2003
Capricorn Cat
Pegz's debut studio album. A dense, self-produced statement that introduced Melbourne to a new kind of lyrical precision. Critically praised on release and still regarded as a foundational Australian hip hop record.
Melbourne, Australia — Est. 1992
PEGZ
Artist. Producer. Music Executive.
Three decades at the heart of Australian hip hop.
The Name Behind the Name
Born Tirren Staaf, Pegz came up through the graffiti scene before his voice found its way to tape. Since 1992 he has been one of the most consistent, uncompromising voices in Australian rap. No major label. No compromise. Just work.
From the streets of Melbourne to the CEO seat at one of the country's most important independent labels, Pegz has shaped the sound and business of Aussie hip hop for over thirty years. His influence lives in the records he made, the artists he signed, and the culture he never stopped pushing forward.
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Discography
Solo Studio Albums
2005
Axis
Two years on, Pegz returned with a more expansive sound. Axis pushed further into complex production and sharper social commentary, cementing his reputation as one of the scene's most skilled craftsmen.
2007
Burn City
The third solo chapter, named for the city that built him. Burn City is Pegz at his most visceral: raw production, unflinching bars, and a love letter to Melbourne that doubles as a challenge to it.
Legacy
Obese Records
CEO, 2002 to 2016
Pegz bought Obese Records in 2002 and over the next fourteen years built it into one of Australia's most vital independent hip hop labels. It was not just a business. It was infrastructure for an entire culture.
14
Years as CEO
2002
Acquisition Year
2016
Final Year
Artists Launched Under Pegz's Leadership
- Hilltop Hoods
- Illy
- Kerser
Under his watch, the label signed and developed artists who went on to define mainstream Australian hip hop. Hilltop Hoods became one of the country's biggest acts of any genre. Illy and Kerser both built massive followings on their own terms. That roster does not happen by accident. It takes an ear, a vision, and the willingness to back artists when no one else will.
History
Thirty-Plus Years in the Game
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1992
The Beginning
Pegz enters the Australian hip hop scene as a graffiti artist, developing the visual language and cultural roots that will define his artistic voice.
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2002
Takes the Helm at Obese Records
Pegz acquires Obese Records and begins building Australia's most important independent hip hop label from the inside out.
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2003
Capricorn Cat
Debut solo album drops to critical acclaim. The record establishes Pegz as a formidable solo voice alongside his growing label work.
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2005
Axis
Second album continues the upward trajectory. Production and lyricism both deepen, and Obese Records' roster continues to grow.
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2007
Burn City
Third studio album. The city of Melbourne as subject and setting. Pegz at his most direct and most personal.
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2016
End of the Obese Era
After fourteen years steering one of the country's most significant independent labels, Pegz steps back from Obese Records. The imprint's legacy is already sealed.
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Now
Still Active, Still Melbourne
Continuing to work as an artist, producer, and music executive. The catalogue grows. The influence remains.