Munkimuk facts for kids

Mark Ross, known as Munk or Munkimuk, is a famous hip hop artist from Sydney, Australia. He is often called "The Grandfather of Indigenous Hip Hop." Munk has been performing since 1984, starting as a breakdancer. He began rapping in 1988. He is well-known for making music, rapping, breakdancing, hosting events, and working on radio. Munk has worked in the music industry for over 30 years. He has helped and produced many artists in Australia and Asia.

In 2014, Mark Munk Ross was honored. He was inducted into the National Indigenous Music Awards Hall Of Fame.

Munk's Early Music Journey

Munk started his music journey in Sydney in the late 1980s. He was inspired by artists making hip hop music. He taught himself how to play instruments. He quickly learned bass, keyboards, and drums. He also learned how to use music equipment to create sounds.

Music Groups and Performances

Munkimuk was a founding member of the group South West Syndicate. This group won a Deadly Award. In 2005, he released a demo album. Munk raps in his traditional language, Jardwadjali. This language comes from the Grampians in Victoria. He also raps in English.

Munk is a skilled freestyle MC. He has toured all over the world. He has played shows in Europe, Canada, and the USA. Since 1989, he has performed hundreds of shows. These include big events like Big Day Out and the Mumbai Festival. He also performed at Yabun, The Deadlys, and the Barunga Festival. He has even performed at major sports events like the AFL and NRL.

In 2006, Munkimuk was nominated for a Deadly Award. This was for his song "Dreamtime." It was nominated in the Single Release of the Year category. Another version of "Dreamtime" was on the 2009 CD "Making Waves - Indigenous Hip Hop." This CD was released by Gadigal Music and ABC.

In late 2012, Munk started a new project. It was called "Renegades Of Munk." In 2014, he released the first album for this project. It was also called "Renegades Of Munk." Many guest artists were on this album. They included Rob Hirst from Midnight Oil and Anne Kirkpatrick.

In 2017, Munk joined a new version of South West Syndicate. The group had been apart for 14 years. This led to a new song in 2019, "Back Like A Boomerang." They also recorded the 2022 South West Syndicate album, "Promised Land." Munk is also working on new solo music for 2023.

Composing and Production Work

In 2021 and 2022, Munk was chosen for a special program. It was called the Ngarra-Burria First People's composer's initiative. This program helps First Peoples develop skills in classical music. It also helps them connect with the music industry. Munk composed several pieces during this program. One piece was "Streets of Sydney." It was included on a CD performed by Ensemble Offspring. This CD was released by ABC Classics.

Munkimuk is also known for producing and recording music. He has worked with many artists over the last 15 years. These include Jimblah, L-FRESH the LION, and Yothu Yindi. He has also worked with Nabarlek Band, Thirsty Merc, and Grinspoon. He plays bass, rhythm and lead guitar, keyboards, and drums. He has his own music studio. He also works as a producer and engineer at Gadigal Studios. Since 2013, Mark has produced and co-written songs in South East Asia. Three of these songs became big hits. They have been viewed over 100 million times on YouTube.

Radio and Community Work

Munk has been a radio presenter on 93.7FM Koori Radio. He hosted shows like "Making Tracks" and "The Brekky Show." He also hosted "Funky Lunch" and the "Indij Hip Hop Show." He has also been a presenter on ABC Radio and Channel V on TV. In 2008, he won a CBAA Award. This award was for his great contribution to local music. Munk also had a segment on the "Deadly Sounds" program called "Hip Hop Drop." In 2011, Munkimuk was nominated for a Deadly Award. This was for Community Broadcaster of the Year.

Mark works across Australia on community hip hop projects. He has done this for many years. He creates and works on events with different organizations. These include Gadigal Information Service/Koori Radio and Vibe Australia. He also works with the Jimmy Little Foundation and the Australia Council. He helps mentor new artists through these programs.

Munkimuk has been breakdancing since 1983. He is still an active breakdancer today.

Discography

• Ten Years Too Late (2005 Demo)
• "Renegades Of Munk" (2014) through Impossible Odds Records an MGM Distribution
• Streets of Sydney (2022)