"What drives me? Family, like most Pacific Islanders," answersSamoan hip hop artist Talisi "Lisi" Poasa.
"I was raised in a tight-knit family, a tight household …you know, my family is the reason why I want to work hard."
Just a few years ago, he was workingshifts in a factory as a machine operator, posting his raps on social mediaas a hobby.
Now, the "uso (brother)named Lisi from four-three" is proudly representing his hometown of Goodna, west of Brisbane— which he refers to by its postcode, 4300 — and breaking new ground for Pasifika people in Australia.
"Being an artist is not really the typical career path for where I'm from, or for our people," he says.
Shattering glass ceilings
Tongan-Australian musician and radio host Hau Lātūkefu has been part of the rap and hip-hop scene for more than two decades, as a performer, radio presenter and mentor to up-and-comers.
Lātūkefu —who hosts thenew Pacific music show,In The Fale, on Radio Australia—says Pasifika success shatters the glass ceilings thatpreventmany islanders from realising their potential.
"For a long time, Pasifika people could only see usual jobs like security work, construction, rugby league or union as a successful route," he says.
"Now we have all these other opportunities and we should be allowed to take those opportunities without any kind of pressure."
He is referring to a wider push to silence rap music and shut down artists who, he says, are misunderstood, such asthe Mount Druitt drill group OneFour.
"Isn't this where we want to see people from these kinds of backgrounds, off the streets, trying to do better for themselves, their families and their communities?" he asks.
"They're quite influential in their community, and they've been able to give power to a lot of young people from these areas."
'Music is a big thing to us Polynesians'
"[Growing up] I liked listening to rap. I think I liked how it made me feel empowered," Lisi told theABC's The Pacific program.
"You know, the way that they paint pictures with words, really takes you into a space where you put yourself in their shoes.
"Listening to rap made me pick up on different stylistic devices that they use, like metaphors, similes …then I started to think:'That's clever.'That's what intrigued me.
"I imagine with my ears first and then I'll put it down into words."
In his songs, Lisi delves into everyday life.
"I just want to see all of my usos [brothers]winning and make it out," he says, referencing lyrics of one ofhis more recent hits, filmed in Samoa.
"Music is a big thing to us Polynesians," he says.
After a few of his posts gained popularity on Instagram in 2019, Lisi says he was spurred on by suggestions he try recording in a studio.
He saved enough money to pay for time at a local studio and recorded what became the hit single, Say Less.
"Yeah, from there on, it's been a rollercoaster of a ride.
"I don't let it get to my head,I still have a long way to go … You know, it's nice to be recognised, 100 per cent, but thatdoesn't mean I made it."
Storytelling runs in the family
At school, English was one of his "best subjects … I did enjoy telling stories," he says.
"But, when it came to parent-teacher interviews, and my mum would come, they would always be like, 'You know, Talisi has got so much potential but he just doesn't like listening in class. He just likes mucking around.'
"I just didn't apply myself in school, so I don't blame them.I love all my teachers … Look at me now," he says, referencing another track.
His grandmotheris Ana Tuisila, whoplays Dwayne "The Rock"Johnson's grandmother,Lia Maivia,on the show Young Rock.
"Grandma, or Mama as we call her, was always in my corner growing up," he says.
"She always tells me to do your lotu, that's pray, and always, always remember your family and where you came from."
Love and community
Christian Brown is the director of Ipswich-based label Castille Records, which has signed Lisi, as well as notable acts such asTh4W3st, Nokz, producer Dj Wreckah and Ezra James.
Brown says their artists are motived by two things:love and the community.
"Out mindset is to 'do it because you love it' but, at the same time, we're trying to create change in our community, in the area that we represent," he says.
While Lisi's songs have become anthems for the diaspora, he also uses his platform to drive home messages about the consequences of knife violence andrail safety.
"The characteristics we want to portray is just being genuine in ourselves," Brown says.
"We're not perfect,God knows, but we do it for the love of it, to feed our families and to see more opportunity.
"A lot of people say:'Make it out of the hood. Make it out of the area.' But, for us, we want to better where we are because we are proud to be from where we are."
'They've changed the narrative'
Lātūkefu says seeing Pacific Islanders such asLisisucceed as artists fills him with pride.
"Some areas are looked down upon and now they've changed the narrative so people from these areas feel empowered to be musicians, or whoever they want to be,"he says.
"You empower them to dream big."
In chasing his own dreams, Lisisays the key is "persistence —just stay at it".
"Just work hard every single day because you never know when the big break will come. I'm still waiting on mine," he said.
"Everyone thinks I'm a big rapperand what not, but, hey, wait until you see me get a Grammy, then you can call me a big rapper."
