Growing up in low-income housing commission in the Western Sydney enclave Blacktown, rapper Fortay now devotes his direct, unflinching flow to capturing the unforgiving streets of his ’hood. On such bleak slices of life as 2015’s “Need to Change”, featuring brothers Kerser and Rates, Fortay portrays the persistent threat of prison, drugs and gang violence. Since cutting his teeth in rap battles in the early ’00s, he has supported international heavyweights like The Game and Method Man live, and even scored a guest spot from Snoop Dogg on 2013’s mellower “Chase the Tail”. But he’s best known for gritty tales like 2018’s “One Chance”, featuring Western Sydney’s That Kid Kearve and Newcastle’s TKO, and braggadocio sessions like 2019’s “Meriton”, inspired by the luxury hotel chain. Tapping production duo Highzen Beats for 2021’s The Re-Mixtape, Fortay powerfully contrasted his signature toughness with the stark, slippery pulse of trap.