Eclipse
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Album Summary
Dert, the Australian hip-hop emcee with a pen game sharper than a straight razor, dropped 'Eclipse' in 2014 as a deeply personal and structurally ambitious project. The album unfolds across sixteen tracks split into two sides — a deliberate artistic choice that gives the record the feel of a journey through darkness and into light, much like the celestial phenomenon its title invokes. Recorded and self-released within the independent Australian hip-hop underground, 'Eclipse' reflects the DIY ethos that defined Dert's approach — a man who trusted his craft over commercial machinery. The production landscape across the album is moody, introspective, and cinematic, matching Dert's unflinching lyrical honesty about struggle, identity, and eventual transcendence.
Reception
- 'Eclipse' found its audience primarily within the dedicated Australian independent hip-hop community, where Dert had built a reputation as one of the more thoughtful and technically skilled voices in the scene.
- The album did not make major commercial chart waves, but it earned quiet, sustained respect among listeners who valued substance and emotional authenticity over mainstream visibility.
- Critical recognition came largely through word-of-mouth and grassroots channels, with the project regarded as a mature and cohesive statement from an artist operating entirely on his own terms.
Significance
- 'Eclipse' stands as a testament to the vitality of the Australian independent hip-hop movement in the mid-2010s, proving that deeply personal, conceptually driven projects could thrive outside the major label system.
- The album's two-sided structure — moving from tracks like 'Live From Rock Bottom' and 'Dead Soul' through to 'The Awakening,' 'Ascension,' and 'Find Yourself' — reflects a conscious narrative arc that elevates it above a simple collection of songs into something closer to a spiritual autobiography.
- Dert's ability to balance raw vulnerability with lyrical precision on 'Eclipse' helped cement his place as one of the more distinctive voices in the Australian underground, influencing younger emcees who saw in his work a model for uncompromising artistic integrity.
Tracklist
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A1 Live From Rock Bottom —
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A2 Plus None —
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A3 Gingerbread —
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A4 Broadway Alleys —
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A5 Crashing & Burning —
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A6 Sunday School —
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A7 Icy —
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A8 Dead Soul —
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B1 Hangry —
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B2 Riot —
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B3 The Awakening —
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B4 Ascension —
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B5 Daily Affirmation —
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B6 Once More —
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B7 Find Yourself —
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B8 You're My Shadow —
Artist Details
Dert is a lyricist's lyricist who emerged from the underground hip-hop scene in the 2000s, carving out a reputation for his sharp wordplay and introspective rhymes that cut deep like a needle on a late-night groove. He built his foundation the old-school way — through the craft, the cipher, and a genuine love for the art form that kept his sound raw and authentic in an era of slick production. Brother brought a poet's soul to the microphone, earning the respect of fellow emcees and true hip-hop heads who knew the difference between noise and music.
