DOBBY
Filipino and Murrawarri/Ngemba artist DOBBY (Rhyan Clapham) is a rapper, drummer, composer, and producer whose work blurs the lines between hip-hop, classical, and cultural storytelling. Self-described as a “drapper” (drummer/rapper), DOBBY fuses hard-hitting beats, live instrumentation, and urgent lyricism to deliver performances that are both electrifying and deeply moving.
An award-winning artist and fierce advocate, DOBBY’s music speaks to truth, justice, and connection to Country. His debut album Warrangu: River Story (ABC Music, 2024) blends Indigenous languages, orchestral arrangements, and field recordings to tell the story of the Barka (Darling River) and the fight to protect it. The record won the 2024 ARIA Award for Best World Music Album and was shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize.
Beyond the stage, DOBBY is a sought-after composer, speaker, and educator, creating works for Vivid Sydney, the Art Gallery of NSW, Parrtjima, and major cultural festivals across the country. Whether fronting a festival crowd or leading a workshop, he uses music as a tool for empowerment, truth-telling, and change.
DOBBY’s artistry is bold, uncompromising, and rooted in community — a voice that resonates far beyond the beat.