Tim Levinson
Til they snatch this last page out from my hand
About Me
Urthboy is a hip hop artist, songwriter and live performer. He is also the label manager for Elefant Traks.
Beginning in the late 90s, his first group Explanetary folded after one EP In On The Deal (2001).
Urthboy’s first solo album Distant Sense of Random Menace was released in 2004 (“Aussie Hip Hop needs this album” The Brag) and featured singles No Rider and Come Around. But it was 2007’s The Signal that kicked things up a notch.
The first single We Get Around cracked the top 25 in triple j’s Hottest 100 while The Signal was hailed as “a classic” by Rolling Stone. It received two AIR Award nominations; a J Award nomination (Triple J’s Album of the Year award); and it was shortlisted in the prestigious Australian Music Prize (Best Album 2007).
Significantly, the album was licensed to Motivo Records (among a select few hip hop records from Australia ever licensed overseas) and released late 2007. Urthboy toured Malaysia and Japan in 2008 before locking down for duties with The Herd in Australia.
In addition to solo material, Urthboy is one of the main songwriters in The Herd, whose four albums The Herd (2001); An Elefant Never Forgets (2003); The Sun Never Sets (2005/06); and Summerland (2008) have seen them build a huge fanbase in Australia. They’ve sold out national tours, including major metropolitan theatres through to regional venues whilst accepting invitations to every major festival in the country. During this time they’ve won AIR Awards; had a top ten ARIA chart album; as well as being nominated for an ARIA award (Best Urban 2008); J Awards and an AMP award.
It is however, in solo mode that Urthboy is allowed to shine and his third solo album, Spitshine dropped to great acclaim (read below) and two hugely successful tours (2009 and 2010) playing to over 20,000 people. Once again, Urthboy was shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize (one of the only artists ever nominated twice).
Celebrating the government’s apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008, Urthboy worked with Getup to create a remake of Paul Kelly’s From Little Things Big Things Grow. The song helped raise over $100,000 for Indigenous run health and education programs.
In 2010 Urthboy embarks on his first European tour, playing some of the biggest hip hop festivals in the world (Splash, Germany and Open-Air Festival, Switzerland) as well as clubs shows in Germany, Denmark and England.
As label manager of Elefant Traks, Urthboy (Tim Levinson) has facilitated its growth from a handful of releases to beyond fifty – as well as a boutique touring company. In this capacity, he has experience in roles as diverse as A & R and artist management, Tour Coordinator & Event Management, Public Speaker and workshop consultant.
RAVE MAG “CEMENTS URTHBOY’S POSITION AS THE STRONGEST INDIVIDUAL FORCE IN AUSTRALIAN HIP HOP”
JMAG **** “URTHBOY IS A MASTERFUL COLLABORATOR.”
BEAT MAGAZINE “URTHBOY HIGHLIGHTS ALL THAT IS GOOD ABOUT HIP HOP.”
Portfolio 8 Items
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We Get Around
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Main single from 'The Signal' - #25 in triple j Hottest 100 2008. Produced by Elgusto.
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The Signal (Live at the Forum)
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Performed live at the Forum in 2008 at the Elefant Traks 10th Anniversary Party. Featuring are Jane Tyrrell and Elgusto (members of the live show) while production on the song…
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Shruggin feat. Jane Tyrrell
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Third single from third album 'Spitshine'
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2020 - The Herd
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2020 is one of Urthboy's few musical productions and featured on The Herd's ARIA Top Ten album Summerland (2008). The Herd is Ozi Batla, Jane Tyrrell, Rok Poshtya, Sulo, Unkle…
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The Herd - The King is Dead
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Taken from the album Summerland (2008)
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Distant Sense of Random Menace (2004)
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Debut solo album
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The Signal (2007)
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Highly acclaimed follow-up solo album from Urthboy in 2007.
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Spitshine (2009)
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Third album (nominated for 2009 Australian Music Prize)
