NZ Hip Hop Stand Up
RNZ Music and The Downlow Concept release a second season of NZ Hip Hop Stand Up from Monday 8 November. The new season continues on from the first award-winning series (Best Video at this year’s NZ Radio Awards) exploring the greatest songs released over the 30-year history of hip hop in Aotearoa.
Series 2 starts off in 1994 with ‘Hip Hop Holiday’ by 3 the Hard Way and ends in 2018 with ‘Set it Off’ by JessB, with directing duties shared by music industry insider and film director Chris Graham (The Panthers, Sione’s Wedding) and documentary director Sophie Musgrove (Dark Tourist, Taranaki Hard). Ladi6, Scribe and King Kapisi return as consultants for the series.
Director Sophie Musgrove says the series shows what an important contribution hip hop has made to the history, culture, and art of Aotearoa.
“We hear from NZ artists across different generations, backgrounds and cultures which allow us to connect to the social and political landscape of that time.”
“From New Zealand’s first hip hop song to go to number one on the charts through to the artist who decided to get into music when her netball career ended, the series continues to mine the incredible talent of Aotearoa hip hop from the last 30 years," says Producer Nigel McCulloch.
“Obviously anyone who loves Aotearoa hip hop is going to love this series but, because of the amazing talent responsible for the music and the inspirational stories they have to tell, NZ Hip Hop Stand Up is for more than just hip hop fans. What unites the many different and diverse stories across the series is that core concept of passion. People making music because they love it. And that’s a theme that is universal, whether you love hip hop or not.”
All seven episodes were released at rnz.co.nz/hiphop on Monday 8 November.
NZ Hip Hop Stand Up was made with the support of NZ On Air.