For NZ Music Month, we're asking local musicians to tell us about the New Zealand songs they love the most. Today, Auckland-based rapper Spycc - who's also part of the impressive SWIDT collective - details five of his favourites from R.E.S, Goodshirt, Scribe, Katchafire and Dragon.
Photo: Supplied
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R.E.S – Bad Muthafuckaz
This, in my opinion, is the hardest song to ever come out of New Zealand. It's closely trailed by Mr Sicc’s tune Ear to The Street. The raps delivered from J1, Tek Swift & Venomus are too unfuckwitable on this. Just the whole energy and vibe behind it was strong from start to finish. This song was cool too, because they shouted out all the neighbourhoods and boroughs in Auckland. A true testament to their brilliance is just the amount of respect and accolades these guys still get to this day.
Not even being bias or nothing, but I reckon R.E.S were the best to ever touch the mic on home soil. Being the OG’s from our hood, it’s always made us proud of the way they carried the Onehunga flag.
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Goodshirt – Sophie
I had no idea Goodshirt was from New Zealand when I first heard Sophie. Such a good tune man. I used to bump this when I was having a break from bumping hardcore rap. I really feel like they could have released it today and it would still cut through. It’s definitely got those timeless vibes. Not to mention they shot one of the illest videos for it. Simple concept, but they executed it perfectly.
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Scribe - Not Many (The Remix)
“How many dudes you know roll like this? Not many, if any”.
These lyrics transcended the urban realms that hip-hop predominantly lived in out here. People who don’t even listen to hip hop know these lyrics off by heart. I don’t think anyone in the local hip hop scene has ever had a wave like Scribe. Everything he was releasing at the time just seemed to connect.
You can’t front on that line-up either, from the raps to the production. I remember David Dalals telling me that he had only been rappin’ for a little bit when he recorded his verse. How crazy is that? It’s one of the illest verses ever delivered by someone from our home soil.
This song was truly revolutionary to me. I felt like it really broke through in a time for me when the majority of the music I listened to wasn’t local. I’m just stoked that I was of an age where I got to witness the impact it had.
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Katchafire – Seriously
The replay value of this tune is infinite. I don’t think anything but good vibes could ever come about from playing this. I feel like if someone had played this song to Tre (from Boyz N the Hood) right after he got harassed by those crooked cops, he wouldn’t have swung wildly into the air at Brandi’s crib making himself look like a busta.
I still remember the first time I heard this song. I was at my broseph Ketchup’s crib having a lazy few when he played it. We probably played it back to back at least 10 times right after that. It’s one of the best drunk sing-a-long tunes ever.
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Dragon – April Sun in Cuba
I used to play Double Dragon religiously when I was growing up. So when I found out that the song my Mum would bump on the regular was made by a group called Dragon, I took an instant liking. The hook goes too hard man. I always wanted to do the whole drunk group sing-a-long thing to this at the Trident in Onehunga. Still hasn’t happened yet, but it will. This song always reminds me of summer and my family being really happy. Good times.
Follow Spycc on Facebook and Soundcloud.
