This section is to give a run down of what's going on in the Aotearoa hip hop scene, the happening trends and not so happening trends as according to ME.
B BOYING
HYPE 09 - Hamilton
Saturday 23rd May
Claudelands Event Centre
800 Heaphy Terrace
Hamilton City
DJ BIG SPELL
MC CRITTER
JUDGES :
Popping: FUTURE / ARE-K
Breaking: SWERV / RUSH / TBC..
10am - Popping Workshop with FUTURE
11.30am - Bboy & Bgirl Workshop with RUSH (Australia) 2hours.
3 - 5pm
1on1 Bgirl BATTLES
$300 1st prize
$150 2nd
1on1 Popping BATTLES
$300 1st prize
$150 2nd
6 - 9pm
Bboy & Bgirl CREW BATTLES
$1500 1st prize
$750 2nd
This event is a part of the Waikato Winter Festival so is gona be alot of stuff happening all day.
Performers get free entrance to the whole festival which includes the workshops.
General admission is $12 Adults , $6 Childrento register : freeflowcrew@hotmail.com
Gambler Crew visiting Aoteaora
When do you ever get an top international crew visiting Aotearoa....um in the 90's. And then for them to run a free workshop and showcase.....ummm never!!
So before going the event I can honestly say I knew very little about the Gambler crew from South Korea. I knew and had seen Bruce Lee break but that's about it. I had heard through many B boys that this crew was dope and I have to say they were impressive.
So the event started with a workshop run by the crew. This was interesting for many reasons....1- only 1 person could speak English, 2 - there were like 8 members of the crew there and 3 - everyone was at different levels (ie there were bboys/bgirls, urban street dancers, non dancers and family members alike).
However Gambler crew got it together and put people in groups, beginners, footwork, power and then into 8 groups with one of the members as a teacher.
I was in the footwork group. It seemed like we were taught a set and then was to perform it on stage afterwards.....ummm scary. This actually was pretty cool even though I couldn't do most of the routine (due to lack of flexibility and everything). However those that did get it, made it look good.
(Click on the picture to take you through to their website)
After the workshop was a showcase. That was kind of unbelievable. It was like watching a dance circus. Honestly man those boys can fly and they have a long tight routine. Some of their dancing was kind of sloppy with much dropping hard and not holding some freezes and sloppy foundations but overall really entertaining. To support them, there were heaps of hip hop/urban dance groups. That started out okay but then after a while all the moves just started looking the same.....Wellington B boy/ B Girl crew Voltron repped support as well which was dope.
Props to B boy Violet for organising and doing a mean MC hosting job...
60 Years of Soles and Stripes - Wellington Addias showcase 01st of May 2009.
Many of these opening tend to have performances and those performances are usually male. When people think of DJ's or Breakers they're not usually thinking of women, and not just any women but women with skill.
Click on photos to take you through to the local about town website Snap Star and click on the picture of B Girls Juanita and Silas below to check out the Snap Star TV footage
DJING
DJ Kase the Archives Vol 1
Brother Kase has been around the scene for a wee minute now....while being a nice dude the guy has always put out some good production and beats. He has now collected some dope artists together and made a mixtape of some of the goodness..... click on the picture above to talk to Kase about getting the free download or if you wanna check out what Kase has to say or wanna speak to the man himself click here to check out his blog
MCING
Pacific hip hop artists making some noise.....
The finalists for the 2009 S³ Pacific Music Awards were officially announced on 16 April, The finalists were for the following categories: Radio 531pi Best Pacific Group, Pacific Blue Best Pacific Female Artist, NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist, APRA Best Pacific Song, Best Pacific Gospel Album and S³ Best Pacific Music Album.
Miss Ladi 6 and Nesian Mystik is a finalist in 4 catergories. Other hip hop actis that are finalists are Horsemen Family, Devolo and Mareko......Congratulations
Click here to take you through to the South Pacific Music website to see the catergories and finalists in those areas and/or click on the pictures below to take you through to these artist wesites:
Ladi 6
Nesian Mystik
Devolo
Mareko
Percieve - Woah
This is a cool video. Props to Precieve for being able to get out there and do this. Click on the picture above to check out the new vid and click here to take you through to his blog and keep updated with what's going on with his music.
Review of the Violator MC Battle in Wellington
It had been a while since Wellington had been graced with an MC battle and though there were alot of MC's that apparently were not entering we were graced with Wellingtons various levels of competencies in freestyling and battling from crap to dope.
The judges were Bionix, Shotclock and I'm not sure who the other was. Competitors were Tyna, Tuone, some guy from Porirua, Infinite, Halfcast, Lowkey and I think that was it.
