 26, an EP he describes as "a journey through my life, from being a young Blak man in Australia, to becoming a father and navigating fatherhood from a place of having an absent father myself".[8]

Personal life

In April 2019, Kobie became a father to a daughter named Kali.[9]

Kobie is a youth ambassador for Weave Youth and Community Services and Just Reinvest NSW.

In 2021, Kobie launched the podcast Know Role Models where he converses with First Nations People.[10]

Discography

Extended plays

Title! scope="col" rowspan="1"
Details
Gratitude Over Pity
Chapter 26
  • Released: 26 July 2024
  • Label: Bad Apples, Universal Music Australia
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Certified singles

Title! rowspan="1"
YearCertificationAlbum
"Jody"2019

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

! |-| 2022| Gratitude Over Pity| Best Independent Hip Hop Album or EP| | [12]

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.

! |-| 2022| Kobie Dee| Done Good Award| | [13]

National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. They commenced in 2004.

! |-| 2019| Kobie Dee| New Talent of the Year| | [14] |-| 2023| Kobie Dee| Artist of the Year| | [15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kobie Dee: Gomeroi rap storyteller focusing on 'Gratitude Over Pity' . NME. 20 October 2021. 14 December 2023.
  2. Web site: Kobie Dee JJJ Unearthed. Triple J Unearthed. 23 January 2020. 14 December 2023.
  3. Web site: 2022 Done Good Award. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 November 2022. 14 December 2023.
  4. Web site: About. Kobie Dee . 14 December 2023.
  5. Web site: The First official single from Kobie Dee produced by Papertoy.. YouTube. 14 May 2018. 14 December 2023.
  6. Web site: Kobie Dee's 'About A Girl' is confronting yet powerful storytelling. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 August 2021. 14 December 2023.
  7. Web site: Kobie Dee kicks off new era for triple j's Hip Hop Show . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 January 2023. 14 December 2023.
  8. Web site: Kobie Dee Drops New EP, Announces National Tour. Rolling Stone Australia. 26 July 2024. 28 July 2024.
  9. Web site: Meet Kobie Dee, the Kamilaroi rap star making music for marginalised voices . DMY. May 2020. 14 December 2023. Alice Austin.
  10. Web site: Meet Kobie Dee, the Sydney rapper with stories to tell . GQ. 5 November 2021. 14 December 2023. Charlie Calver .
  11. Australia. 2023. 18 June 2024.
  12. Web site: Nominees Announced For AIR Independent Music Awards 2022. musicfeeds. 1 June 2022. 1 June 2022.
  13. Web site: 15 November 2022 . Gang Of Youths lead our 2022 J Award winners! . . 14 December 2023.
  14. Web site: National Indigenous Music Awards Unveils 2019 Nominations. nima. 18 July 2019. 10 August 2020.
  15. Web site: Budjerah & Wildfire Manwurrk Lead NIMA Finalist Nominations . The Music. 12 July 2023. 12 July 2023. Mary Varvaris .