A new podcast series is examining the rich history of New Zealand’s hip hop scene from 1980 to 2015.
Titled Aotearoa Hip Hop: The Music, The People, The History, the two-season podcast series will devle into the country’s deep hip hop history, using archival data and more than 100 interviews.
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Season one, which premiered on rova today, has six episodes and spans the years 1980 to 1996, beginning with DJ Tony ‘Teepee’ Pene’s hidden narrative and finishing with Che Fu’s solo career.
It will be available on all other streaming platforms on November 21.
The second season of the podcast will cover 1996 to 2015, and will be released in 2022.
The podcast series is hosted by Phil Bell O.N.Z.M. – AKA DJ Sir-Vere – who speaks to a variety of people who have been involved in the scene over the years.
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The 11 episodes comprise over 100 interviews, ranging from early ’80s pioneers importing beats to lauded rapper Scribe shattering records and transforming the face of the music industry.
It features commentary from Kiwi musicians and creatives including: Che FU, David Dallas, Dawn Raid, DLT, Decepticonz, Dei Hamo, Emcee Lucia, Ladi 6, K’Lee, Mareko, Mark de Clive Lowe, Manuel Bundy, P Money, Savage, Scribe, Sisters Underground, Slave, Tom Scott and many more.
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In a press statement, the creators of the podcast said: “We hear first hand about Hollywood A-listers running underage clubs on Symonds Street and the first hip-hop radio shows that inspired a young Che Fu.
“We follow OMC’s road to world domination, Christchurch rappers dealing with white supremacist skinheads, Dawn Raid’s origins hustling T-Shirts at the Otara markets, the first Hip Hop Summits, and Scribe breaking records and changing the face of the music industry.
“It’s an epic journey, told by the people who were there.”
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For more information about the podcast, follow them on Instagram here.
Aneesa Ahmed is Mixmag’s Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter
