State of the Art is the fifth studio album by Australian hip hop trio Hilltop Hoods, released on 12 June 2009, by Golden Era Records.

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2009, the album won Best Urban Album while Suffa won Engineer of the Year for this release.

At the J Awards of 2009, the album was nominated for Australian Album of the Year.

Background State of the Art is the first release by their newly founded record label, Golden Era Records. It is the first release to be made by the group since their ARIA Award winning album, The Hard Road, in 2006, and its remix album, The Hard Road: Restrung, which was released in 2007. These albums were both released under their previous label Obese Records. The first track on the album, 'The Return' is about how long it had been since they last released an album.

The album contains 3 singles, first single "Chase That Feeling", was released on 8 May 2009. The other two singles "Still Standing" and "The Light You Burned" were released with the album on 12 June 2009, then re-released with remix, instrumental and radio edited versions of the songs a few months after their initial release. There are 12 tracks in the album, and 2 extra bonus tracks. Several tracks contain features from Trials, Pharoahe Monch, and several members of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Other acts that also appear on the album are Briggs, Funkoars and Vents, who are also signed to Golden Era Records and appear on the iTunes bonus track 'Rent Week'.

The production for State of the Art was mainly held by Suffa, with "She's So Ugly" and "Classic Example" being produced by Pokerbeats and DJ Nu-Mark, respectively. As in previous albums, Suffa’s eclectic sampling pulls from various genres, including rock, jazz, soul, funk, and psychedelic pop, while blending a broad range of hip-hop subgenres like New York Boom Bap, Mafioso, and Horrorcore.

The album debuted at number one on the Australian ARIA Charts and has been certified double platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipments exceeding 140,000 copies. In 2020 the album was certified triple platinum after shipments of State of the Art exceeded 210, 000 copies.

Artwork State of the Art is the 5th studio album, and 13th release to feature the character of 'Armageddon' on the cover, a creation of Hilltop Hoods to adorn their albums. The trio consider him to be the 4th member of the band, and said they were inspired in their youth to create him by Iron Maiden's popular character 'Eddie'.

The illustration for the album and associated releases was provided by John Engelhardt, and graphic design provided by April77 Creative. Associated Photography release with the album was created by Mathematics & Conan Whitehouse, and image post production services were provided by Ben Funnel.

Sampling State of the Art, like many Hilltop Hoods releases, feature sounds samples from a variety of sources. +SongSamples used in the songThe ReturnCome With Your Lady- Rare Earth (1972) Clan in Da Front- Wu-Tang Clan (1993)

Big Boy Game- M.O.P. (2005)

J.Beez Comin' Through- Jungle Brothers (1989)

Come on Down- Big Daddy Kane ft. Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes (1991)

Sound of Da Police- KRS-One (1993)Super OfficialButtermilk Bottom- The Spirit of Atlanta (1973) Success- Fat Joe (1995)Chase That FeelingPass the Word- The Mad Lads (1973)She's So Ugly Melancholy Baby- Sapphire Thinkers (1969) Ugly Broad- The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat (Film, 1974)Still StandingYour Teeth in My Neck- Scientist (1981) I'm Still Standing- Elton John (1983)

Mama Said Knock You Out- LL Cool J (1990)Classic ExampleThe Game- Common (2007) The Infamous Date Rape- A Tribe Called Quest (1991)Chris FarleyWhat a Great Night- Hilltop Hoods (2006)The Light You BurnedHot Line Conversation- Giant Crab (1986) Thin Line- Jurassic 5 ft. Nelly Furtado (2002)

Hate Me Now- Nas ft. Puff Daddy (1999)Parade of the DeadThen- Yes (1970) Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide- Gravediggaz ft. Kurious (1994)Last ConfessionA Possible Projection of the Future- Al Kooper (1972)HilltoppaAllure- Jay-Z (2003)Fifty in FIveTwenty Ten- Tinkerbells Fairydust (1986) Singing in the Morning- Ohio Players (1971)Rent WeekBrother- Emilio Santiago (1975) Show Money- Funkoars (2008) 'She's So Ugly' was sampled in Briggs' 2011 track 'Let it Burn'.

Reception State of the Art spent two weeks at number one in the ARIA charts after it was released on 12 June 2009. After dropping from the number one spot, State of the Art spent a total of 28 weeks within the ARIA top 50 albums Charts. After its initial 21 week streak, the album left the top 50 for seven weeks, then placed on and off over the next five weeks. The album took an almost 10-year hiatus from the top 50 album charts, but returned for a single week at position #41 in December 2019.

State of the Art was also number one on the Weekly Top Urban Album Chart for three weeks (22 June – 6 July). It finished at number 12 in the Yearly ARIA Top 25 Albums Chart, the band's first album to be included in this chart. The album was certified double platinum in 2010 for shipping 140,000 units and ended up being certified triple platinum in 2020.

