Australian rapper Masked Wolf (aka Harry Michael) is part of the new guard of hip-hop in Australia, but he's been rapping for over a decade. The 29-year-old, Sydney-based rapper has put a lot of time into his rapping, and that's clear to see in how he's evolved over the years. He's always believed in working hard on his craft, and from his very first single Speed Racer, his name was on the lips of those in the know.

Speed Racer is a bass-driven track, and Wolf's lyrics see him talking about the practice he's put in to get to where he is. In many ways, the track was a bit of a prophecy - because he was highlighting just how much drive he's got. It was a warning shot to the rest of the rap game, and he hasn't let up since.

Speaking to Pilerats, Wolf says music has always been a part of his life. "I’ve always been interested in music and as a young kid, my musical outlet was actually playing instruments like the piano, keyboard, guitar and drums." He first started writing lyrics after being influenced by Eminem and 50 Cent, but nowadays he's more likely to be listening to Joyner Lucas, Kevin Gates or Drake.

2019 saw Wolf become a star-in-the-making with his huge single Astronaut In The Ocean. He also jumped in the booth for triple j's Bars Of Steel, freestyling his way through the whole thing. Much like his influences, Wolf loves the challenge of rapping over any beat he can, and whether it's on a record, or for a freestyle, he's always trying to one-up himself.

The one-two punch of Astronaut and his Bars Of Steel performance showed that he's a rapper that's focused on promoting mental well-being, because Astronaut In The Ocean is a frank discussion about how sometimes we can be in a "mental freeze" - and of course, Wolf flexes his pen game (but when you're this good, why wouldn't you)?

Speaking to Tone Deaf, Wolf outlines just how much of a perfectionist he is, especially when it comes to beats. He says, "I have a pet peeve of listening to about 300-500 beats a week until I find the right beat.. being a perfectionist when it comes to music is I guess an obsession of mine… I will find the smallest things that nobody would ever notice and still want them changed." 

If you're wanting to know where the name Masked Wolf comes from, he tells Tone Deaf it's because there are two sides to him. He says, "I called Masked Wolf because I felt that outside of music I was just like a normal guy, you wouldn’t even think that I am a rapper if you looked at me. But when I get into the studio it is all work and no play, the wolf/beast comes out, hence why I called myself the Masked Wolf. " 

Astronaut In The Ocean recently became even more popular thanks to NFL star Patrick Mahomes. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback recently used the track in one of his Instagram posts, which saw the song go to #1 on the Shazam hip-hop charts. He's also #32 on the Global Spotify Viral chart and #3 on the Global Shazam Top 200 chart, and that momentum doesn't look like slowing down any time soon. 

 

 

 

 

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2021's promising to be the biggest year yet for Wolf, and we can't wait to see what he's got in store. If you're a fan of rap, or music with a message, then you'll want to keep up with everything Masked Wolf jumps on because he's gonna be howling at the moon.