Tuka (rapper)


Brendan Tuckerman, who performs as Tuka, is an Australian hip hop artist from the Blue Mountains, New South Wales. He is a member of Thundamentals and a previous member of Rumpunch and Connect 4. He is also a solo artist, having released three studio albums, and he co-produces his original music. He supported Horrorshow on their "Listen Close" tour and in late 2015 toured Australia and the US on his first headline tour to support his third album Life Death Time Eternal. He felt this album was less introspective. It peaked at number 6 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

Early life

Brendan Tuckerman was born on 20 March 1986 in Medlow Bath, Blue Mountains.

Personal life

Tuckerman was a victim of child abuse as a child and frequently witnessed his mother's boyfriend abuse his mother. Both his father and his mother's boyfriend suffered from alcoholism.
In an interview with Triple J, he discussed his childhood and:
"I don't really know my father that well, I just know that looking back, my mother may have been stuck in a cycle... through no fault of her own consciously, so I don't hold anything against her for that.
When things did get violent, it wasn't as brutal as I imagine a lot of people go through, but it's still kind of traumatic watching your mother not in power.
Basically, I moved out as soon as I could, age 17 or 18. I moved down to the city. I guess I was escaping it, but at the time I said I was following a music career."

Additionally, Tuckerman states that witnessing his father and his mother's boyfriend struggle with alcoholism ultimately led to having personal struggles with alcohol himself:
"It took awhile for me to learn a healthy relationship with alcohol. So, I don't really drink anymore. I do as a musician when I go out for a gig, but my relationship to alcohol is."

Musical style and influences

Tuckerman cites Wu-Tang Clan as a musical influence. Additionally, Tuckerman has described acts such as Urthboy and Ozi Batla of The Herd as "super inspiring".

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Music videos

Guest appearances