Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Hip Hop Voices 1: Meet the Kingpin

15 Responses

  • Simon Grigg,

    Great piece Russell, I remember it well and we actually quoted a few pieces from it in the first OMC bio we sent around the world in 1996.

    The Proud album was actually released on a label called Second Nature which was a joint venture between Volition and Alan Jansson, although - even though Enterprise Otara committed some funds - it was mostly funded by Alan, to the tune of almost a year's studio evenings. It was released in NZ via EMI and in Oz by Sony.

    Phil later rang Alan (I was there) to apologise for the "sanitised" words. They hurt at the time given the amount of work and sweat that been expended. And the input Phil had had in the way parts of Proud sounded - which was not insubstantial.

    And Leo - thank you :)

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • bob daktari,

    your amplifier link is to the Herald - relevant article but not the Proud Comp

    great article cheers

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 540 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to bob daktari,

    your amplifier link is to the Herald – relevant article but not the Proud Comp

    Oops! Thanks. Fixed now.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    Phil later rang Alan (I was there) to apologise for the “sanitised” words. They hurt at the time given the amount of work and sweat that been expended. And the input Phil had had in the way parts of Proud sounded – which was not insubstantial.

    Yeah, I recall some upset from Tim Mahon too. But Tim gets to tell his story in a post later this week ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Attachment

    The cover story (thanks Gio) is about where the whitebread people should send their kids, while your piece is about where they *don't*.

    Nicely symmetrical, but they should headline the schools piece: Pasifica, Merci, mais non

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    The cover story (thanks Gio) is about where the whitebread people should send their kids, while your piece is about where they *don’t*.

    Can’t deny that. But I should point out that Simon Wilson was delighted about having my story in the issue that the entire eastern suburbs buys.

    The other thing that occurs to me is that at least the tables are based on NCEA results – which reflect the actual curriculum. Unlike national standards.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    Great piece Russell, I remember it well and we actually quoted a few pieces from it in the first OMC bio we sent around the world in 1996.

    My small part in NZ pop music's greatest victory ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Jackie Clark,

    I'd like to know more about the early Christchurch hiphop scene that my brother was involved in with Beats n Pieces. A shame I wasn't more interested in what he was doing at the time. Oh well.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    Attachment

    To be fair too, there was loads of hip-hop happening in both South and West Auckland before Proud, and most of it had strong Polynesian roots - like the extended Three The Hard Way posse, based Henderson/Te Atatu, who were NZ hip-hop's first superstars (with a Top 20 hit in Australia no less).

    The first Ak Hip Hop comp was Ak89 - In Love with these Rhymes, released on cassette by Nick D'Angelo. I'd love a copy but even he seems not to have it.

    Some of it was ok too in places, although derivative, but some was really funny - albeit not always intentionally ( ^^ Total Effect circa 1989).

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    To be fair too, there was loads of hip-hop happening in both South and West Auckland before Proud, and most of it had strong Polynesian roots – like the extended Three The Hard Way posse, based Henderson/Te Atatu, who were NZ hip-hop’s first superstars (with a Top 20 hit in Australia no le

    Ha! In the little bit of interview with Tom Scott I have lined up to publish, he says that the first Auckland hip hop he was aware of was ... Three the Hard Way. And that all he knew about them was that they were "superstars".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to Russell Brown,

    And that all he knew about them was that they were "superstars".

    And the only NZ hip-hop act to have a number one single a decade after the first. Their second knocked Scribe off the top. They liked the irony in that: the old skool strikes back...

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • chris,

    Fascinating reading Russell, looking forward to number 2.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report

  • Simon Wilson at Metro,

    So, Rich of Observationz, how richly ironic - if you don't mind my saying so - that when we publish a story about academic achievement in schools, people like you jump at the chance to parade your own ignorance. Clearly, reading the article is too much to ask (poor schooling there, Rich?), but couldn't you even have looked at the pictures? You see that girl on the right, on our cover? She goes to a decile 1 school in Otahuhu. Where they're getting results you would expect of a decile 7-8 school. We named that school the best in Auckland. Second was a decile 7 school; third, a decile 3 school; fourth, decile 4... Why? Because unlike all the league tables that look just at the bald results, we analyse the data to reveal how well each school is increasing its students' chances of achieving. Our feature isn't about where "whitebread people should send their kids". It's about the enormous range between schools that are raising up their students academically, and those that letting them down. It shows that you'll find that range within all the decile groups, and it suggests very clearly that while "decile" might be an indicator of likely results in general, It is a very unreliable guide for parents wanting to know how well any given school will serve their kids. And yes, as Russell says, I was very pleased to publish his piece in our Schools issue. As I was to publish Amberleigh Jack's terrifically brave and compelling story about her experiences with eating disorders (and other illnesses) and psychiatric care. There are no contradictions here: Metro is a magazine for a complicated, stimulating city. We probably have some readers who feel smug about their privilege, and yes, speaking personally I do find that unpleasant. But at least it's an honest expression of who they are. What's your smugness based on, Rich? Have you made a conscious decision to be stupid?

    Auckland • Since Jun 2012 • 1 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Have you made a conscious decision to be stupid?

    Like I said on CIF a while ago, it's a crowded field.

    I don't know whether to be worried or impressed that a busy magazine editor has the time to write 326 words in response to a casual jibe on a blog.

    Anyways, sorry if I offended you. I don't read Metro because I don't live in Auckland - I do remember having read some good stuff. Your cover shot and straplines said to me 'smart looking kids in uniform' and I didn't really look further.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    From Radio NZ today, Nick Bollinger interviews Alan Jansson about the making of Proud, and the legacy:

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/essentialnzalbums/audio/2528477/proud-an-urban-pacific-streetsoul-compilation.asx

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

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