Hilltop Hoods have given $10,000 of their hard-earned towards realising the dreams of an aspiring young rapper looking to follow in their footsteps.

Emerging hip hop artist I Am D is the lucky recipient of Hilltop Hoods’ charity as the latest winner awarded with the group’s very own funding grant, the HTH Initiative.

Designed to give fledgling Aussie hip hop and soul artists a leg-up, the HTH Initiative is put together by the Hoods in association with APRA AMCOS, with the $10,000 going towards the production, release, and marketing of I Am D’s full-length solo album.

“We were blown away by the amount of entrants this year,” says MC Suffa of Hilltop Hoods, with applications closing last month before today’s winner was announced. “Congratulations to I Am D, the second Queenslander to take home the Initiative.”

The Brisbane-based MC, real name Tom Daley, was selected as the best among the swathe of HTH Initiative applicants, hand-picked by a judging panel consisting of some of the most influential figures in the local hip hop scene, including Triple J presenter Hau Latukefu (of Koolism); Ran-Dee, a booking agent, promoter, and manager for Def Wish Cast and Dialectrix; MC/beat-boxer/producer Tom Thum; graffiti artist Nish, and Blank Clothing owner and Behind The Beat author Raph. “We were blown away by the amount of entrants this year… Congratulations to I Am D.”

The panel were likely impressed by the efforts of the independent artist’s recently released The Daily Grind EP, an eight-track collection released online by I Am D, featuring collaborations and productions with the likes of Bliss, Khrysis, and Cam Bluff.

“When you’re in the early stages of releasing music, an opportunity like this is a crucial step in your career,” commented APRA AMCOS Head of Member Services, Dean Ormston, also offering his congratulations to the Queenslander. “We wish Tom all the best with his album and look forward to working with the Australian hip hop community again next year.”

Along with the $10k to aid in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of what will be I Am D’s first full-length album, he also scores valuable legal advice courtesy of Media Arts lawyers as well as Shure Microphone and Zoo York Clothing prize packs – the perfect package for an aspiring hip hop artist.

I Am D joins the ranks of previous HTH Initiative recipients, including last year’s FemCee Chelsea Jane, multi-cutural Adelaide rapper Jimblah (in 2007), African-bred Aussie-based artist 1/6 (2010), Sydney-based collective RUNFORYOURLIFE (in 2012), and joint 2006 winners Subsketch and Particular People, and inaugural 2005 winners: Adelaide trio General Knowledge.

Stream I Am D’s The Dailey Grind EP below and head on over to his Bandcamp page to purchase a copy.

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