Jacob Paulson (born 1997/1998), known professionally as JK-47, is an Indigenous Australian rapper, musician, and activist from Tweed Heads South, New South Wales.
JK-47 | |
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Paulson performing at Adelaide Festival in 2021 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jacob Paulson |
| Born | 1997/1998 (age 24–25) Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia |
| Origin | Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Years active | 2012–present |
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| Website | linktree |
His debut album, Made for This, was released independently on 4 September 2020.
Jacob Paulson was born in 1997 or 1998 in Tweed Heads, New South Wales.[1][2] Paulson is a Minjungbal/Gudjinburra man of the Bundjalung community.[3][4] He attended Tweed River High School for his secondary education from 2009 to 2015.[4] He began rapping and writing music at the age of 14.[3][5] In a July 2020 interview with the Tweed Valley Weekly, Paulson discussed how he came to be a rapper, stating: "I have always been into rap since I was in third or fourth grade. My brother and cousin used to rap and so I always wanted to be a rapper... I like to keep it real and I like my music to have a message."[6]
On 13 September 2019, Paulson released his debut solo single "Came for the Lot", featuring Brisbane rapper Nerve.[7] Later that month, he featured on Nerve's single "Sunday Roast", a song credited as both artists' breakthrough.[8] At the end of the month, Paulson was Nerve's support act at Listen Out Festival.[8][9]
On 22 January 2020, Paulson was announced as a support act for Adrian Eagle's Mama Tour in support of Eagle's EP of the same name.[10] On 29 May, Paulson released the single "The Recipe".[11] The track received frequent rotation on Triple J and saw him become a Triple J Unearthed Feature Artist on the station.[8] On 1 July, The Music revealed in an exclusive that New World Artists had signed Paulson to their roster and additionally announced an initial August release date for his forthcoming debut album.[12] On 3 July, Paulson released the single "I Am Here (Trust Me)", featuring Phoebe Jacobs & Hazy.[13] The song discusses mental health and Aboriginal deaths in custody.[1] On 8 August, Paulson performed his track "Outta Here" virtually at the 17th Annual National Indigenous Music Awards.[14] "Outta Time" was later featured on his debut album Made for This.[15] On 4 September, he independently released his debut album, Made for This.[15] In January 2021, Paulson performed at Yours and Owls Festival.[16]
On 11 February 2021, Paulson performed a cover of 2Pac's "Changes" with Bronte Eve for Triple J's Like a Version segment, alongside a performance of "The Recipe" as his original track.[17] In March, Paulson performed at the Adelaide Festival's hip hop finale concert. The event had an all-indigenous line-up, featuring Jimblah, Ziggy Ramo and J-Milla.[citation needed] On 1 July, Australian record company Waxx Lyrical announced Made for This as their "Record of the Month". Following the announcement, the company reissued the album on vinyl for a limited run of 150 copies.[18]
In August 2022, Paulson released "At One (reVision)" and announced the forthcoming release of his second studio album, Revision for Regrowth.[19]
Paulson's partner Lauren gave birth to their son, Zuriel, in June 2020.[1][20]
Paulson is primarily a hip hop and Australian hip hop artist.[5] His music frequently discusses issues facing Indigenous Australians.[5]
Paulson's track "The Recipe" has been favourably compared to late American rapper Nipsey Hussle,[8] an artist whom he considers an influence.[21] He also lists J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, the Game, Joey Bada$$, and Lauryn Hill as musical influences.[21]
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Made for This |
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| Revision for Regrowth |
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TBA |
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Came for the Lot" (featuring Nerve)[7] |
2019 | Non-album single |
| "The Recipe"[23] | 2020 | Made for This |
| "I Am Here (Trust Me)" (featuring Phoebe Jacobs and Hazy)[13] | ||
| "Guess Again" (featuring Dredub)[24] |
2021 | |
| "Healing" (with Jay Orient)[25] |
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| "Kentucky, We Fight (Flood Won't Last)" (Devine Carama & JK-47 featuring Bryce Jamel) |
2022 | |
| "At One (reVision)"[19] | Revision for Regrowth | |
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Up Again" (Gratis Minds featuring JK-47)[26] |
2018 | Non-album singles |
| "No1 Knows the Lyrics" (No1network featuring Nerve, Smak, Chiggz, Nate G, and JK-47)[27] |
2019 | |
| "Sunday Roast" (Nerve featuring JK-47)[28] |
Mumma's Boy | |
| "Land" (Hazy featuring Narli and JK-47)[29] |
2020 | Non-album single |
| "One in a Million" (Nerve featuring JK-47)[30] |
2021 | Tall Poppy Season |
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Changes (Like A Version)" (featuring Bronte Eve)[31] |
2021 | Non-album single |
The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) recognise excellence, dedication, innovation and outstanding contribution to the Northern Territory music industry. In 2020, Paulson was nominated for one award,[32] which he won.[33]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
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| 2020 | Himself | Triple J Unearthed National Indigenous Competition | Won | [33] |
| 2021 | Made for This | Album of the Year | Won | [34][35] |
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 | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Made for This | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated | [36] |
| Himself | Unearthed Artist of the Year | Won | [37] |
The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year.[38]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | JK-47 | Best New Artist | Nominated | [39] |
| External video | |
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