Harley Webster (born 1981) – better known as Phrase – is an Australian hip hop MC, originating from Melbourne.

Phrase
Birth nameHarley Webster
Also known asBig Phrase
OriginMelbourne, Australia
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper
Years active1996–2011
LabelsMarlin/Universal
Websitewww.myspace.com/bigphrase

History edit

Phrase began to piece together an album with producers Daniel Merriweather and J-Skub (Jan Skubiszewki), while working part-time for the Reach Youth foundation,[1] an organisation that Phrase credits with helping him overcome behavioural problems he had in his mid-teens.[1] The album, Talk with Force was picked up for national release by Universal Music Australia in 2005. Three singles were released from this album, "Here Now" featuring Mystro, "Catch Phrase" featuring Daniel Merriweather, and "Hold On" featuring labelmate Max White.

In 2007 he founded the record label Crooked Eye with DJ Flagrant and J-Skub.[2] The label's first release was a mixtape by Melbourne MC Illy (which Phrase also appears on). The same year, he released the non-album single "Face It" featuring Ian Kenny from Karnivool and Birds of Tokyo; which was used in the marketing campaign for the Australian release of Halo 3[3]

In 2009 Phrase released his second album Clockwork, which included the high-rotation Triple J singles "Skylight" (featuring Kram) and "Clockwork". The album reached No. 26 on the ARIA albums chart[4] and No. 6 on the ARIA Urban albums chart.

In 2011, Phrase returned with a new sound for his 3rd album Babylon. The first single was "Apart" featuring Davey Lane. Other guest artists featured on the album included Jimmy Barnes, Sparkadia's Alex Burnett, Guineafowl, The Preatures and Jane Doe. During an interview with Reegan from Radar, Phrase said that 'Babylon is not a hip-hop album, but an album with rap on it.'[5] Following a tour in support of the album, Phrase withdrew from making music. He has not performed live or released any new material since.

Personal life edit

Phrase married Australian R&B singer Jade MacRae.[6] He attended Glen Waverley Secondary College as a teen; his father was an English teacher there. He has two sisters – a tattooist and an actress.

Discography edit

Albums edit

List of albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
AUS
[7]
AUS
Urban

[7]
Talk with Force
  • Released: 19 September 2005
  • Label: Marlin/Universal (987 382-4)
29
Clockwork
  • Released: 24 April 2009
  • Label: Marlin/Universal
26
Babylon
  • Released: 12 August 2011
  • Label: Marlin/Universal
29

Mixtapes edit

  • Talk with Force Mixtape (2005)

Singles edit

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[7]
AUS Urban
[7]
AUS Aust
[7]
AUS Hits
[7]
"Here Now" / "Talk with Force" 2005 13 Talk with Force
"Catch Phrase" 2006 55 15 16 1
"Hold On" 60 14 19 1
"Face It" 2007 36 15 Non-album single
"Clockwork" 2008 12 Clockwork
"Skylight" (featuring Kram)
"Spaceship" 2009 28 5
"All Good"
"The Day You Went Away"
(featuring Wendy Matthews)
"Push Up" 2010
"Never Fade" Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Guest appearances edit

Awards and nominations edit

  • Nomination, 2007 Urban Music Awards Best Male Artist[8]
  • Winner, 2007 Urban Music Awards Best Hip Hop Single "Hold On"[9]
  • Winner, 2007 Urban Music Awards Best Video Clip "Hold On"[9]

APRA Awards edit

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982.[10]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2010 "Spaceship" (Harley Webster, Robert Conley, Spencer Davies) Urban Work of the Year Nominated [11]

ARIA Music Awards edit

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2006 Talk with Force Best Urban Release Nominated [12]

EG Awards / Music Victoria Awards edit

The EG Awards (known as Music Victoria Awards since 2013) are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009[13] Phrase Best Male Un­known

J Award edit

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
2009 Clockwork Australian Album of the Year Nominated

References edit

  1. ^ a b The dream factory for teenagers, Carolyn Webb, The Age, 12 March 2002.
  2. ^ DJ Flagrant interview
  3. ^ Phrase To Face It With Halo 3, Planet Urban
  4. ^ Steffen Hung (28 August 2011). "Australian charts portal". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  5. ^ Radar Radio Interview
  6. ^ "Industrial Strength: November 11 - Industrial Strength - The Music Network". www.themusicnetwork.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Peak chart positions for releases in Australia:
  8. ^ 2007 Urban Music Awards, inthemix.com.au Archived 9 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ a b "2007 UMA Winner List". Archived from the original on 13 October 2006. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  10. ^ "APRA History". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Urban Work of the Year – 2010". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  12. ^ Phrase at the ARIA Music Awards website
  13. ^ "EG Awards last days to vote". The Age. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2020.