Briggs (rapper) facts for kids

Adam Briggs (born 28 August 1986), who is known by his stage name Briggs, is an Aboriginal Australian rapper from the Yorta Yorta people. He is also a record label owner, comedy writer, actor, and author.

Briggs first became famous as a solo rapper. In 2009, he signed with Golden Era Records. Later, in 2016, he started the hip hop group A.B. Original with his friend Trials. In 2025, Briggs also started a hardcore punk band called Big Noter.

As a solo artist, Briggs has released an EP called Homemade Bombs (2009) and two albums, The Blacklist (2010) and Sheplife (2014). He has also worked with famous artists like Hilltop Hoods and Drapht. In 2015, Briggs started his own record label, Bad Apples Music, to support other Indigenous hip-hop artists.

Besides music, Briggs has worked in television. He was a writer and actor for the comedy show Black Comedy and acted in the drama series Cleverman. He has also appeared on the news comedy show The Weekly with Charlie Pickering.

Early Life and School

Briggs was born on August 28, 1986, and grew up in Shepparton, a city in rural Victoria.

He is an Aboriginal Australian and a member of the Yorta Yorta people. He is very proud of his heritage and has his tribe's name tattooed on his arms. He said he did this "so every time I rock the mic people know that I am representing."

Briggs went to Shepparton High School and Wanganui Park Secondary College. Before he got into hip hop, he played guitar in a punk band. Growing up in a smaller city helped him realize he wanted to be part of a bigger music scene and work hard to achieve his goals.

Music Career

Starting Out (2005–2009)

Briggs at Festival Hall, Melbourne, in December 2009

Briggs was first inspired by American rap music. He started a group called Misdemeanour with a friend from school. They later changed the name to "912". After performing in Melbourne, Briggs met an Australian rapper named Reason. Reason was one of the first rappers Briggs heard who used an Australian accent.

Reason was impressed by Briggs's talent and energy. He invited the 19-year-old Briggs to tour with him as his "hype man," which is like a backup performer who gets the crowd excited.

Briggs then moved to Melbourne to be closer to the hip hop community. It was a difficult time, but it gave him experiences that helped him grow as an artist. In 2009, he released his first EP, Homemade Bombs, with help from MC Suffa of the Hilltop Hoods.

Golden Era Records and 'The Blacklist' (2009–2013)

Briggs in October 2012

The popular group Hilltop Hoods signed Briggs to their record label, Golden Era Records. They also invited him to be their support act on a European tour in 2009. This was Briggs's first time traveling overseas.

In 2010, Briggs released his first full album, The Blacklist. One of the singles, "The Wrong Brother," was inspired by a real event where he was stopped from entering a pub because the security guards mistook him for someone else. The album was a big success and reached #3 on the Australian iTunes hip-hop charts.

During this time, Briggs was featured on the ABC show Message Stick, which focuses on Indigenous Australian stories. He also released the single "Rather Be Dead" in 2012.

'Sheplife' Album (2014)

Briggs began working on his second album, Sheplife, in 2012. The title is a word he made up to describe life in his hometown of Shepparton. He said that his first album was like a "punch in the face," and Sheplife was about explaining why he punched you in the face.

The album was released on August 22, 2014. The first single, "The Hunt," featured the famous Indigenous artist Gurrumul.

Another important song from the album was "Bad Apples." Briggs said he wanted the song to be powerful and make people think. He explained, "I wanted to put that fear back in hip hop. That voice, you know, that fist back into rap music, because I hadn't seen it in this country for so long."

Bad Apples Music and A.B. Original (2015–Present)

Briggs in January 2019

In 2015, Briggs started his own record label called Bad Apples Music. The label signs and supports Indigenous hip-hop artists.

In 2016, Briggs teamed up with Trials from the group Funkoars to form a new duo called A.B. Original. Their first album, Reclaim Australia, was released in November 2016 and quickly became a top 10 album on Australian iTunes. The album was described as honest and powerful, and it was meant to start conversations. It featured many other Indigenous artists like Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu and Dan Sultan.

In 2023, Briggs helped organize a music festival called Now & Forever. It was created to show support for the "yes" vote in the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum. Many famous Australian musicians performed, including A.B. Original, Hilltop Hoods, and Paul Kelly.

Television and Writing

Briggs is not just a musician. He has also worked on many television shows.

• He was a writer and actor for the sketch comedy show Black Comedy.
• He played the character Maliyan in the drama series Cleverman.
• He is a writer for the Netflix animated show Disenchantment.
• He acted in the 2024 Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe.

In 2020, Briggs wrote a children's book called 'Our Home, Our Heartbeat'. It became a bestseller in Australia and won the Children's Picture Book of the Year award in 2021.

Personal Life

After living in Melbourne, Briggs moved back to his hometown of Shepparton in 2010. He said, "I like being back home, with all my cousins and my friends who I grew up with – they keep me honest." He later moved back to Melbourne in 2014.

Briggs has a daughter named Kora, who was born in May 2012. He has said that he works to create "a better Australia and a better world for my daughter."

Awards and Nominations

Briggs has won many awards for his music and songwriting. He has been named Songwriter of the Year at the APRA Awards and has won multiple National Indigenous Music Awards, including Album of the Year for Sheplife. His group A.B. Original has also won many awards.

APRA Music Awards

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

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.

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.

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.

Discography

Studio albums

EPs