He was a mumbling presence alongside DJ A.L.F. at the legandary Joined at the Bass sessions at the Cricketer’s Arms, until the Rum Corps (aka the NSW Police Force) and a yuppie shut down the live music one fateful Christmas eve. They could not, however, stop Alf and Ozi from forging a musical partnership that has taken them everywhere from dingy suburban pokie palaces, bush doofs, kiddiecore raves and the metro’s stage. Ozi was also a part of Trace Element (with Rok Poshtya & Alf) until 1999, a 4 man adventure in rock provocation. the Batla honed skills between barricades at Reclaim the Streets parties (including a particularly memorable moment in suburban Bexley) and numerous greenie fundraisers. In 1999, Ozi and Alf set the ears, feet and minds of punters ablaze weekly with Sonic Fiction. A massive mash-up of drum and bass for jungle lovers, there were too many magic moments with 4th ‘n West, Westside Movement and the Sonic Fiction crew creating a loved-up madhouse that lasted 36 consecutive weeks. Since then, The Herd project has been O.B.’s major focus, but in 2002 a heady mix of testosterone and masochism led him into the battle scene. The scoreboard so far: 4 MC battles, 2 victories (including Verbal Mechanics NSW champ, NSW Stealth Battle champ, semi-finalist in Melbourne’s Revolver MC Battle and finalist in the National Stealth Battle.) Gigs have included hostile pubs, disinterested clubs, wild-eyed teenagers in paddocks and warehouses with sleeping dogs. Apart from these important ones, Ozi Batla has supported Sage Francis, Blackalicious, Supernatural, Spearhead, Anticon, Total Science, Ray Keith, The Freestylers, People Under the Stairs, Roni Size & Reprazent, Salmonella Dub and Herbert. O.B. latest work is part of Astronomy Class who released their debut LP in 2006 titled “Exit Strategy”.| |
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