NZ Hip Hop Stand Up

Season 2

NZ HIP HOP STAND UP season 2 continues on from Season 1 of exploring the greatest songs released over the 30 year history of hip hop in Aotearoa.

Season 2 starts off in 1994 with ‘Hip Hop Holiday’ by Three the Hard Way and ends in 2018 with ‘Set it Off’ by JessB. We have the major players in Aotearoa’s Hip Hop back again to discuss these tracks and share their valuable knowledge and memories.

It is a celebration of an art form that has helped shape our country and musical heritage, featuring interviews with over 30 artists from across the 30 year history of Aotearoa hip hop. These artists share their stories about their songs, their experiences and the positive effects of Hip Hop in communities all around Aotearoa. Which, in turn, created role models for many young New Zealanders searching for a culture that resonated with them.

In Season 2, Episode 2 and 3 are directed by Chris Graham and the rest is directed by Sophie Musgrove.

Chris is responsible for some of the most well-known and ground breaking music videos New Zealand has produced for artists like Scribe, King Kapisi, Dei Hamo, Smashproof and Home Brew. “Having been involved in the visual arts of hip hop for the last 30 years, it was important for me to do justice to the creative breadth of the culture spanning the three generations and unpack how they view each other’s eras of music. But what actually ended up being the most surprising and humbling part was the amazing stories these artist shared about their 2 lives and these songs that have touched our hearts, and shaped the unique sound that is specifically hip hop from Aotearoa.”

Sophie has had a very intrepid career as a documentary director. Her breadth of experience and knowledge across both technical and production sides of the industry makes her a huge asset on set. Her open personality and disarming approach gets the best out of people on both sides of the camera, allowing for moments of true authenticity.

“I think the most interesting aspect of the series is the themes raised in each episode and how they’re still relevant today,” says producer Nigel McCulloch of The Down Low Concept, “issues like Māori and Pacific representation, colonialism, racism, class divisions and sexism are all still very much part of the current cultural landscape and some of these artists have been talking, and rapping, about them for decades.”

The series boasts an enviable line up of consultants, three of the biggest names in Aotearoa hip hop in Ladi 6, Scribe and King Kapisi. ‘I have a very strong cultural roots connection to my home of Samoa. I decided that the difference between me and most rappers was going to be that I would represent my hood, my country that I’m from. So I make South Pacific Hip Hop.’ – King Kapisi.

Season 1

NZ Hip Hop Stand Up is a new video series about New Zealand hip hop. Featuring Scribe, Ladi6, Church & AP and more, each episode features a different track from Aotearoa hip hop's 30-year history.

Starting in 1988 with ‘E Tū’ by Upper Hutt Posse and ending in 2019 with ‘Ready or Not’ by teen sensations Church & AP, we talk to all the major players involved in some of the most influential and loved tracks this country has ever produced.

They share the stories behind their songs, their life experiences and the positive effects hip hop has had in communities all around Aotearoa, which, in turn, created role models for many young New Zealanders searching for a culture that resonated with them.

Each episode features a different influential track, with artists of all generations discussing it’s importance and relevance to New Zealand and the landscape of NZ hip hop. 

The series is directed by Chris Graham, who’s responsible for some of the most well-known and groundbreaking music videos in New Zealand, for artists like Scribe, King Kapisi, Dei Hamo, Smashproof and Home Brew.

NZ Hip Hop Stand Up was made possible by the RNZ/NZ On Air Innovation Fund.