L-FRESH the Lion

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L-FRESH The LION
Background information
Birth nameSukhdeep Singh Bhogal
Also known asThe LION
Born (1988-10-12) October 12, 1988 (age 32).
Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
OriginSouth West Sydney, Australia
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, musician, producer, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, sampler
Years active2009–present
LabelsElefant Traks
Associated actsNas, J. Cole, Black Thought, Nipsey Hussle, Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Common, Mos Def, Sampa The Great, Remi & Sensible J, B Wise

Sukhdeep Singh Bhogal (born October 12, 1988), better known as L-FRESH The LION is a hip hop artist and producer from Sydney, Australia.[1] The acronym F.R.E.S.H. stands for Forever Rising Exceeding Sudden Hardships, while the L and LION refer to his middle name, Singh, which is given to Sikh men.[2] He has been described as one of Australia's most important rappers.[3] Born in the city of Liverpool in Sydney's South West, L-FRESH The LION caught the attention of his peers and the Australian music scene when he supported Nas during the hip hop icon's first headline tour of Australia in 2009.[4] He released his debut album, One, in 2014, before signing a record deal with one of Australia's leading independent record labels, Elefant Traks, in early 2015. His follow up album, Become (2016), earned him wider industry accolades including an ARIA nomination for Best Urban Album.[5]

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, L-FRESH The LION released his critically acclaimed third album, SOUTH WEST (2020).[6] It ranked #13 in Double J's 50 best albums of 2020[7] and led to L-FRESH The LION being nominated as Double J's 2020 Australian Artist of the Year.[8] The 14-track album is a letter to his younger 13-year-old self, with messages of confidence, appreciation of his Sikh & Punjabi cultural background, self-empowerment and decolonization.[9] He co-produced the album with Houston-LA-Sydney producer, Kambui 'ZiG' Parker, with additional production by Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent), Damn Moroda, Sergiio and ultmt. (Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest).

In 2019, the Sydney Kings basketball franchise enlisted L-FRESH The LION to write and perform their team song.[10] WE THE KINGS was released before the launch of the 2019-20 National Basketball League season[10] and performed for the first time by L-FRESH The LION in front of a NBL record-breaking crowd at Qudos Bank Arena.[11]

L-FRESH The LION is the founder and Artist Director of 'Conscious', an annual year-long hip-hop artist development program run by Campbelltown Arts Centre.[12] The program supports the development and career pathways of socially minded hip hop artists with connections to Western Sydney. Since 2018, the program has worked with artists such as A.GIRL, Becca Hatch, Jessica Jade, Nardean, Mirrah, Spvrrow, Slim Set and T Breezy.[12]

In 2017 and 2018, L-FRESH The LION was selected by YouTube to be an Australian representative for their global Creators for Change initiative.[13] His music video RACI$T / OUR WORLD premiered at the Tribeca TV Festival alongside 2 other Creators for Change projects.[14] He then went on to perform the song at YouTube's Brandcast event held in Sydney at the Hordern Pavilion.[15] The event was headlined with a performance by Sir Elton John.[15][16] His 2018 Creators for Change project, a short documentary called Culture Strong, won Best Editor and Runner-up Best in the West at the Made in the West Film Festival, while also being nominated for Best Director, Best Cinematographer and Best Sound Design.[17] L-FRESH The LION closed out his 2018 involvement with the YouTube Creators for Change initiative by performing OUR WORLD at the United Nations Headquarters in New York as part of an educational event in observance of the International Day for Tolerance.[18]

Personal life[]

L-FRESH The LION was born to Sikh parents from the Punjab. He grew up in south-west Sydney, speaking Punjabi at home but English at school.[19] In 2020, he was described as in his early 30s.[19]

Career[]

In 2009, L-FRESH The LION supported Nas during his first headline tour of Australia.[1] In 2012, he released The LION Speaks.

In May 2014, L-FRESH The LION released his debut studio album One. In 2015 L-FRESH The LION was signed to Elefant Traks.[20] In May 2016, L-FRESH The LION released his second studio album, Become which peaked at number 55 on the ARIA Charts.[21] At the ARIA Music Awards of 2016 it was nominated for Best Urban Album.[22]

L-FRESH The LION was one of the 5-person Australian jury at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.[23]

L-FRESH The LION cites the work of Tupac Shakur as influential, both on his music and in contributing to the development of his awareness of his Sikh heritage.[19]

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

Title Details Peak chart positions
AUS
[24]
One
  • Released: May 2014[25][26]
  • Label: Vienna People Records (VPR001)
  • Format: CD, digital download
 —
Become
  • Released: 12 May 2016[27]
  • Label: Elefant Traks (ACE144)
  • Format: CD, digital download
 55
SOUTH WEST
  • Released: 17 July 2020[28]
  • Label: Elefant Traks (ACE238)
  • Format: Vinyl, streaming, digital download
 —

Extended plays[]

Title Details
Wide Awake
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Independent
  • Format: digital download
Waiting
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Independent
  • Format: CD, digital download
The LION Speaks
  • Released: March 2012[1]
  • Label: Independent
  • Format: digital download

Singles[]

Singles from One

  1. "One"
    Released: May 31, 2013
  2. "Faithful"
    Released: October 25, 2013
  3. "Survive (feat. MK-1)"
    Released: March 10, 2014

Singles from Become

  1. "Get Mine (feat. Parvyn)"
    Released: August 14, 2015
  2. "Hold Up (feat. Remi)"
    Released: December 4, 2015
  3. "1 in 100,000"
    Released: April 18, 2016
  4. "1 in 100,000 Redux (feat. Raxstar)"
    Released: June 29, 2016

