1) An Australian MC
2)… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists with the name 360.
1) An Australian MC
2) A ska band from Birmingham, England
3) A collaboration of Nuno dos Santos and Patrice Bäumel
1) When, in January this year, Acclaim magazine asked Australian hip-hop icon and ARIA nominee Phrase who his top five local emcees were, the usual names dropped from his mouth: Obese head honcho Pegz, Triple J favourite Urthboy… no great surprises. However, there was one name on the list without a release to his name, with no radio play, just an undeniable street buzz and a raw talent that has everyone from industry players to fans anxiously awaiting his next appearance behind a microphone. That name is 360.
The 21-year-old Melbourne emcee known as 360 (pronounced ‘three sixty’) has been a mainstay of Australia’s burgeoning hip-hop underground since 2004 when, as a fresh-faced 18-year-old, he debuted on the Terntable Jediz’ All Out War compilation alongside international heavyweights Celph Titled, John Doe and local icon Bias B.
Now – after years spent honing his craft in the studio (through collaborations with artists as diverse as California’s Okwerdz, Universal signee Ken Hell and electro-rap upstarts Alexx The Kidd) and on the live scene (alongside everyone from emo-hoppers Atmosphere to 90s icon Vanilla Ice) – 360 has re-emerged with his stunning debut solo album What You See Is What You Get. The album is earmarked for an early 2008 release through Soulmate Records.
From the first listen, it’s clear the time spent in development was worthwhile: What You See… marks the arrival of a bold new direction for Australian hip-hop, melding wicked wordplay, soulful harmonies, funky loops, live instrumentation and comedic brilliance into a truly potent rap concoction. At the helm, of course, is 360, whose instantly recognisable voice, youthful energy, poetic insight and playful lyricism command the full attention of the listener from first to last track.
“What I’m giving you/experience I’m living through/inspired by my own life and sh*t I listen to…”
Showing off the diversity of 360’s sound, the album’s two intended radio singles run the gamut between party hysterics and soulful honesty without missing a beat. ‘How Good?’ rides an addictive seventies funk loop and takes us on a tour of Melbourne’s notorious nightlife, deconstructing the city’s social sub-cultures with biting wit and absurdity. ‘Take Me For Granted’, meanwhile, is a plaintive acoustic ballad, with 360 lamenting lost love over a sparse guitar arrangement.
And let’s not forget the infamous ‘Mamma Mia’, a hilarious stalker’s anthem aimed fairly and squarely at Australia’s most famous tennis wife. The accompanying video garnered headlines in the Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, Age, mX and received 8,000+ plays in its first week online!
Unlike so many modern hip-hop discs, guests on the album are kept to a minimum, allowing 360 to command the spotlight. The guests that do appear – including TZU bandleader Joelistics, Melodics frontman Jeremedy, soulful singer Oso and Australia’s most promising hip-hop newcomer Pez – function as an organic extension of the music, not a cheap grab at fame-by-assocation, and lend added spice to an already tasty dish.
Behind the boards, a variety of accomplished beatmakers – from hip-hop wunderkind M-Phazes to multi-instrumentalist Pataphysics to the aforementioned Joelistics – provide the perfect melodic canvas for 360’s colourful lyrical brushstrokes. TZU’s Count Bounce (one of the production masterminds behind Urthboy’s The Signal) lends extra flair on mixing and arrangement duties, while scratches come courtesy of 2007 Victorian DMC champion DJ A-Style.
As 360 himself says, “I know you’re excited but try and breathe and settle/check all these tracks and get to know me on a deeper level…”. So what are you waiting for?
2) 360 is made up of 8 musicians who have been together for quite a while, but have now been settled into their present incarnation for the last 2 years. They are a “live” band, bringing excitement to the stage and transmitting that to the audience, who never fail to pick it up and run with it for all they are worth. All their material is original – most of which is written by their guitar-playing singer Ross Lydon. First hearing is noted for the influence of reggae and ska to their music, but upon listening further, you quickly begin to realise that there is more. More melody, more catches and more rock.
