Hard News by Russell Brown

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 :)

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

great article cheers

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

Oops! Thanks. Fixed now.

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 ...

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

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.

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 ...

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.

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).

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".

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...

Fascinating reading Russell, looking forward to number 2.

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?

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.

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