Jimblah
Jimblah, born James Alberts, is a prominent Indigenous Australian hip-hop artist hailing from the Larrakia Nation, with roots in Broome, Western Australia, and a significant upbringing in Katherine and Darwin, Northern Territory. He developed a passion for music early in life, influenced by his father, and began rapping and writing lyrics by the age of twelve. Jimblah gained recognition in 2007 when he became the first winner of the Hilltop Hoods Initiative, which helped launch his career. His debut album, *Face the Fire*, released in 2011 and re-released in 2012, achieved significant commercial success, establishing him as a leading figure in the Australian hip-hop scene.
Amidst his rise to fame, Jimblah took a step back from music to focus on activism and mentoring within the Indigenous community. He founded Blak Empire, an organization supporting Indigenous artists, and has been an advocate for greater representation in the music industry. His work has led to notable achievements, including campaigning for an apology to the Stolen Generations and promoting Indigenous inclusion on platforms like Triple J. Jimblah continues to make an impact through his music and advocacy, with a recent single addressing racism. He resides in Adelaide with his partner, fellow artist Goji.
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Subject Terms
Jimblah
Musician
- Born: c. 1985
- Birthplace: Broome, Western Australia
Also known as: James Alberts
Significance: Jimblah is an Aboriginal Australian musician from the Larrakia Nation. A hip-hop artist and MC, he is best known for the albums Face the Fire (2011) and Phoenix (2013). Jimblah and his partner Goji also form the duo Homeward Bound, which debuted with the release of Whatever You Do, Don’t Panic in 2019. He performs regularly across Australia and collaborates with other artists. In addition to his professional pursuits, Jimblah also serves as a highly visible advocate for Indigenous rights and music.
Background
Jimblah was born James Alberts in the Western Australia coastal town of Broome. Although he and his family moved frequently during his early years, Jimblah spent a significant portion of his childhood in Katherine, Northern Territory. He also lived in the city of Darwin for a time. Noted for being one of the most well-known Indigenous Australian musicians, Jimblah is a member of the Larrakia Nation.
The Larrakia are the traditional inhabitants of the Darwin region of Northern Territory. They have a long history in the region and have a deep spiritual connection with their lands. The early Larrakia developed a thriving society built on their close relationship with the sea and the trading partnerships they forged with other nearby Indigenous groups like the Tiwi, Wagait, and Wulna. All four groups enjoyed a strong connection fostered through shared ceremonies, songlines, and intermarriage. Life eventually changed for the Larrakia following the arrival of White settlers in their lands. Although they cooperated with the settlers and even provided them with food, their relationship was often tinged with conflict and marginalization. Nevertheless, the Larrakia remained active participants in the early settlement and continued to live in and around the city of Darwin for some time. Ultimately, however, the Larrakia chose to leave the city in favor of resettling in camps located in the surrounding areas.
Life’s Work
Jimblah developed an interest in music from an early age thanks mostly to his father, who was a drummer. He played the drums for a while before being drawn to the hip-hop genre. By the age of twelve, Jimblah was actively rapping and writing his own lyrics. He began his ascent in 2007 when he was named the inaugural winner of the Hilltop Hoods Initiative, a large cash incentive awarded to up-and-coming Australian hip-hop and soul artists to help them fund their first album.
Although it took several years to come together, Jimblah did eventually produce a debut album called Face the Fire. Initially released independently in 2011, Face the Fire was re-released the following year after Jimblah signed with Elefant Traks. The 2012 release of Face the Fire was a massive success that rocketed up the charts and made Jimblah an instant sensation. Suddenly one of Australia’s most popular and in-demand hip-hop artists, he soon embarked on a whirlwind tour of live shows across the country while also keeping up with a hectic recording schedule that included appearances as a guest vocalist on releases by other popular artists like Horrorshow, Coda Conduct, Urthboy, and The Tongue. He went on to perform several times on the popular Australian radio station Triple J, often playing covers of songs by popular artists such as Marvin Gaye and Matt Corby. In 2013, Jumblah followed up Face the Fire with his second studio album, Phoenix.
By the time Phoenix was released, Jimblah was a megastar with a busy schedule that moved at breakneck speed. Overwhelmed by his sudden rise to fame and relentless agenda, he soon chose to step away from music and spend some time focusing on other interests. Already a youth mentor, Jimblah turned his attention to activism and being an advocate for the Indigenous community. He called on Triple J to feature more Indigenous music and founded Blak Empire, an organization aimed at providing a safe space for Indigenous and other ethnic minority artists to honestly express themselves, in the years that followed.
Jimblah largely remained on the sidelines of the music industry until he formed a duo with his partner and fellow artist Goji. The two dubbed themselves Homeward Bound and released the debut album Whatever You Do, Don’t Panic in 2019. The following year, Jimblah returned to the studio as a solo artist and produced “About These Demons,” a hit single on which he called for people to join forces in the fight against racism.
Impact
Jimblah is arguably one of the most popular and influential Indigenous musical artists in Australian history. While his rise to fame was powered by his musical talents, his broader cultural significance is undoubtedly tied to his legacy as an advocate for Indigenous peoples. Jimblah’s efforts in this respect have led to some appreciable results. He successfully campaigned for a public apology to the Stolen Generations and his push for greater Indigenous inclusion on Triple J led to the creation of the radio program First Sounds: First Nations Collective for Traditional and Contemporary Music. He continues to be an outspoken critic of racism in the Australian music industry and a mentor for young Indigenous hip-hop artists.
Personal Life
Jimblah lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with his companion and Homeward Bound partner Goji, or Georgia Humphreys. The two met through Goji’s brother, mural artist Seb Humphreys.
Bibliography
Butler, Dan. “The Larrakia Rapper Creating a ‘Blak Empire’ for First Nations Musicians.” NITV, 4 Aug. 2022, www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/the-larrakia-rapper-creating-a-blak-empire-for-first-nations-musicians/yc9mrbikj. Accessed 3 July 2023.
Fletcher, Alyssa. “Creative Couples: Jimblah and Goji.” The University of Sydney, 23 May 2019, www.broadsheet.com.au/adelaide/home-and-lifestyle/article/creative-couples-james-alberts-and-georgia-humphreys. Accessed 3 July 2023.
Fuamoli, Sose. “First Spin: ‘About These Demons’ Is Jimblah at His Honest and Soulful Best.” ABC, 7 July 2020, www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/first-spin-jimblah-about-these-demons-soulful-best/12433552. Accessed 3 July 2023.
“Jimblah.” Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts, 2023, www.arts.gov.au/what-we-do/indigenous-arts-and-languages/australian-delegation-festival-pacific-arts-2016/jimblah. Accessed 3 July 2023.
“Jimblah–Face the Fire.” All Aussie Hip Hop, 31 Jan. 2012, allaussiehiphop.com/2012/01/31/jimblah-capitol-city. Accessed 3 July 2023.
Knowles, Rachael. “Jimblah Calls for Unity and Healing in New Single.” National Indigenous Times, 10 July 2020, nit.com.au/10-07-2020/1230/jimblah-calls-for-unity-and-healing-in-new-single. Accessed 3 July 2023.
Skujins, Angela. “Rapper Calls for Triple J to Showcase Indigenous Artists.” In Daily, 25 July 2019, indaily.com.au/news/2019/07/25/rapper-calls-for-triple-j-to-showcase-indigenous-artists. Accessed 3 July 2023.