Out of all the posts on here relating to hiphop and hiphop culture, not one has seemed to refer to the specific culture of hiphop here in NZ. Admittedly there has been a decline in these artists and their popularity over the last three or four years but I still think it is interesting to look at them. Are they 'copycats' of the black hiphop culture, trying to buy into the commercialization and make money? Or do they have an identity specific to them?
I feel that NZ hiphop is vastly different to American hiphop and that NZ hiphop artists haven't ripped off American artists at all. For example, look at the issue of 'bling' that is so prevalent in US hiphop and rap culture. This doesn't seem to be an aspect of hiphop in NZ - just look at Scribe. Sure he wears the street clothes also popular in America, but there is no bling to be seen. Also, while music videos of US hiphop artists are (as already mentioned) full of half naked women, NZ hiphop videos (in general) aren't. Using Scribe as an example again, I'm sure you'll all remember that his videos were primarily focused on his relationship with his 'boys/bros'. The aspect of family, especially extended family, among Maori and Pacific Island NZers is something specific to our culture which has not been drawn from America.
I'm not denying that US music (and media in general) has a great impact on us and other cultures/countries. However, we should give ourselves more credit for the unique musical talent that we do have.... It's not all copied.
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