Proudly Kiwi Owned

New Zealand hip hop is a growing industry, and with this it sends a strong messag of New Zealand identity. Many people blame teh hip hop indistry for gang related violnce within New Zealand but i take on a different perspective on New Zealand's hip hop scene, one which deviates fromthe norms of American aestheitcs. New Zealand hip hop artist show strong historical values tot heir ethnicity values and beliefs.
American hip hop aesthetics in musc videos involves graffiti, bling, booty an all forms of excess in life. This is more a modern take of hip hop as i realise in the beginning of hip hop it brought through different meanings and mesaages. Atrists such as Kanya West, Snoop Dogg and Akon (just to name a few) pride themselves on their earnings , material possesions and of course, ladies. New Zealand hip hop sends a message of the stuggles and hardships to succeed in such a small country and its industry. Che Fu sings about his music, his family and friends and all the memories they have experienced. His music videos are also a representations of this, he is surrounded by his friends as they sing about the importanceof music and what it means to them. No bootys ebing shaken, no bling blinding your eyes, just the pure love of the music. In Scribes break out song Stand Up with P.Money he could have opted for a music video with girls and bling and conform to the American standard, but instead he stayed true to the New Zealand image. As he breaks through into a club he surrounded by may other New Zealand artists who have contributed to making hip hop successfull. These bands includes P-Money, Nesian Mystic, Che Fu and the Decepticons. Scribe is remembering the roots that made New Zealand music what it is. The Decepticons is also a band that regularly goes back to their old villiages in Polynesia in their music videos.

New Zealand hip hop has put a good view and a respectable image on New Zealands hip hop identity. By staying true to their roots and being proud of what other artists have achieved they show that they do not conform to the Americanised way of aesthetisising hip hop. And i for one am proud that even though our counrty and industry isnt as big or commercialied as America we can stand our own and thus really call our hip hop music our own.