Singles from SOUTH WEST

  1. "Alchemy"
    Released: June 27, 2019
  2. "Born To Stand Out"
    Released: August 29, 2019
  3. "Oh My (feat. Sergiio)"
    Released: April 30, 2020
  4. "Mother Tongue (feat. Mirrah)"
    Released: June 23, 2020
  5. "Village Boy"
    Released: April 30, 2021

Singles from L-FRESH the Lion

  1. "Our World"
    Released: September 27, 2017
  2. "WE THE KINGS"
    Released: October 3, 2019
  3. "Mother (feat. MOZA & Mirrah)"
    Released: February 5, 2020
  4. "Ek Parivar (feat. Akaali)"
    Released: January 26, 2021
  5. "Remember (with Radio3000 & Nate Wade)"
    Released: May 28, 2021

Awards and nominations[]

ARIA Music Awards[]

The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (commonly known informally as ARIA Music Awards or ARIA Awards) is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

Year Nominee / work Award Result
ARIA Music Awards of 2016[29] Become Best Urban Album Nominated

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.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
AIR Awards of 2014[30] One Best Independent Hip Hop Album Nominated
AIR Awards of 2017[31] Become Best Independent Hip Hop Album Nominated

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.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
J Awards of 2020[32][33] L-FRESH The LION Double J Australian Artist of the Year Nominated

National Live Music Awards[]

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
National Live Music Awards of 2016[34] L-FRESH The LION Live Hip Hop Act of the Year Nominated
National Live Music Awards of 2017[35][36] L-FRESH The LION Live Hip Hop Act of the Year Nominated
National Live Music Awards of 2020[37] L-FRESH The LION Musicians Making a Difference Nominated

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "L-Fresh the Lion - The Lion Speaks". All Aussie Hip Hop. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  2. ^ Palathingal, George (14 November 2015). "L-FRESH the LION review: Sikh rapper shows his roar power". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  3. ^ "REVIEW: L-Fresh The Lion Has "Become" One Of Australia's Most Important Rappers • Howl & Echoes". Howl & Echoes. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Live Gig Guide - Nas at The Palace Theatre, Melbourne". Live Gig Guide.
  5. ^ Mediaweek (5 October 2016). "2016 ARIA Awards nominations released". Mediaweek. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  6. ^ "L-FRESH The LION: 'Everybody is owning where they're from, because you can't silence us'". NME. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  7. ^ "The 50 best albums of 2020". Double J. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Double J Australian Artist of the Year". ABC. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  9. ^ "L-FRESH The LION Drops New LP: 'This Is An Empowerment Record'". TheMusic. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "L-FRESH The LION Pens Official Anthem For NBL Team Sydney Kings". TheMusic. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Biggest Crowd in NBL History Watch Sydney and Illawarra". NBL. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b "CONSCIOUS". Conscious C-A-C. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Meet the 2018 Creators for Change Global Ambassadors". YouTube's Blog. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  14. ^ "YouTube's 'Creators for Change' premiere at Tribeca's TV Festival". Engadget. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b "New York Debut & Meeting Elton John: L-FRESH The LION Co-hosts The Music Podcast". TheMusic. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  16. ^ Joshi, Kruti (27 September 2017). "Google Australia sells the potential of YouTube to advertisers at Brandcast". Mediaweek. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  17. ^ Festival, Made in the West Film (25 November 2018). "2018 WINNERS announced!". Made in the West. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  18. ^ "YouTube stars get creative at UN, to promote tolerance". UN News. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b c Hegarty, Siobhan (7 June 2020). "Trying to be 'cool' stripped L-FRESH The LION of his language. Now the Sikh MC celebrates his roots". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  20. ^ "L Fresh the Lion joins Elefant Traks". 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  21. ^ Ryan, Gavin (21 May 2016). "ARIA Albums: Keith Urban Spends Second Week at No 1". Noise11. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  22. ^ "Save the Date: ARIA Launches 30 Year Celebrations". ARIA. ARIA Awards. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  23. ^ Groot, Evert (8 March 2020). "Exclusive: They are the expert jurors for Eurovision 2018". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  24. ^ Wallace, Ian (23 May 2016). "Week Commencing ~ 23 May 2016 ~ Issue #1369" (PDF). The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (1369): 2, 6–7, 14, 16, 19, 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 May 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  25. ^ "One by L-Fresh the Lion". Apple Music. May 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  26. ^ "L Fresh the Lion Debut Album One and Tour". April 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  27. ^ "Become by L-Fresh the Lion". Apple Music. May 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  28. ^ "South West by L-Fresh the Lion". Apple Music. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  29. ^ "ARIA Award Nominees for 2016". Wikipedia. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  30. ^ "CARLTON DRY AIR AWARDS 2014 NOMINEES ANNOUNCED". speaker tv. September 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  31. ^ "A.B Original dominates 2017 AIR Awards nominations". theindustryobserver. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  32. ^ "Here are your nominees for the 2020 J Awards!". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  33. ^ Triscari, Caleb (19 November 2020). "Lime Cordiale take home Australian Album of the Year at the 2020 J Awards". NME Australia. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  34. ^ "Nominees 2016". NLMA. 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  35. ^ "NLMA reveal 2017 Nominees". NLMA. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  36. ^ "Winners 2017". NLMA. December 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  37. ^ "LMIA 2020". The Music Network. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
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