Regulars on the live Midlands circuit, 360 have graced the stages of numerous festivals, including Glastobury 2008, Beach Break Live 2007 and 2008, Shambala, Big Green Gathering, The Vale and Eastern Haze. This year we have played Glastonbury and Beach Break Live again, and headlined at The Vale for a second time, and will be playing at Secret Garden Party, Bloom Festival and Field View festival. Our aim to break-out of only playing the Midland scene is coming to fruition, with gigs in London at the Half Moon, The Dublin Castle and The Hope and Anchor. Recent recording sessions with esteemed Midlands-based producers Gavin Monaghan (Editors, Kings of Leon, The Twang) and Bob Lamb (UB40, Ocean Colour Scene) have unlocked the undoubted potential within the band, giving the boys a platform on which to build, as they take the next steps on their musical journey… The results of the session with Gavin are available for you to hear on this site.
3) 360 is a collaboration between the two dj's Nuno dos Santos and Patrice Bäumel, they have their own club night in Theater de Kikker in Utrecht and Club Trouw in Amsterdam.
Killer
360 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some have mentioned and said we're ill
They don′t know what our illness is
So we're left to just kill this shit
Take a look and see the armies forming
Hear the steps as we're marching forward
Fight back and just ask for more blood
One touch turn your ass to stardust
We step from above, burning our feet on the edge of the sun
Murder the streets in a way that it′s never been done
Who said this ain′t meant to be fun?
Pray to Jesus cause he's your savior
Right now not even him can save ya
But at least you gonna meet your maker
Tell him that 60 said hi, I will see you later
What if you were to know a killer, killer?
What if you were to know a killer, killer?
How would you feel to know a killer, killer?
What if I was a killer, killer?
You can go ahead and judge me but
You don′t know how good this feels
What it's like to be finally murdering something that should be killed
Yo, I gotta get my license to kill
So I′m down here to tighten my skill
If I spend the right time in the field
Then I know that I finally will
No more fear is inside of us
No laws here gonna apply to us
Better be aware, you'll be seeing your death bed
Cause of us, a lot of people have slept there
This is intimidation, right?
The kingpins, you can face em
Gotta see there′s a killing to be made
So it's off with their head, win win situation, killer
What if you were to know a killer, killer?
What if you were to know a killer, killer?
How would you feel to know a killer, killer?
What if I was a killer, killer?
Killer, yeah, yeah, yeah
Killer, yeah, yeah, yeah
Killer, yeah, yeah, yeah
Killer, yeah, yeah, yeah
If you don't know we were sent to kill
Some have mentioned and said we′re ill
If you don′t know we were sent to kill
Some have mentioned and said we're ill.
The song "Killer" by 360 begins with the assertion that the singer was sent to kill, and that some have called them sick. They acknowledge their illness but do not elaborate on what it entails, instead choosing to focus on the mission at hand: killing. The imagery used in the song implies that there is some sort of battle or conflict taking place, as armies are forming and steps are being heard as they march forward. The mood is one of aggression, as the lyrics mention fighting back and asking for more blood. The singer claims to be capable of turning someone to stardust with just one touch.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is enjoying the feeling of murdering something that they feel deserves to die. They express a desire for a license to kill and the belief that spending time perfecting their skills will enable them to achieve this. There is a sense of power and freedom associated with being a killer, as they assert that no laws apply to them and that they are not afraid. They warn others that they may end up on their deathbed because of the singer's actions.
Overall, "Killer" is a song about a protagonist who revels in the act of killing and the sense of power it brings them. Though they acknowledge that they may be sick, they do not dwell on this fact and instead focus on the mission at hand. The lyrics suggest that there is some sort of conflict they are involved in, though the song does not provide details about what it might be.
Line by Line Meaning
If you don't know we were sent to kill
We were given a mission to eliminate something.
Some have mentioned and said we're ill
Others have commented on our actions, but they don't know the full story.
They don't know what our illness is
People assume we have an illness, but they don't know the real reason behind what we're doing.
So we're left to just kill this shit
We have to fulfill our mission no matter what the consequences are.
Take a look and see the armies forming
Our forces are gathering and preparing to take action.
