It takes real courage to grab the mic and share your story, especially in front of fellow inmates and complete strangers. Bars Behind Bars is more than a music program at Risdon Prison; it’s a creative outlet that’s uncovering raw talent and powerful voices. From the prison gym turned makeshift studio, some incredible rappers have stepped forward, transforming their experiences into lyrics that hit hard and speak truth.

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LEVEL, one of the program’s emerging talents, summed up the impact perfectly:

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“It was a blowout. I didn’t think we’d ever be able to do this shit from in here ‘cos we’ve been trying to get something going for years and finally it happens. I am able to do the stuff I do on my own and actually have people listen to it. It makes me think I could actually make something of it.”

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That sense of possibility is what Bars Behind Bars is all about. It’s not just about spitting rhymes. It’s about reclaiming identity, building confidence, and learning a craft that demands discipline and creativity.

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The Spark: FH2T and a PlayStation

The program’s origin story is as raw and inventive as the music itself. It started with FH2T, an incarcerated artist who began making complex instrumentals on his PlayStation. When he shared his tracks with Creative Learning Officer Sara, the impact was immediate:

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“FH2T’s beats and bars were phenomenal—so real, so dark and dank yet still so beautiful to listen to. I couldn’t get them out of my head, and I thought, this guy’s onto something. We need proper artists on this who have the right equipment and can really make this work all that it could be.”

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That moment sparked a collaboration that would change the creative landscape inside Risdon Prison.

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Building a studio behind bars

Enter local artists Hermit Kovacic and ROOboy, who answered the call. Together, they transformed the prison gym into a makeshift recording studio. Over several sessions, four tracks were recorded, each one a testament to resilience and artistry.

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One standout track, Switching My Life, featuring FH2T and fellow artist KAPALA features as part of the soundtrack for a film of artists work for the recent Artists with Conviction exhibition, a film which is currently being ‘toured’ across all facilities.

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Trust and transformation

In prison, circumstances can change quickly, and that meant different voices and artists stepping in each time recording happened. Sara reflects on what she witnessed:

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“It was amazing to see the guys drop their guard in front of Hermit and ROOboy almost immediately. There was so much trust and honesty in that room.”

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That trust created an atmosphere where vulnerability and creativity could coexist – a rare and powerful thing behind bars.

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The craft of rap

Rap is often misunderstood as raw aggression, but inside the studio, it’s poetry with a pulse. LEVEL explains his writing process:

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“I think of a cool thing to say like a simile or a metaphor and then I’ll add a bar to it with something that sounds cool. It is writing poetry but just to a beat. It’s more a craft where there’s patterns.”

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Those patterns matter. They teach structure, timing, and flow – skills that translate far beyond music. LEVEL’s own bars show the mix of wit and wordplay that makes rap so compelling:

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“Sober rap then I pop the top when I rock the booth. Rhymes in the crib and I’ve got it locked like I’m Dr Seuss.”

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Why it matters

Programs like Bars Behind Bars do more than entertain they rehabilitate. They offer a sense of agency, create community and foster resilience.

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For FH2T, LEVEL, and others, this isn’t just a hobby. It’s hope. It’s the belief that their voices matter, that their stories can resonate beyond prison walls. And when that happens, transformation begins, not just for the artist, but for everyone who listens.