Prizes were 1st will recieve 100 Free CDs pressed by Amstore & $100 Bar Tab or $100 Cash plus New Era Cap , 2nd will be a $50 Bar Tab + 50Cds Pressed courtesy of Amstore , 3rd will be a $25 Bar Tab as well as the winner getting an invite to the prominent Wellington MC invite battle, Clash of the Titans.
There were some real low lights of the night but what was awesome was that the crowd were super duper vocal so any chokes, pauses or mistakes the crowd let ya know no matter who the MC. Another lowlight for me was some of djing after the battle was over. For some of us non smokers, wanting to hear some dope hip hop after a battle is a must, however playing Souljah Boy really didn't cut it for me....come on DJ's
One major highlight of the night was definately Tyna vs Lowkey. It was expected that Tyna would do well even though he hasn't been in the MC comp realm for a wee while now. However, Lowkey really brought the fire making the semi final more like a final.
Other highlights were Infinite, Halfcast and especially the consistancy and on pointess of the winner of the night Tuone.
Madd props to Xhale for organising this, on the whole it was a dope night with a real good turnout of Welli peeps.
Wanna know more about this event click on the picture above to take you through to MC Xhale's contact details
GRAFFITI
Phat 1 TMD on dope website
Check out this pretty dope website that promotes superheroes in their own communities. I love this idea and think that every area, town, city, community should have an environment where you can praise the people doing good work in your area/community.
Click on the picture below then go ahead and start making your own.....choice
Graf pix of peeps around Aotearoa
A2B - Auckland
Finer - FDKNS Auckland
Hip hop resources
Instead of doing an interview this change over we thought it would be useful to know some of the ressouces that you can have access to here at our homebase Development Resource Centre.
Development Resource Centre (click here to go to the website) is Aotearoa New Zealand’s specialist information and education centre on international development and global issues. They have a mean as library and in it they have a huge collection of hip hop books, DVDs as well as information about global eduation for youth.
Also available are books with activities on how to use hip hop as a youth development tool. So for any of you hip hop participatants wanting to get more great activities using your skills....seriously check out the library right here.
Oh and did I say that it was FREE to sign up....
Aite here's the hip hop resources but really come check it out...
1. Wellington magazine takes Kiwi hip hop to the world
Abstract: Article about Aotearoa's hip hop magazine, Back 2 Basics. Quotes from Wellington artists.
2. Makin' It : The Hip Hop Guide To Survival - Book
Abstract: A manual utilising young peoples interests in Hip Hop as the basis for developing life skills. Covers a wide range of topics from career planning to community involvement.
3. Stand & deliver : political activism, leadership and Hip Hop culture - Book
Abstract: Rather than getting bogged down in sensational proclamations, apolitical assumptions or uninformed hip-hop activist conjecture, the author meaningfully advances the discussion of the hip-hop generation and its politics. This book carefully hones in on arguably the most important space for American youth today and in particular African American youth: the proving ground where hip-hop, politics, and social change meet. This is a thoughtful, passionate, and wholly original book which analyses the relationship between hip-hop culture and real-life political activism.
4. The Next : an impression of Hip Hop expression - Book
Abstract: These papers provide a background for the development of the Next Project. They are useful as a concise introduction to the origins and emergence of Hip Hop culture in Aotearoa New Zealand. They also provide an overview of Aotearoa Hip Hop - as seen by the Hip Hop community and young people. 'from a Hip Hop participant's point of view' This is the main body of research carried out by a recognised participant in the Aotearoa NZ Hip Hop community, and looks at clearly and accurately representing the views, values and ideas of the community.
5. Constant elevation : the rise of Bay Area Hip-Hop activism - Book
Abstract: The term 'Hip-Hop Activism' describes a new generation's movement for social change, and nowhere is that movement more vibrant than here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Young people are transforming philanthropy, the arts, community organizing, popular education and youth development by using hip-hop culture as a means toward developing political consciousness and stimulating progressive social change. By shining a spotlight on some of the country's most innovative programs and thinkers, this interactive briefing is designed to capture the ideas and energy of this vibrant, nationally emerging movement. This briefing is part of a national discussion first started in New York City at the Open Society Institute in July to explore dynamics ways to engage young people in the political process. Come hear and see how youth programs in the Bay Area are bringing together civic participation and culture to impact their schools, neighborhoods and community centers.
