Ziggy Ramo

Career

In 2015, Ramo completed his debut album Black Thoughts; an album that incisively addressed colonial dispossession, systemic racism and intergenerational trauma. Yet he worried that non-Indigenous Australia wasn't ready to engage with his truth-telling, so he shelved the album. Instead, in 2016, an EP of the same name was released. In March 2021 Ramo was the headline artist at the Adelaide Festival's hip hop finale concert which featured an all-Indigenous line-up of artists. Other performers included Jimblah, JK-47 and J-Milla.

2021, saw Ramo release single "Little Things" adapted from Paul Kelly‘s 1993 single "From Little Things Big Things Grow". It charted at number 99 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2021.

Also, in 2021, Pantera Press acquired the rights to Ramo's debut non-fiction book, HUMAN.

In December 2022, Ramo released the single "Sugar Coated Lies" featuring Alice Skye from the series Black Snow, in which Ramo made his screen debut.

Ramo collaborated with composer Jed Palmer to produce all of the music for the 2023 TV crime drama series created by Lucas Taylor, Black Snow, and also appears in it.

In January 2024, Ramo released "Banamba", the lead single from his forthcoming studio album, Human?.

Influences Ramo lists his musical influences including Lauryn Hill and Yasiin Bey and Aboriginal activists such as Charlie Perkins and Gary Foley.

Discography Studio albums +List of studio album released, with release date and label shown Title Album details Black Thoughts Released: 5 June 2020 Label: Ramo Records Formats: Digital download, streaming Sugar Coated Lies Released: 26 January 2023 Label: Ziggy Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles +List of singles and album name shown Title Year Album "Black Thoughts" 2016 Black Thoughts (EP) "Black Face" "Same Script" 2017 "Ykwd (You Know We're Done)" "A to Z" 2018 "Empire" 2019 Black Thoughts "Pretty Boy" "Tjitji" 2020 Deadly Hearts: Walking Together "Little Things" 2021 Human? "Sugar Coated Lies" 2022 Sugar Coated Lies "Doo Wop (That Thing)" (Like a Version) 2023 "Banamba" "Sorry" "Who We Are" 2025 "See It Through" "Could Never Be Me"

Awards and nominations AIR Awards The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. 2024 Sugar Coated Lies Best Independent Hip Hop Album or EP

Human? Best Independent Hip Hop Album or EP

Australian Music Prize The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. They commenced in 2005. 2020 Black Thoughts Album of the Year J Awards 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. 2020 himself You Done Good Award 2021 "Little Things" (with Paul Kelly) Australian Video of the Year National Indigenous Music Awards The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) recognise excellence, dedication, innovation and outstanding contribution to the Northern Territory music industry. 2018 "himself" Best New Talent

NSW Music Prize The NSW Music Prize aims to "celebrate, support and incentivise" the NSW's most talented artists, with "the aim of inspiring the next generations of stars". It commenced in 2025. 2025 Human? NSW First Nations Music Prize West Australian Music Industry Awards The Western Australian Music Industry Awards (commonly known as WAMis) are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc (WAM).

(wins only)

Best Hip Hop Act Best Indigenous Act