Misinformed NZ hip hop journalism cant be stopped (pity)

This is a response to this blog post as written by a long-serving local DJ, producer, hip hop musician and part-time contributor Exile

You blow your own horn. You have no idea how tough it is on the streets and where the origins of Hiphop began in NZ, this is apparent in your tone and use of poor gramatical structure for balance of opinion in your article to describe the feats that people have made as Hiphop artists in NZ. You have taken the easy path of discrimination towards a genre of music in NZ, namely hiphop.

Before Scribe and before Deceptikonz NZ had not accepted its own people to make a brand of hiphop that could be even be considered as influential, to the point where the multi nationalists companies are willing to put foward offers for marketing, promotions, advertising to help spread the fact that the Hiphop artists you refer to actually have talent thats good enough to carry itself both nation wide and world wide.

In terms of lyrical content, music is a form of expression and hard times exist on the streets of South Auckland, West Auckland, Central Auckland, East Auckland infact in all the impoverished suburbs of NZ, and this is reflected in the lyrical content, hiphop in NZ is not young indeed but the artist are, and infact as the artist grows then so does the demand for intelligence in the lyrical content as there are more and more hiphop artists raising the standards. Ladi 6, King Kaps, Sunshine Soundsystem, Coco Solid, Flowsion, Hayley J Hansell, Mikey Rockwell, Kolab, RockSolid DJs, the list is goes on.

I am not defending the artist you are refering to however I am stating that the artist that have come before me have laid a solid foundation for the Hiphop genre to evolve into concious hiphop like that of African American artist Common or Mosdef or even De la Soul or on more of a political stand point Paris or Public Enemy. It is a matter of maturation that is required of our artists that are going to be the next generation to join the hiphop scene.

Hiphop is not just a genre, Hiphop is a culture in NZ and has been that way since Kool Herc left Jamaica to reside in NYC.

In summary, rather then judging what you mostly see on T.V,what you hear on the commercial radio and making a poor effort to reveiw an album by the artists you refer to, look a little deeper because as you have fallen into the commercial trap yourself by making weak comments on how NZ hiphop is over.

Look into the NZ hiphop scene a little more closely and you will hear that it is thriving more so then ever.

Hiphop - Freedom of thought - EXILE 2009

Stop begging for hits on your site make better use of your time.

Manurewa perspective

For 15 years we have watched the little terrors (shits) on our block grow up into big pains in the arse!

Everynight we arrive home only to find a hoard of bored looking young teenagers all dressed in red colours with dark shades and branding their bandanas on their heads ( nappy heads ) or swinging the flags from their hip pockets...

Not detered from their hard stares as we get out of our vehicle to open our gates (right next to where they're standing)

Our gaze meets, give the head nod for recognition of our history as neighbours then proceed to drive our car in the gate.

I say history because when we see these "gangs" we remember back to our house being robbed, fences tagged on, dog teased, urinating through our fence, jumping our fence to take the dog on, leaving their empty bottles of alcohol where they stand after a night of ganster rapping outside our gate. (These raps that the young teenagers recite are direct insights into their futures and their history..."MUTHER FUCK THIS MUTHER FUCK THAT, I DONT GIVE A FUCK, HE DONT GIVE A FUCK"

We tell them where to go with their attitude and their rubbish, but in fear of retailiation on our mum or house whilst we are at work, we would rather increase security measures (leave multiple baseball bats hidden around the property, buy more dogs) and have the police on speed dial (not that dialing that number helps these days).

This is our everyday life in the heart of Manurewa Clendon South Auckland...where in the past 2 months 3 murders have taken place, three "P" labs have exploded and countless children try to take their lives by stepping out onto the street 'without noticing' the bus heading in their direction!

Gangs in the neighbourhood are becoming more and more noticable...more so then 10 years ago...who remembers the rise and fall of Bloods an Crips? why did this occurance happen and why did this occurance stop? And why is there now a resurgance from the youth towards Bloods and Crips?

Poor parenting? Poor education? Poor government? Or just plain poor?

For far too long gangs have driven good people who just try to live and let live out of the neighbourhood leaving only the Rats that infest and pollute our very environment. We are the only house on the block that is paid in full and we have no intention on moving.

In our fence line our sanctuary exists, however the screams of the house alarm sirens constantly remind us of our reality...

How many others are in this situation? What to do?

This what we have been doing for the past 15 years..

Keep your head up and be staunch, but smart enough to avoid confrontation...

If confrontation occurs...police dont do much except patrol the streets at the wrong times and in the wrong places...dont expect the police to be at the scene within the hour...by then who knows what can happen...

I say call your cousins...best friends...uncles...aunties, at that fact form a united front and take the fucks on!

After all is said and done at least you will have the satisfaction of letting them know that your not just gonna roll over...
I used to say "increase the peace" now it's "peace is what happens after war".

"Don't push me...cause i'm close to the edge...I'm trying not to lose my head"

(This was sent to me by south sider Exile - thanks for your awesome contribution e hoa)