Podcast // L-fresh the Lion

• Cultural Roots: We explored how L-FRESH's South West Sydney upbringing has shaped his artistic voice and message.

• The Power of Purpose: L-FRESH shared insights into how he infuses his music with meaning, making each performance a powerful statement.

• From Local to Global: We discussed his incredible journey, performing in venues ranging from intimate local spots to stadiums and even the UN Headquarters.

• The Intersection of Hip-Hop and Poetry: We delved into how both art forms harness the power of language to convey deep emotions and important messages.

• Mother Tongue: The episode's title, "Mother Tongue" hints at the deep dive we took into the importance of language and cultural identity in art ending with a new verse I wrote in response to our conversation.

I'm stoked to share with you an episode of the Luka Lesson Podcast that I believe will resonate deeply with my people. In this special installment, I had the privilege of sitting down with none other than L-FRESH The LION, a powerhouse in the Australian hip-hop scene.

Born and raised in South West Sydney, L-FRESH The LION is one of Australia's most important hip-hop artists. His journey from local venues to international stages, including the United Nations Headquarters in New York, is a testament to the power of purposeful music and conscious words.

Here are some highlights from our discussion:

This conversation embodies what my art is all about - bridging traditional art forms with contemporary expression, and fostering connections across different cultural backgrounds.

As a special treat, inspired by our conversation, I've included a new rap verse at the end of the episode entitled 'Mother Tongue'.

This piece is my reflection on the themes we discussed, blending my poetic style with the rhythmic flow of hip-hop.

I encourage all of you to listen to the full episode. L-FRESH's passion, wisdom, and artistic integrity shine through in every word, and I know you'll find our convo both enlightening and inspiring.

You can find the episode on all major podcast platforms.

M O T H E R T O N G U E

I’m one of those other ones
born under the southern sun
blood from the lands of the spartan drum

Just another one
talking with a punctured lung
trying to speak his mother tongue


I hardly 
wanna hardly wanna face it 
man, I’d learn all the basics
travelled up and down the whole place

Performed on her stages 
learn words that were ageless
wrestled with grammatics 
tustled on her pages

Prayed in spaces she deemed to be sacred
sips of kafe were taken
in the midst of conversations
with broken phrases

Each one a destination 
if I could just get it fluent
it would feel like an oasis

Or a return - I can taste it
a poet without words:
the great frustration

Still my tongue won’t say shit
so I talk to my homie
about our homeostasis

I guess we are mosaics
shards of glass
smashed by the first migrations


I kissed her lips
to show her where my pain lives
she said
you’ll never be erased by the great displacement

[Greek Rap]

I’m one of those other ones
born under the southern sun
blood from the lands of the spartan drum

Just another one
talking with a punctured lung
trying to speak his mother tongue.


-Luka Lesson

Luka is a poet, rapper, Australian Poetry Slam Champion and Ancient History buff who can’t keep his hands off the classics. Luka has toured extensively throughout the world and is often bouncing ideas off Athenian columns and global politics as he finds his way, giving commentary on life and writing as a modern philosopher, performer and full-time poet.

Luka Lesson draws on his creative powers to either create new poetry inspired by conversations with guests from across the planet, or do a deep dive into his own catalogue of poetry and rap verses, using them as a sounding board for new conversations. His own Greek heritage and the histories of the people he speaks to often filter through, as well as his love of story, mythology, social change and visions for the future.