IF you check this week’s Aria charts you’ll notice some familiar names in the top five of the Aria Albums.

But below Justin Bieber, One Direction, Elvis Presley and Ed Sheeran is someone you might not be familiar with.

Shift your gaze to the Australian Aria Album Chart and the same artist is sitting in the top spot ahead of pop princess Kylie Minogue — despite both albums being released the same day.

The artist in question is Scott Clarke Barrow — better known to the world as Kerser — a 28-year-old from the hard streets of Sydney’s notorious southwest.

The reason Kerser may have flown under your radar is because he hasn’t received any radio play on mainstream stations.

But when you look at the controversial MC’s lyrics, the reason why becomes quickly apparent.

“It’s the Kers I’m too real for that, at the Aria’s dacked with some pills and rack, if my crew came too then who brang who, oh you got your f***ing chain snatched, boo f***ing hoo,” Kerser raps on the album Next Step.

Now you’re probably thinking how can a vulgar rap artist spitting for the streets be mixing it with some of the biggest musicians on the globe?

For Kerser, this started in 2007 when he first recorded a track in Blacktown. This was followed with a few demos pressed from funds that came from wherever the 20-year-old could get the money.

Coming from one of the roughest neighbourhoods in Sydney, Kerser saw rap as his escape and with little success from his demos, he decided to take his music online.

Only using social media channels, Kerser was able to build a career as an established musician.

He now boasts a YouTube account with over 35 million views, a Facebook page just short of 250,000 followers and an Instagram with 60,000 followers.

This isn’t to mention five studio albums, countless festival appearances, tour DVD’s and his own record label — all without a single song heard on mainstream radio.

A CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED YOUTUBE

Despite Kerser’s growing success over the past five years, he struggled to gain recognition from the mainstream.

“The industry tries to block me out and ignores me, I have to use my own avenues to reach my fans,” he told news.com.au

For the MC, this came in the form a relentless approach to YouTube, which saw him becoming the highest viewed rapper in Australian hip hop.

“I struggled to get my name out on MySpace, but then I went to YouTube, he said. ”

“Pushing stuff with crazy visuals and staying consistent really blew me up. It kind of overshadowed what the radio could do for me.”

However, it wasn’t enough to post one or two tracks, the MC needed to stay relevant.

“I kept dropping promos between albums, one a month for last four years including (an) album every year, so I really haven’t stopped,” he said.

Kerser discusses Hip-Hop lyrics on Studio 10 Sydney rapper Kerser discusses the lyrics used in Hip-Hop music. Courtesy: Studio 10/Channel Ten

Kerser didn’t just use YouTube to appeal to fans, he also used the platform to score the producer of his new album, John Andrew from Sinima Beats — known for working with The Game, DMX, G-Unit and Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

The rapper told how he had stolen the producer’s beats from YouTube and recorded his own mix before doing something incredibly brazen.

“I reached out and sent him some of the tracks I had done on his beats over YouTube. He saw they had over one million views and thought that was crazy,” he said.

“We got the money situation sorted out and he was there through every step … It was a dream come true.”

IT’S ALL ABOUT THAT INTERACTION

When it comes to his success on social media, Kerser attributes it to the way he interacts.

“I think the fans are entertained by the fact they can really see I am keeping it real from music to my lyrics to what I post on Instagram,” he said.

“I post what I want and I think a lot of rappers are like ‘my mum might see that and might not like that’, but I’m not like a lot of people.”

When it comes to planning posts for optimal results, Kerser said this is the last thing on his mind.

“Excuse the language, but there are no f***s given when it comes to social media, I am straightforward with it,” he said

“When I make status I am rarely thinking about it. I am a very quick witted person and some status will make headlines on a website and I think what the f***, I made that in three seconds.”

This lacklustre approach is also helpful when dealing with trolls.

“If I want to go at someone I’ll go at someone,” he said.

But this isn’t the way he likes to deal with trolls, having seen many people collapse from the pressure of online hate.

“I heard of a lot of rappers quit because they couldn’t handle the hate,” he said.

“I block them. I only want fans on my pages, I don’t want to hear what other people criticise. They can write it on their own page and get the seven likes on the status.

“The worst they do make a status saying ‘Kerser blocked me from his page’ and then it sends more people to my page and works in my favour.”

LOOKING BACK ON IT ALL

Having forged a successful career on the back of nothing more than his own drive, Kerser is pretty pleased.

“It feels like I have proven a lot of people wrong,” he said.

When it comes to his new-age approach to building a name for himself, the kid from Campbelltown believes he will inspire a generation.

“I am pioneering and setting a blueprint,” he said.

“Rappers can say I don’t have to send 50,000 demos to every radio station to see if I hear back and never get a reply because they only play certain style of music,” he said.

“I pushed that aside and I reckon 70 per cent of rappers coming up wanting to do it on their own and they know it’s possible because I have done it.”

For all those musicians struggling to crack the big time, Kerser has some advice.

• Set up a YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, and make sure fans know where to find them

• Never be restricted and stay true to yourself

• Have a thick skin and don’t let the haters get to you

• Stay relevant

• Be consistent, but make sure you are dropping quality with the quantity

Twitter | @mattydunn11