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MAGIC IN THE UNKNOWN From humble beginnings in Normanton, northern Queensland, to travelling the world with Snoop Dogg, Cameron Callope has lived many different lives in his 47 years. Currently embarking on a degree in Medicine, he doesn't seem ready to slow down just yet...just try something new.
C A SSIE T WEMLOW
Communications & Marketing Officer
C
ameron Callope (1992) is a softly spoken slightly imposing man. The latter trait played to his favour when he went by the stage name ‘C-Roc’ in Australia’s first aboriginal rap group in the mid-90s. A fierce name for a gentle giant.
“It was a couple of PNG guys, two Indigenous guys, and non-Indigenous Australian guys. I played music back home [in Normanton] but, St Peters all Cameron only attended St Peters for a short of a sudden allowed me access to artists time in the early 90s who came from however, he says his very different time here had a great backgrounds, which impact on him. means they saw music differently. “I believe St Peters gave They played I was building me the platform to differently,” he towards something know how to operate that my heart wanted. explains. in a world where the doors of opportunity Post-school, Cameron And I didn't oppress open and all I had to played in bands but it, I let it go where I do was walk through,” never really ‘made wanted to go..." Cameron told me. it’ until he started his own rap group, “[Whilst at school] we Native Ryme, in 1994. had a band and used to rehearse above Luther House. We’d put on shows and charge people Native Ryme were the first nationally to come and see us and get a full house!". recognised Indigenous rap group in Australia and in 1998 became the first domestic hip ON days leading up to a school show, “It hop group to win a national music award, wasn’t unusual for me to hear, ‘Dr Dron a Deadly Award. From here the band went wants to see you’ and he’d call me into his on to play and tour with The Cruel Sea and, office, annoyed, because I was putting up later, Naughty by Nature, gaining them band posters all around the school. We were international recognition. petrified of him!”
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Plus Ultra | June 2022
The band that Cameron was a part of at St Peters consisted of boys from ‘all over’.