"Chase That Feeling", the first single from the album, was released on the 5 May and peaked at number eight in the weekly ARIA top 50 Singles Charts. It remained in the top 50 for 28 weeks. "Still Standing", the second single from State of the Art, and was released with the album on 12 June 2009. It peaked at number 34 in the ARIA Top Weekly Singles Charts, and spent six weeks in the top 50.

'Chase That Feeling' came in at number 3 in Triple J's Hottest 100, behind 'Little Lion Man' by Mumford and Sons (number 1) and 'Parle Vous Francais' by Art vs. Science (number 2). 'Still Standing' placed at 37, making them one of 23 artist to receive at least 2 songs nominations in the 100. 'Chase That Feeling' was also selected with 41 other songs from the 100 to be released in Triple j Hottest 100 Volume 17 CD, representing the countdown of that year. The song features as track 6 in disc 1 of the CD release.

When 'Chase That Feeling' placed 3rd, they tied the record for highest placed hip hop song in the hottest 100 with 3 other songs. Their own song 'The Hard Road' placed 3rd in 2006, as did the Gorillaz 'Feel Good Inc.' in 2005, and Coolio's 'Gangsta's Paradise' in 1995. This tied record was broken in 2012 when 'Thrift Shop' by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz placed number 1.

Track listing

Touring Hilltop Hoods promoted their album with their 'State of the Art' tour, with support act Canadian hip hop artist Classified, and Australian rapper Briggs.

+ Shows in the 'State of the Art' tour Venue City Audience Date Enmore Theatre Sydney, NSW All ages Saturday 18 July 2009 Capitol Perth, WA Over 18 Thursday 23 July 2009 Hifi Bar Brisbane, QLD Over 18 Friday 24 July 2009 Grandstand Hall Hobart, TAS Over 18 Thursday 30 July 2009 Palace Theatre, Melbourne Melbourne VIC Over 18 Friday 31 July 2009 Thebarton Theatre Adelaide, SA All ages Saturday 1 August 2009 ANU Refectory Canberra, ACT Over 18 Tuesday 4 August 2009 Following this tour, Hilltop Hoods launched a second national tour to promote their album. This was the 'Still Standing' tour supported by fellow Golden Era Records artist Vents and their mixer Dj ADFU. +Shows in the 'Still Standing' tourVenueCityAudienceDateDiscovery NightclubDarwin, NTOver 18Friday 16 October 2009Mangrove Resort HotelBroome, WAOver 18Saturday 17 October 2009Hordern Pavilion Sydney, NSWAll agesFriday 23 October 2009Uni Hall, University of WollongongWollongong, NSWOver 18Saturday 24 October 2009Inferno NightclubTraralgon, VICOver 18Thursday 29 October 2009Wrestpoint Entertainment CenterHobart, TASOver 18Friday 30 October 2009Albert HallLaunceston, TASAll agesSaturday 31 October 2009 Brisbane Big Top, RNA ShowgroundsBrisbane, QLDAll agesFriday 6 November 2009Seagulls ClubGold Coast, QLDOver 18Saturday 7 October 2009Shadows Entertainment ComplexMount Gambier, SAOver 18Thursday 12 November 2009Mildura Settlers TavernMildura, VICOver 18Friday 13 November 2009Jubilee Pavilion, Adelaide ShowgroundAdelaide, SAAll agesSaturday 14 November 2009Bendigo Schweppes CenterBendigo, VICAll agesFriday 20 November 2009New Albury HotelAlbury, NSWOver 18Sunday 22 November 2009Festival HallMelbourne, VICAll agesThursday 3 December 2009Brothers Rugby League GroundMackay, QLDAll agesThursday 10 December 2009Riverway Stadium Townsville, QLDAll agesFriday 11 December 2009Brothers Leagues ClubCairns, QLDAll agesSaturday 12 December 2009

The band also played songs from the new album at shows performed at festivals throughout 2009. +Shows Performed at Festivals in 2009FestivalCityDateGroovin' the MooTownsville, QLDSaturday 2 May 2009Groovin the MooMaitland, NSWSaturday 9 May 2009Groovin the MooBendigo, VICSaturday 16 May 2009Triple J's One Night StandSale, VICSaturday 30 May 2009Splendour in the GrassByron Bay, NSWSunday 26 July 2009One Movement FestivalPerth, WASunday 18 October 2009Fat as Butter FestivalNewcastle, NSWSunday 25 October 2009Trackside FestivalCanberra, ACTSaturday 21 November 2009Open Arms FestivalCoffs Harbour, NSWSaturday 28 November 2009Homebake FestivalSydney, NSWSaturday 5 December 2009Falls Music and Arts Festival Lorne, VICThursday 31 December 2009

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2009–2020) Peakposition

Year-end charts Chart (2009) Position Australian Albums (ARIA) 12

Certifications

References