Dan Rankine (aka 'Trials') was the only little Aboriginal boy living in his rural Welsh village when he woke up shaking from a nightmare. That's when he and his mother knew they needed to go home to Adelaide.

Dan is now one of Australia's most respected hip hop producers, writers and rappers.

Born in Adelaide, Dan spent his early years on the other side of the world - in the rolling, green hills of rural Wales - with his mum, who had fled there from Dan's violent father in the middle of the night.

Far from his Ngarrindjeri connections, and with no one around who looked like him, Dan felt isolated.

After an unexplained nightmare, he and his mum decided to move back to Adelaide, where things didn't suddenly become perfect.

But a car crash, which could have been tragic, became an incredible turning point in Dan's life, allowing him to buy his first set of turntables.

And at 16 years old, Dad set himself on the path to becoming 'Trials', performing, writing and producing with and for artists like the Funkoars, Hilltop Hoods, Archie Roach and A.B. Original.

Dan has recently stepped out on his own, to release his debut solo album Hendle - something of an origin story, full of honesty, pain and passion.

Hendle is out now. Dan is set to publish an accompanying memoir later this year.

Keep up to date with Dan's music, art and tour dates at on his Instagram page.

This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer was Eliza Kirsch.

It explores First Nations excellence, substance abuse, family violence, domestic violence, cultural education, blended families, Briggs, Paul Kelly, Gurrumul, childhood trauma, art, expression, alcoholism, fatherhood, love, grief, estrangement, Australian hip-hop, Dune Rats, DZ Deathrays, TV and film soundtrack, systemic racism, justice system, violent crime, art as therapy, painting, memoir, writing, book, sobriety, poetry, Dan Sultan, triple J, Reclaim Australia, Aus Music Month, how to write songs, dark humour, growing up, becoming a man, journalling, self improvement, metaphysical, the Dreaming, belonging, prison, incarceration, beats, NWA, Wu Tang Clan.

To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Hip Hop, home, and humanity—'Trials' on reckoning with his origin story

Conversations

Hip Hop, home, and humanity—'Trials' on reckoning with his origin story