After the release of her debut album, aside from performing, Layla also studied for a degree in natural medicine. Her brother, James, provided artwork for the album including a comic book in place of typical liner notes. In the Mix website’s Sophiska described Heretik ‘s tracks, which “range from straight up hip hop battle jams … to more reflective, instrumental composition … The remainder are very theme dependant, ‘Driving Miss Layzy’ employs more of a light-hearted funk, soul formula to compliment rhymes about laying back and procrastinating”. Gadd, Natasha Graham, Rhys, Words from the City (2007). Her music is defined by her forceful and candid lyrics that range from her frustrations with female recording artists using their bodies to sell music in “The Fuss About Sluts”, to an exploration of her own creative practices in “Driving Miss Layzy”. Reutens also produced, mixed and recorded the album. The lyrics relate to female artists, exemplified by Britney Spears, who sexualise their performances and give young girls a poor example. The album included the single, “The Fuss About Sluts”, which was co-written by Layla with Darren Reutens (aka Dazastah). On 12 January 2005 Layla released her debut album, Heretik, on Obese Records. Layla’s solo track, “Maverick”, appeared on the 2003 Various Artists compilation album, Straight from the Art.
Film footage included live performances from an earlier gig, Short ‘n’ Sweet, organised by fellow hip hop artist, A-Love (aka Antonella Formosa). In 2003 Layla was one of six artists interviewed for the VHS, All the Ladies, describing “what it is like to be a female MC in the Australian underground hip hop scene”. The following year she issued a track, “Its Only Me”, on the Obese Records 2× CD compilation album, Culture of Kings Volume 2. In 2001 Layla provided raps for Clandestien’s track “A.T.O.M.S.”, alongside Dazastah and Dynamikes, which appeared on the group’s debut album, Clandestien. Layla is a member of the Syllaboliks (SBX) Crew with other Australian MCs and hip hop acts: Drapht, Matty B, Dazastah, Hunter, Downsyde, and Clandestien. In 2000 Layla’s first gig was at an MC battle where she was the only female among 20 entrants. Layla Rose Hanbury was born 5 October 1982.
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