Dope Beatz Straight Outta South Central (Auckland)

Thought it was time to do a post about hip hop in Aotearoa. This is not my area of expertise, so I'll stick to some stuff that I quite like.

NZ is just as swamped by American product as every other country in the world, and this situation certainly makes itself felt in the music created locally. What does make NZ hip hop unique however is our large Pasifika and Maori population (Auckland is the largest Polynesian city in the world), and these Polynesian cultural roots are heard strongly in urban music of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Beatrootz are a teenage Wellington group who bust onto the national stage this year with this song, No DJz, which reached Number 17 on the NZ charts. I find this tune difficult to remove from my head. Telling you "this is how we do it in Welly", its simple synth hook and melodic chorus is typical of a Polynesian hip hop/R'n'B style that has gained a following far wider than the regular youth market. And when the shout-out to the suburbs runs to "Strathmore, Berhampore, Newtown, Island Bay, P-Town, the Hutt, Lyall Bay, Kilbirnie..." you know you ain't rolling in Brooklyn or Watts no more, Toto.

Beatrootz - No DJz
From Supafresh II - Beatz Hot off the Grill: King SF102CD [Buy]

Beatrootz

Representing the "old school" of NZ Hip Hop, The Feelstyle is an MC with a track record as long as his arm (he was a contestant in the very first MC battle held in this country in the 80s). However it was only last year that he released his first full-length solo album Break it to Pieces. The album received critical rave reviews locally and overseas (including Straight No Chaser magazine in the UK), thanks in part to Feelstyle's unique bilingual (Samoan/English) rapping and great production by Auckland DJ Submariner (aka Andy Morton).

The track I've chosen is a tale about a NZ Samoan returning to his "homeland" in Samoa, and features a clavinet loop played by Mark de Clive-Lowe. As one might say, su'amalie (sweet!).

The Feelstyle - Going Home
From Break it to Pieces: Can't Stop Music 338132 [Buy]

The Feelstyle