Kobie Duncan (known professionally as Kobie Dee) is an Australian singer, songwriter and rapper.[1] Kobie Dee released his debut EP in 2021. At the 2022 J Awards he won the Done Good Award for enriching First Nations communities.[4]
At age 10, Duncan wrote his first song after listening to "Eazy-Duz-It" by Eazy-E.[6] At age 10, Kobie attended Weave's Kool Kids Program and met Mardi Diles, who would later become his manager.[2] Kobie "looked up to" Briggs, who he met at a local performance in 2018 and whose label he would sign to in 2019.[1]
Career
2018–present: Career beginnings and Gratitude Over Pity
Kobie Dee released his debut single "Right Now" in May 2018.[7]
In 2019 Kobie met Nooky, an artist signed to Bad Apples Music label, who heard and forwarded his song "About a Girl" to Briggs, who signed him to Bad Apples the same year.[2][1]
In November 2021, Kobie Dee released his debut EP, Gratitude Over Pity. It was produced by Papertoy, Jaytee Hazard and Magic Nic.[1] As per the press release, the resulting EP is a "pen-to-paper journey, thematically encapsulating how real-time events and inspired moments have helped uncover a perspective of gratitude and appreciation towards the present through a lens of dedicated optimism."[8]
About the EP, GQ said "Kobie Dee implement his trademark technical flow over five tracks which range from bouncing, catchy songs to introspective, raw stories."[6]
In January 2023, Kobie Dee completed a six-week residency hosting Triple J's Hip Hop Show.[9]
In July 2024, Kobie released his second EP ’Chapter 26, an EP he describes as "a journey through my life, from being a young Blak man in Australia, to becoming a father and navigating fatherhood from a place of having an absent father myself".[10]
Personal life
In April 2019, Kobie became a father to a daughter named Kali.[5]
Kobie is a youth ambassador for Weave Youth and Community Services and Just Reinvest NSW.[6]
In 2021, Kobie launched the podcastKnow Role Models where he converses with First Nations People.[6]
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.
The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. They commenced in 2004.
