Hilltop Hoods – State Of The Art (180g Vinyl 2LP)

Released in 2009, State of the Art marked a major moment for Adelaide hip-hop trio Hilltop Hoods. MCs Suffa and Pressure, together with DJ Debris, combined sharp storytelling, humour and socially observant lyrics with ambitious production. The album celebrates the group's roots in Australian hip-hop while showing how confidently their music could fill larger stages.

Their approach balances sample-based beats with live instrumentation, punchy drums and memorable hooks. Distinctly Australian voices are central to the sound: rather than imitating overseas rap conventions, they draw on local language, experience and perspective. Chase That Feeling captures the exhilaration and uncertainty of pursuing music, while Still Standing delivers a confident statement of endurance.

The Light You Burned and Super Official show different sides of the group's rhythmic attack, and Parade of the Dead brings a darker atmosphere. The closing stretch includes the reflective Last Confession and powerful Fifty in Five, a meditation on social change and the passage of time. This 2025 reissue on 180g black vinyl 2LP, barcode 0602475643494, presents the album in gatefold packaging.

The album arrived at a point when Australian hip-hop was reaching audiences well beyond its original underground community. Hilltop Hoods had already built a reputation for energetic live shows and tightly written records, and State of the Art captured that confidence without abandoning their local identity. The combination of memorable choruses and detailed verses gives the songs immediate appeal, but the lyrics also leave room for humour, frustration and reflection.

Chase That Feeling is an especially effective opening statement because it celebrates creativity while acknowledging its costs. Still Standing draws strength from persistence, and the more atmospheric pieces show a willingness to move beyond straightforward battle-rap conventions. The ambitious Fifty in Five surveys historical and social change, demonstrating the group's interest in larger subjects. The album remains an important example of how Australian hip-hop could sound both unmistakably local and broadly accessible, making this double-LP reissue a worthwhile addition to a collection of modern Australian music.

Supplied brand new and sealed.

Available from Heathen Records, your independent Australian online record store specialising in new and collectible vinyl.

Details

• Artist: Hilltop Hoods
• Album: State of the Art
• Format: 2LP
• Vinyl Colour: Black
• Original Release: 2009
• Edition: 2025 Reissue
• Genre: Australian Hip-Hop / Rap
• Record Label: Island Records Australia
• Catalogue Number: HTHV019
• Barcode: 0602475643494
• Vinyl Weight: 180g
• Playing Speed: 45 RPM
• Packaging: Matte Gatefold Sleeve

Track List:

A1 The Return
A2 Super Official
A3 Chase That Feeling
B1 She's So Ugly
B2 Still Standing
B3 Classic Example (feat. Pharoahe Monch)
C1 Chris Farley
C2 The Light You Burned (feat. Trials)
C3 Parade Of The Dead
D1 Last Confession
D2 Hillatoppa
D3 Fifty In Five