Marranungu hip hop artists J-MILLA and Yung Milla have joined forces with rising Northern Territory talent K2 the B and CJR to create 'BARUNGA', a modern interpretation of the Barunga Statement told through a youth lens.

The collaboration was developed under a community wellbeing program using music to promote cultural pride and connection.

It brings together established and emerging voices to carry the message of the Barunga Statement into a new generation.

J-MILLA said the project was about more than creating a song.

"Working with the Barunga community on this project was powerful - it wasn't just about making music, it was about carrying forward the strength of the Barunga Statement in a way that speaks to the next generation," he said.

Yung Milla said performing the song at this year's Barunga Festival was a highlight.

"Performing alongside Kia and Cyril and watching them shine on stage was a huge highlight of the Barunga Festival for me," he said.

"Through culture and creativity, we're showing our youth that their voices matter, their stories matter, and that together we can build something strong for the future."

K2 the B, whose real name is Kia Bush-Gordon, is 14 and from Wugularr (Beswick).

She recently returned home from school in Darwin and hopes to pursue a music career.

CJR, or Cyril Joshua Rankin, is 20 and from Barunga, balancing his love of music with playing Aussie rules for the Arnhem Crows.

The project was supported by Bagala Aboriginal Corporation, which earlier this year invited the Milla brothers to contribute to a Project Design Conference in Darwin.

The event focused on developing a $4.4 million Men's Wellness Centres program to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in Barunga and Wugularr (Beswick).

One of the first outcomes of the program was the song 'BARUNGA', written in collaboration with community members and inspired by the original Barunga Statement.

The track was performed live at the 2025 Barunga Festival with local artists K2 the B and CJR.

Bagala Aboriginal Corporation CEO Mr Steve Smith said the project connects the original message of the Barunga Statement with today's generation.

"The Barunga Statement has always carried the voices of our Elders, and its message is just as vital for young people today," he said.

"We want to breathe new life into it through music - a language that speaks directly to the youth of this generation."

Through its powerful message, the track passes on the legacy of the Barunga Statement while empowering young artists to lead through culture and creativity.