Dave, Giggs, SL: Australian drill frontrunner KAHUKX delves into the tracks that inspired his new EP, “SYD TO LDN”.

The influence of UK drill has spread all over the planet, not least to the land down under. Australian rappers are adopting the style as their own, adding their own flavour to the tried and tested recipe. 

An emerging star in the crossover scene, KAHUKX makes plenty of noise on his new EP “SYD TO LDN”. His Aussie tone glides atop the booming instrumentals, whilst his lyricism is suitably flex-heavy and narrative led. Features from the likes of BackRoad Gee, RV and Fizzler augment the body of work further. 

Talking influences, KAHUKX tells Wonderland what he had On Repeat whilst making the project. 

Listen to “SYD TO LDN”…

KAHUKX Is On Repeat…

Central Cee & Dave – “Sprinter”

What really drew me to Sprinter wasn’t just the success of the final product, but the creative process behind it. I saw a behind-the-scenes video of them making the track, and the natural synergy in the room really stuck with me. They didn’t overthink it, they just went into that creative space with no set plan and ended up making something huge (something I did for each song on my EP).

I also related to a clip where Central Cee said he wasn’t even a fan of the song at first, but dropped it based on the trust he had in the people around him. That resonated with me, especially with my song Due Time. I wasn’t sold on it at first either, but I listened to the team around me and it turned out to be my biggest track so far.

Fredo – “Daily Duppy”

What drew me to the song was the rawness and feel of the overall track. The way it blends two different beats with two different vibes, while still pushing the same gritty message really stood out to me. The wordplay and flows kept me locked in the whole time. I’ve tried to bring that same raw energy into a few tracks on my EP, using it as a way to deliver deeper messages to my audience.

Chillinit & Kamakaze – “AUS2UK”

The whole SYD 2 LDN EP is a reflection of how much I’ve always been drawn to the collaboration between Australia and the UK & this track is one of the few early examples I grew up on. I was raised listening to both AUS and UK rap, so hearing them come together always felt natural to me. That’s why I wanted to take it a step further and really push that boundary with my own project.

Dave – “BL@CKBOX FREESTYLE”

This song really represents what I was raised on. The gritty lyrics, the flows, and the tone are what made it one of my all time favourite UK rap tracks. I drew inspiration from it when making songs like “Darkest Days” or even “Carry On”, using a similar gritty flow and meaningful lyrics to pull real emotion from the listener. Even 10 years later, it’s still in my rotation.

SL – “Tropical”

This was one of the first UK tracks I couldn’t stop playing. The melodic instrumental combined with the strong UK flow and wordplay is what made it stand out to me. On my track France with LeoStayTrill, I wanted to take a similar approach, using a melodic beat and letting Leo’s distinctive flow complement mine to bring the song to life. We also went all out on the music video, just like the original, but shot it here in Sydney, Australia.

Central Cee – “Commitment Issues”

This track hit me on a more personal level and I related to almost every lyric. That emotional connection inspired me to take a similar approach on HOW? featuring Fizzler. Having gone through my own personal struggles, it felt right to channel that into the music and create something that could resonate deeply with listeners, just like this track did for me.

Giggs – “Talkin the Hardest”

This is one of those tracks you can play anywhere, and almost everyone can recite the opening line “If you’re talking the hardest, Giggs better pop up in your thoughts as an artist.” That got me to craft my own punchlines on the EP, like “Asking me like who I am, like check my name on Google,” to make sure the audience remembers the track and it sticks with them long after.

Ramz – “Barking”

Barking was one of them ones that just stuck with me. It was simple but cold, the hook, the beat, the flow, all of it just hit. Ramz told his story without doing too much, and that’s what made it better for me. It showed me you don’t always need mad bars or flows, sometimes just being real and letting the beat breathe says more & that’s what I tried to do through some of the tracks on this EP.

Nemzzz – “Money & Vibes”

This track right here just feels effortless like he’s floating on the beat but still saying something. Money & Vibes showed me how you can stay laid-back but still get your message across. Nemmz wasn’t tryna prove nothin’, he was just in his zone, talking real and that calm confidence stuck with me.

Dave ft. J Hus – “Disaster”

This one kinda got everything, bars, charisma, energy, and that contrast between Dave and Hus made it even harder. Disaster felt like two artists coming together and coming up with something near perfect. Dave came sharp with the flows and the pain, and Hus brought that unpredictable sound that only he can do. 

Having that chemistry with other artists is what I was going for with the latest EP.