Harley Webster (born 1981) – better known as Phrase – is an Australian hip hop MC, originating from Melbourne.
History
Phrase began to piece together an album with producers Daniel Merriweather and J-Skub (Jan Skubiszewki), while working part-time for the Reach Youth foundation,[1] an organisation that Phrase credits with helping him overcome behavioural problems he had in his mid-teens.[1] The album, Talk with Force was picked up for national release by Universal Music Australia in 2005. Three singles were released from this album, "Here Now" featuring Mystro, "Catch Phrase" featuring Daniel Merriweather, and "Hold On" featuring labelmate Max White.
In 2007 he founded the record label Crooked Eye with DJ Flagrant and J-Skub.[2] The label's first release was a mixtape by Melbourne MC Illy (which Phrase also appears on). The same year, he released the non-album single "Face It" featuring Ian Kenny from Karnivool and Birds of Tokyo; which was used in the marketing campaign for the Australian release of Halo 3[3]
In 2009 Phrase released his second album Clockwork, which included the high-rotation Triple J singles "Skylight" (featuring Kram) and "Clockwork". The album reached No. 26 on the ARIA albums chart[4] and No. 6 on the ARIA Urban albums chart.
In 2011, Phrase returned with a new sound for his 3rd album Babylon. The first single was "Apart" featuring Davey Lane. Other guest artists featured on the album included Jimmy Barnes, Sparkadia's Alex Burnett, Guineafowl, The Preatures and Jane Doe. During an interview with Reegan from Radar, Phrase said that 'Babylon is not a hip-hop album, but an album with rap on it.'[5] Following a tour in support of the album, Phrase withdrew from making music. He has not performed live or released any new material since.
Personal life
Phrase married Australian R&B singer Jade MacRae.[6] He attended Glen Waverley Secondary College as a teen; his father was an English teacher there. He has two sisters – a tattooist and an actress.
Discography
Albums
List of albums, with selected details and chart positions
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.
Talk with Force: "Week Commencing ~ 3rd October 2005 ~ Issue #814"(PDF). The ARIA Report (814). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA): 17. 3 October 2005. Archived from the original(PDF) on 20 October 2005. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
"Catch Phrase": "Week Commencing ~ 6th January 2006 ~ Issue #831"(PDF). The ARIA Report (831). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA): 3, 7, 13, 16, 19. 6 February 2006. Archived from the original(PDF) on 20 February 2006. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
"Hold On": "Week Commencing ~ 31st July 2006 ~ Issue #856"(PDF). The ARIA Report (856). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA): 4, 7, 11, 15, 18. 31 July 2006. Archived from the original(PDF) on 20 September 2006. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
"Face It": "Week Commencing ~ 26th November 2007 ~ Issue #925"(PDF). The ARIA Report (925). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA): 4, 7, 11, 15, 18. 26 November 2007. Archived from the original(PDF) on 20 December 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
"Spaceship": "Week Commencing ~ 6th April 2009 ~ Issue #997"(PDF). The ARIA Report (997). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA): 18, 21. 6 April 2009. Archived from the original(PDF) on 20 April 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
