KronFusion (a.k.a. Kieran Ferguson), Rhabdomancer (a.k.a. Tom Hunter-Leahy) and Dr. Fruit (a.k.a. Zane Alcorn) make up the three man hip hop outfit known as Dhopec.

Rhabdomancer, a 21 year old student from Newcastle, composes the backing tracks and provides the scratching for the band. Dr. Fruit, a 22 year old activist and graduatefrom Newcastle, provides the rhymes which adorn the tracks. KronFusion, a 27 year old journalist, teacher and professional drummer from Newcaslte, provides the kit for live performances.

Dhopec was originally formed in 2003 by founding members Rhabdomancer and Dr. Fruit. After a couple of years worth of jamming and writing, the band's first ‘Self Titled' album was recorded in Melbourne by DJ Wasabi and Fortknight Productions. It was released in early 2005, and included songs such as the award winning ‘Sharx' and ‘Runaway' and political tracks such as ‘Callaghan Nazis' and ‘Don't Rock Da Boat'.

The album had success on a local level, with a few hundred CDs sold, and Dhopec continued to win fans with their unpredictable live shows and crowd-pleasing performances, supporting hip hop heavyweights such as The Herd and Combat Wombat. The award winning ‘Sharx' and other tracks have been played by Mya Jupiter on the Triple J Hip Hop Show.

The band went through a series of on stage additions during 2004, including bass-players and drummers, finally securing KronFusion in 2005 to beef up their live performances with his unique style of stand-up kit-playing.

Throughout 2005 and early 2006 the band continued to write and perform live, building a small but loyal following in their hometown, Newcaslte. Recently, the band journeyed to Melbourne once more to record their "50 Buck: Get Real or Die Lying" EP. The EP includes four tracks, and features the sounds of Newcastle's very own Castanet Club in the choruses of the single, "50 Buck". The band remains fiercely independent and the new EP is selling well, especially after their performance with Kai Tipping and Repercussion at the Strikeback festival in Newcaslte. Fans can buy Dhopec's ‘Self-Titled' album from their website http://www.dhopec.com/ and their EP will be available in the next few weeks.

Their next full LP is likely to be released in early 2007 and will include new songs such as ‘Who Gives A Fuck About America'.

Dhopec's front-man Dr. Fruit has recently moved to Melbourne, but they are convinced that this will not change the course of the band's rise even though Dhopec's other members remain in Newcastle. Rhabdomancer has said he will be making "frequent trips to Melbourne" to film and record for the band, and when in Melbourne will "play gigs with the aid of KronFusion."

In the world of Australian Hip Hop, Dhopec is a young band, but their gradual improvement and continuing devotion to hip hop certainly provides the foundation for the next big Oz Hip Hop hit. The beats and rhymes of Dhopec  are infectious and with a little more air-time on Triple J and a few more gigs amongst the hip hop heads of Melbourne's underground, the band is guaranteed more admirers.

Check out the Podcast and listen to the Dhopec interview plus their track "Mutiny."  or listen to it here Click here to play

You can also check out Dhopec at one of the following locations;

Website - www.dhopec.com

Myspace - www.myspace.com/dhopec

TripleJ Unearthed - www.triplejunearthed.com/Artists/View.aspx?artistid=664