Underground Hip Hop

[incredible_holc]

oh its great once you get to know it, it really is

 

[Southernsaint]

Cool. The Kiwi Hip-Hop I've heard always sounds over-produced IMO, but that's probably just me. Just feel like they're always trying to impress someone else rather than "staying true" to where they're from.

It's totally different to how the Kiwis I know are in real life, so proud of NZ.

I want to hear shout outs to Lion Red, Tana Umanga, Waitangi or whatever - y'kmow, let me know it's "New Zealand Hip Hop, stand The f**k Up", rather than stuff that could be from anywhere...

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

SS- I think you're being a bit short-sighted. Perhaps you're failing to see the correlation between "American-style" production and "good" production. The two can coexist at times. New Zealand rappers (and I'm most familiar with the ones on radio, probably the ones you know) invariably do refer to realistic NZ subjects, NZ pop-culture references etc, within the framework of quality beats and lyricism. If that makes it sound American to you, well, that's a pity. I also think it's pretty ridiculous to think that all New Zealanders have this NZ-centric point of view, and are constantly thinking about drinking Lion Red or whatever. You'd probably find that most of the rappers actually use what you might call Americanised slang in their daily lexicon.

 

[Southernsaint]

SS- I think you're being a bit short-sighted. Perhaps you're failing to see the correlation between "American-style" production and "good" production. The two can coexist at times. New Zealand rappers (and I'm most familiar with the ones on radio, probably the ones you know) invariably do refer to realistic NZ subjects, NZ pop-culture references etc, within the framework of quality beats and lyricism. If that makes it sound American to you, well, that's a pity. I also think it's pretty ridiculous to think that all New Zealanders have this NZ-centric point of view, and are constantly thinking about drinking Lion Red or whatever. You'd probably find that most of the rappers actually use what you might call Americanised slang in their daily lexicon.

Excellent post, TH.

I am actually glad that Aussie & NZ Hip-Hop are different beasts because variety is the spice of life & I guess that if you're one or the other you'll prefer your own. For example, The Herd are Aussie & they're my faves & their style is way different to anything I've heard from Kiwi-land (put me right if you know different).

I didn't mean that NZ rappers had to be 100% "Pure NZ" AKA the the Tourism ads, but, and i know there are talented rappers in NZ, it's be a shame if all thoe ones that "made it" only made it because they ditched what made them different from your standard rappers & crews from Anywhere.

PS: So glad that my "accent" gee up has stimulated some debate ;-)

PPS: Get Scribe to release a rap calling Helen Clark a merkin!!

 

[CC_Eagle]

The only hip hop I can tolerate is Aussie hip hop. Mainly because they aren't going on about how rich they are etc etc like all the American wankers do.

The Herd - 77% is one of the greatest songs ever.

Couldn't agree more. Anyone who can incorporate a CityRail slogan from the 80's into a rap must have some talent!! 77% is brilliant too...

CC, what other Aussie rap are you into?? 2 Up, Downsyde, Koolism, TZU are all excellent.

At least Aussie crews rap in their own accent, unlike the blokes across the Tasman ;-)

I hate rap.. ;-)

BUT I can tolerate Aussie hip hop. Especially when the songs have the same messages as 77%. And I dunno, like The Herd they have a band playing behind the rap. Which is a nice change to the usual mobile phone ringtone that all the yanks seem to use.

 

[DJ Raida]

the herd are awesome

stats of transit rocks

 

[Collateral]

Has anyone heard anything by The Game? He is very good. Westcoast Gangster style rap though a lot like NWA and Tupac. He obviously gets a lot of inspiration from them as he came from the same place and raps about them a fair bit.

 

[incredible_holc]

Scribe talks about Canterbury quite a bit, listen to 'theme from the crusader'

andrew merhtens and the mauger brothers even get a run

 

[Cee_em_bee]

Difference between Aussie and Nz hiphop is that Aussie hiphop was largely inspired by th 90s boombap NY era, alot of the Aussie artist are converted writers too.. back then hiphop was alot more sacred then it is now.. people used to get casted out from the scene for having a "commercial" sound.

Nz hiphop is more inspired the rnb, wu tang, tupac kind of era and the influences clearly show up in their music..

btw.. Dei Hamo and Fast Crew suck balls, but Frontline and Deceptikons easily pick up their slack.

 

[Collateral]

I hate aussie hip hop....it seems so empty

 

[Cee_em_bee]

I hate aussie hip hop....it seems so empty

How much have you heard to actually judge it? Triple J usually plays the more gimmicky tracks (2up, The Herd, Downsyde) It's really hard to get a decent taste of what Aussie hiphop has to offer since its so f**king hard to get a hold of.

 

[Manurewa_Marlins]

I liked that comment about influences. Yep, NZ hip hop has been influenced by more recent persona ala Wutang, 2Pac, Canibus etc. That shit about patriotism....haha listen to the Mareko album, Breakingwreckowrdz album, Scribe album, Alphrisk album, Deceptikonz album, RES album, Footsouljahz album, these guys constantly, and I mean in nearly every line, talk about their lives. Hell, Mareko dedicated a whole track to his bus ride to work (City Line) from South Auckland to the City.


Oh and the dude who mentioned the Game......he sucks balls. The Cali version of 50 Cent. Nuff said.

 

[Cee_em_bee]

I liked that comment about influences. Yep, NZ hip hop has been influenced by more recent persona ala Wutang, 2Pac, Canibus etc. That sh*t about patriotism....haha listen to the Mareko album, Breakingwreckowrdz album, Scribe album, Alphrisk album, Deceptikonz album, RES album, Footsouljahz album, these guys constantly, and I mean in nearly every line, talk about their lives. Hell, Mareko dedicated a whole track to his bus ride to work (City Line) from South Auckland to the City.


Oh and the dude who mentioned the Game......he sucks balls. The Cali version of 50 Cent. Nuff said.

Did you watch that documentary on Aoteroa hiphop? It was on repeat at about 4am on channel 2 last night and I think it was initially aired about 4 months ago.

And yeah, the Game is wack.. anything remotely affiliated with G unit is f**king wack.