WHATS INTERESTING ON THE NET

Reviews:

Clash of the Titans: 25th July 2008 @ the Paramount

What a great movie and collective of Wellington hip hop heads in the mix. I've read a few reviews about this movie and personally, people just didn't get it. This movie is an insight to the battle enviornment aka the NZ 8 Mile....(but really raw). So if your looking for performances, clean lyrical content and songs....watch C4 or JuiceTV (local Aotearoa/New Zealand TV music shows). This is raw, straight freestyle, battle environment.

Not only do you get to see some of the battles and hear people battling face to face with each other but you also get an insight to the MC's themselves, how they prepare and what it means to them.

If you've ever wanted to enter a battle or see what's going on then check this doco. Keep in mind.....everything they're saying is coming straight out their mouths from off the top of their head...which mean no rehearsing or written rhymes.....straight off the dome and raw.....DOPE...

Click the picture above to check out the promo with Ray sa, and again check the clips by clicking on the pictures below:

 

by SpexOne

 

Rodney P Question and Answer workshop 25th August 2008 @ San Franciso Bath House.

 

I flew into Welli Monday morning only to find a group of my goodiest friends at Zeal doing hip-hop workshops with kids that is frequent weekly.

 What I noticed upon arrival was a whole buncha loud mouths not paying any attention at all (typical kids).  But anyway, after a crazyass Monday morning we gathered at good ol San Francisco bar where we were graced with the presence of Rodney P and Dj Skitz by way of a question & answer workshop.

I gotta admit, I haven't always been the biggest fan of UK hip-hop music but since hearing an untitled exclusive track by P-Money feat Rodney P I was keen to know more and go beyond from what I know off a "track".  A good turn out of locals managed to fill the spot a bit to get the down-low on the duo.  Many questions were asked from the why, who, what, where, when, how to the nitty gritty of the come up by staying on the grind and hustling! The word "hustle" seemed to be the key concept and motive which got everyone thinking how they can up the ante of their game and come out on top!

It was amazingly dope to get an insight of UK hip-hop music and aspects of the culture in itself (Yes! Rodney P & Skitz associated with other elements along the way, as we all do!).  All in all, the workshop was a good way to end such a crazyass Monday not only for my goodiest friends who were having a hard-time with the kids earlier, but for everyone else who were present. I think everyone enjoyed a dosage of an insight into hip-hop from the northern hemisphere.  The workshop was definitely a re-assurance that hip-hop is the reason as to why we are here and why we choose to associate with it.

by Adore

 

How Great Thou Art’ Graffiti art exhibition in MangereSouth Auckland by CENT ONE.

On Friday 22nd of August 2008 the South Auckland community of Mangere hosted a graffiti art exhibition at the Mangere Baptist Church.   Mangere is one of the most densely painted communities in Auckland of skilled colourful graffiti art pieces.  This is due to two brothers, Old school graffiti legend FINER and his younger brother BLES from the area, and their weekly painting habits, in representing FDKNS crew.  SAGE from FDKNS, also in the exhibition, paints a lot.

The pastor of the Mangere Baptist Church mentioned to FINER that he would be interested in having an exhibition of their art works.  This is not even their church.  Quickly, it was organised for a number of fellow graffiti artists, established and new, of mixed ages and backgrounds, male and female, basically, ‘friends’ to create new works for the exhibition, as presented by “SOUTH AUX BABY” (FINER and BLES).

 

Who needs months to plan something, when fresher art can be put together immediately.

As always, graffiti art exhibitions are a great way for graffiti artists to have experience in being involved in an art exhibition, in a often more comfortable environment, and a chance to be involved in all aspects of setting up an exhibition, from hanging art works to sorting out the food for the night.  Exhibition opening nights can be great for chance encounters with anyone who may have an interest in the art works.

The “HOW GREAT THOU ART” graffiti art exhibition featured art works from myself (CENT), FINER (FDKNS), BLES (FDKNS), SAGE (FDKNS), MR-E (FDKNS), FLURO (FDKNS), NELZ (FDKNS), INTRO (FDKNS), and others.

My pieces created for the show were two wooden boards, which join together, but are displayed separately, spraypainted and glossed.  I worked from visualising what I wanted to achieve, and once the visual entered my mind, I was then able to create the pieces.  The final pieces were different to the look I first imagined, however, they were better.  I wanted to submit something else for the exhibition, so I decided to go for a fun piece, because at the end of the day, it’s important to have fun.  I displayed a piece which was a blank bit of white cardboard, and some sharpie pens were provided.  I decorated the surrounds of this interactive piece called ‘Outeractive’ with a few photo’s of my previous graffiti art works, and attached a message from an old piece of clothing, saying ‘HIPHOP IS NOT A CRIME’.

In attendance on the opening night were friends and family, locals, and Rimoni Sagapolutele who is a brofessional photographer from Manurewa, came along to take photo’s, who is a friend.

The success of this show, should be inspiration for another soon.

Contact the author:   truehiphop@yahoo.com  

 

Review of Christchurch END Of The Weak MC Battle

  On Thursday 28th of August Christchurch hosted NZ's 1st 'End of the Weak' MC challenge. Started in New York in 2000, EOdub, is now internationally renowned and attracts some of the finest MC's from around the globe each year. Organised by Richie Rich a.k.a D.J Pause - EOdub hits NZ shores for the first time ever. There are 3 regional events - in Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland, as well as a national final to decide who will represent NZ in the world EOdub finals held in london around october. In contrast to traditional MC battles EOdub offers a refreshing and positive new format of showcasing all the diverse skills an MC can possess.

Contestants compete in 5 rounds -

1st Round – Written Verse – 60 seconds over music of competitors choice
2nd Round – Acapella Verse – 60 seconds over no music
3rd Round – Freestyle Bag – Competitor uses 3 random objects in a freestyle verse
4th Round – Beat Juggling – Competitor must rock with the DJ over 3 random beats
5th Round – Cypha Skills – 2 competitors go back and forth for 4 bars each, 3 times.

Christchurch kicked off the first regional EOdub MC challenge at Double Happy on Cashel Street. Home to NZ battle for supremacy champion - Jay Roacher, this event definitely lived up to expectations of being closely contested and delivering an overall high standard of performance. The MC's competing on the night were - Orakle, Relik, Basic 1, Jay Roacher, and Seka. The first two rounds gave the MC's the chance to perform material they had rehearsed and were familiar with. The MC's that shined expressed their rhymes with clearness and intensity, as well as remembering all their lines, one MC was eliminated - unfortunate for Relik, and 4 MC's moved on to the final 3 rounds.

The 3rd and 4th rounds were by far the most entertaining, with the freestyle bag testing the MC's wit, relevance and freestyle lyrical ability. Orakle and Jay Roacher definitely steeped up to the task, pulling out items such as a poker set and the yellow pages, they both managed some classic lines, as well as showing consistent flow over a changing beat in round 4.Although Seka produced strong perfomances in the first two rounds, Jay Roacher and Orakle were judged the two best overall MC's on the night, and will represent Grymeworks and Christchurch in the national finals.

Overall EOdub or 'End of the Weak' proved to be a highly entertaining night, a good introduction for those unfamiliar with the art of MCing, and a succesful format which could lead to a greater exposure of the local underground Hip Hop scene.

Auckland and Wellington reviews in next home page update....