6. Flipping the script : critical thinking in a Hip Hop world - DVD
Abstract: This resource is a ground breaking curriculum designed to empower educators and engage students around the exciting theme of Hip Hop. These materials encourage students to peel back layers, move beyond the media's narrow representation of the music and the culture and explore Hip Hop's connections to writing, history, politics, economics, health and more. [Back of DVD and video]
7. Hip hop music in Aotearoa - book
Abstract: This book follows the development of Hip Hop music in Aotearoa New Zealand from the fringe to the mainstream of popular culture
8. Letter to the president : 'the streets get political..." DVD
Abstract: This film takes a look at a variety of issues affecting the urban community including the Crack Conspiracy, censorship, racial profiling, police brutality, poverty, prison fro profit and the NYPD Hip Hop Task Force. By exploration of rebel music with a cause, it examines the role that Hip Hop culture has played in the Black Civil Rights Movement in the USA.
9. The Art of struggle - Article
Abstract: Young Chilean hip-hop artists are using their creativity as a form of protest and share their experiences with Argentine social organisations. The artists are fighting for spaces for their cultural activities such as music and poetry and graffiti. Break dancing, emcee's, DJ's and graffiti artists are all branches of hip-hop according to members of the Hip-Hop Activist Network of Chile as well as activism. The group aims to address those young people suffering from common problems such as unemployment, poor access to education and drug and alcohol addiction. The Network operates without government financial assistance.
10. Can't stop won't stop : a history of the hip-hop generation - Book
Abstract: Forged in the fires of the Bronx and Kingston, Jamaica, hip-hop became the Esperanto of youth rebellion and a generation-defining movement. In a post-civil rights era defined by deindustrialization and globalization, hip-hop crystallized a multiracial, polycultural generation's worldview, and transformed American politics and culture. But that epic story has never been told with this kind of breadth, insight, and style. Based on original interviews with DJs, b-boys, rappers, graffiti writers, activists, and gang members, with unforgettable portraits of many of hip-hop's forebears, founders, and mavericks, including DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Chuck D, and Ice Cube, Can't Stop Won't Stop chronicles the events, the ideas, the music, and the art that marked the hip-hop generation's rise from the ashes of the 60's into the new millennium. Here is a powerful cultural and social history of the end of the American century, and a provocative look into the new world that the hip-hop generation created.
11. Total chaos : the art and aesthetics of hip-hop - Book
Abstract: Jeff Chang presents a stunning and incisive look at hip-hop in the voices of those most intimately involved—prominent artists, writers, musicians, and performers who consider not simply where hip-hop has been but where it's going.
12. Why white kids love hip-hop : wankstas, wiggers, wannabes and the new reality of race in America - Book
Abstract: Kitwana addresses uncomfortable truths about America's level of comfort with black people, challenging preconceived notions of race. With this brave tour de force, Bakari Kitwana takes his place alongside the greatest African American intellectuals of the past decades.
13. Favela rising : a film by Jeff Zimbalist and Matt Mochary - Film
Abstract: This film documents life in a Brazilian squatter settlement. Haunted by the murders of his family and many of his friends, Anderson Sa is a former drugs-trafficker who turns social revolutionary in Rio de Janeiro's most feared slum. Through hip-hop music, the rhythms of the street and Afro-Brazilian dance he rallies his community to counteract the violent oppression enforced by teenage drug armies and sustained by corrupt police. At the dawn of liberation, just as collective mobility is overcoming all odds and Anderson's grassroots Afro Reggae movement is at the height of success, a tragic accident threatens to silence the movement forever.
14. 5 sides of a coin – DVD
Abstract: Exploding the myth that Hip-Hop is merely "Rap music", this film provides and overview of the international culture of Hip-Hop. This documentary presents Hip-Hop culture for what it really is: it's origins, diaspora and the five basic elements that help to define it. Today Hip-Hop is a world-wide phenomenon, a multi-billion dollar industry and is a distinguished and socially relevant culture. This film documents a journey that spans generations and continents, weaving together interviews and ideologies, never losing track of the pulsing beat.
15. Global perspectives: a journey of identity through Hip Hop - CD ROM
Abstract: This Global Perspectives Activity CD provides activities that engage participants in a more detailed and personal exploration of the global perspectives that can be discovered within a study of the Hip Hop genre. Global Perspectives can also be used as a companion for the high quality multimedia resource The Next, also produced by the Global Education Centre. The activities include printable worksheets, external links and activity cards to help guide the research and exploration processes, and additional information is also provided via links within the CD itself.
16. Hip-Hop: beyond beats & rhymes DVD
This documentary provides a riveting examination of manhood, sexism, and homophobia in hip-hop culture. The director conceived the documentary as a "loving critique" of a number of disturbing trends in the world of rap music. He pays tribute to hip-hop while challenging the rap music industry to take responsibility for glamorizing destructive, deeply conservative stereotypes of manhood. The documentary features revealing interviews about masculinity and sexism with rappers such as Mos Def, Fat Joe, Chuck D, Jadakiss, and Busta Rhymes, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, and cultural commentators such as Michael Eric Dyson and Beverly Guy-Shetfall.
