Mulalo calls out her haters & shouts out Australia's greats on 'Tracy Grimshaw'

Mulalo's latest track, ‘Tracy Grimshaw’, oozes with the rapper’s characteristic confidence and try-me attitude, as well as a healthy dose of humour. The beat is heavy but sparse, with Sydney producer 18YOMAN elevating traditional trap production with an experimental sound selection that facilitates an aggressive and quirky soundscape over which Mulalo delivers her bars. Her flirty, comedic flow gives her work a Flo Milli flavour, with her distinctive Aussie accent setting Mulalo comfortably in her own lane.

In referencing Tracy Grimshaw, the indisputable queen of the Australian news cycle, Mulalo once again embraces Aussie cultural icons, following on from her 2021 release ‘M31 (Racing Down the Hume)’. From the get-go, she asserts “Bitch I ain’t Bindi, my dad isn’t Steve, I don’t fuck with these birds when they flock around me”, making clear her distaste towards those who swarm around her, wanting to cash in on her newfound fame and success. She critiques those who “hate and debate”, spitting “this ain’t Q&A”; Mulalo is over the incessant chatter and questioning.

Haters can talk all they want, but Mulalo is still that bitch: ACA is talking about her, 60 Minutes is creeping on her. It’s an all-too-common experience for creatives – acquaintances love to doubt your abilities and impact, even as the media, community and radio show love, and even as the numbers start to stack up. Ultimately, she raps "Bitch I been paid", and that's all that matters.

In the pre-chorus, Mulalo references some of Australia’s greatest sporting talents in order to emphasise her own prowess: “I’m Cathy Freeman/ While you sitting on the bench… doing laps like Thorpe/ Bitch you can't even swim.” She makes her message. clear: I'm one of the greats, an Aussie icon and a future household name. In the hook, we hear Mulalo shift into a softer, more rhythmic flow as she repeats: “My booty jiggle/ Work the middle/ When I shake and I wiggle”. Mulalo weaves a host of references through the next verse, paying homage to some of the country’s most respected and beloved ladies. She celebrates Julia Guillard’s unforgettable 2012 Misogyny Speech — “Like Julia, I’ll make a fool of ya" — and Dannii Minogue’s Target clothing range,“Petite like Dannii Minogue”.

The underrated star of the show is the outro. As the beat wraps up, Mulalo makes use of the time to deliver shout outs and take downs. “Word to Julia Gillard for dragging the FUCK(!) outta Tony Abbott that one time”. Then, she directly addresses the infamous onion-munching ex-PM: “And Tony Abbott, I never wanna see you in a budgie smuggler again, OK?". These references, while certainly worth a giggle, are more than just funny. They prove Mulalo’s ability to engage with pop culture, and do it well. Her work is relevant, and it's uniquely Australian, creating a sense of community as we bond over niche parts of our childhoods and adult lives that listeners in other parts of the world simply won't understand.

She proudly proclaims: “White Australia has a black history, and a black future”. True that. With artists like Mulalo at the helm of Australian hip hop, we couldn't be in better hands.

Words by Portia Brajkovic (@port______)

Image 2 by @minoriuedaphoto