Hear the steps as we're marching forward
We're advancing towards our target, and our footsteps echo with confidence.
Fight back and just ask for more blood
Our enemies should prepare for a bloody fight if they decide to resist us.
One touch turn your ass to stardust
We're so deadly that even a single touch from us turns someone into dust.
We step from above, burning our feet on the edge of the sun
We enter into the battlefield with such aggression and determination that it's like we're walking on fire.
Murder the streets in a way that it's never been done
Our actions will shock and terrify everyone, leaving a lasting impression on the streets.
Who said this ain't meant to be fun?
We take pleasure in our mission even if it's gruesome and violent.
Pray to Jesus cause he's your savior
Those who face us should pray to Jesus because he may be their only hope.
Right now not even him can save ya
Our power is so great that not even faith can protect someone from us.
But at least you gonna meet your maker
If someone dies at our hands, they will meet their maker and face judgment.
Tell him that 60 said hi, I will see you later
The singer is confident in their actions and believes they will eventually meet their maker as well.
You can go ahead and judge me but
The artist knows that their actions will be judged harshly by society.
You don't know how good this feels
Despite the judgment, the artist takes pleasure in their mission.
What it's like to be finally murdering something that should be killed
The singer is fulfilled by eliminating something that is considered a threat or nuisance.
Yo, I gotta get my license to kill
The singer takes pride in their mission and wants to be recognized for their achievements.
So I'm down here to tighten my skill
The artist is willing to learn and improve their abilities to become even more deadly.
If I spend the right time in the field
The artist believes that with enough time and practice, they can become even more efficient in their mission.
Then I know that I finally will
The artist is confident in their abilities and believes that they will succeed in their mission.
No more fear is inside of us
The singer and their team have no fear in carrying out their mission.
No laws here gonna apply to us
The artist and their team are operating outside the law to achieve their mission.
Better be aware, you'll be seeing your death bed
The enemies of the singer and their team should be warned that they will meet their end.
Cause of us, a lot of people have slept there
The singer and their team have already claimed many victims.
This is intimidation, right?
The singer is aware that their actions are meant to intimidate and frighten others.
The kingpins, you can face em
The artist and their team are bold enough to take on even the most powerful people.
Gotta see there's a killing to be made
The artist and their team see their mission as a necessary task to eliminate a threat.
So it's off with their head, win win situation, killer
The singer sees their actions ultimately benefiting them, and the best solution is to eliminate their enemies.
If you were to know a killer, killer?
The singer asks the listener to imagine knowing someone who is a killer.
How would you feel to know a killer, killer?
The artist asks the listener to consider how they would feel if they knew someone who was a killer.
What if I was a killer, killer?
The artist asks a rhetorical question, perhaps to indicate that they are indeed a killer.
Killer, yeah, yeah, yeah
The artist repeats the word 'killer' multiple times, perhaps to emphasize the message or indicate their pride in their mission.
Writer(s): Midge Ure, William Currie, Warren Reginald Cann, Christopher Thomas Allen, Kaelyn Behr, Matthew James Colwell
Contributed by Chloe H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
james sinclair
10 years later and still blasting this song
Joel P - Hurst
Fr
suzimoe1
360 legendary!! What would give to see him live. And the cables are obviously deliberate. I especially like the part where he misses the balustrade and is left swinging in mid air and how its incorporated into the words of the song. Have a listen. Classic!
Jungles
❤
TheSugaqueen
I can never get sick of this song :)
Callum Renwick Sinclair
This song went so hard at The Annandale today! Good job sixty you really know how to work a crowd! Come back to Sydney more often mate <3
Friday9951
And I love how the Oz hip-hop like 360 can laugh at themselves. As KILLER as this track is, when he fails at using the cable lift and the Green Men he just rolls with it, and we can all laugh together in the film clip - same with the ending, hilarious!
Caitlin Harrison
love this song so good to see an aussie getting their stuff out there
Ωmega
Love how he takes the piss out of music videos in this song
Grant Smith
simply amazing 360. Loving all your music man. Keep it up :) <3