Introducing Impossible Odds, a straight up, hard hitting, lyrically thought provoking Hip Hop outfit….which has endured an incredible journey to push all boundaries – musically, socially and personally.
Hailing from Brisbane Australia and originating from the Garrawa, Waanyi, Butchella Aboriginal, Tongan and South Sea Islander mobs, socially conscious Indigenous lyricist Fred Leone (aka Rival MC) is the core of Impossible Odds, with James Vincent aka DJ Return Again supplying a creative input along the way as a musician, beatboxer and skilled DJ.
Raised on a musical diet of everything from Rhythm & Blues to Country and Reggae to Rock. It was being able to relate to African American Rap and the inspiration by legendary Australian artists, Archie Roach and Kev Carmody, which led Rival MC to the art of Hip Hop and Rap as his platform for expression.
There’s no doubt Impossible Odds has been a labour of love and necessity for Rival MC, his track record in his craft goes back eleven years to 1997 when he first took the mic and was part of the crew ‘Recipe for Disaster’. His performance skills were honed via winning the Urban Method MC Battle and performances at Inala Stylin Up Festival and opening for acts such as Koolism and Sage Francis
Fast track to 2003,and enter a name change to ‘Willing and Able’ followed by a host of opening spots for ‘Strictly Battle Rhymes’ performances by The Herd, Bliss n Eso, Koolism and Third Estate. By 2004 the ‘Impossible Odds’ project had come into effect and hit the ground running with inclusions in the Brisbane NAIDOC week celebrations, a return performance at Inala Stylin Up festival and performance spots at the Brisbane River Festival.

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In 2007, Impossible Odds was awarded a $25,000 grant through The JB Seed Speak: Indigenous Hip Hop Competition to record a 5 track EP in Sydney with Tony Buchen in November, it also gave Fred of Impossible Odds the opportunity to attend the 2007 JB Seed Management Workshop conference.
On record, Impossible Odds delivers a solid Australian Hip Hop sound fused with influences from Gospel, (which is the thread running throughout ‘Hey People’) to the smooth laid back Pacific Island style harmonies inherited from his Tongan roots. The lyrics can only be described as raw, honest and direct. Backed by production that takes its cue from accessible and organic Hip Hop stylists such as The Roots, Madlib and Kanye West, Fred rhymes with an intelligent, socially conscious attitude that speaks volumes for the struggle his people have endured. Experiencing the music of Impossible Odds is nothing short of empowering. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.