When Hip Hop arrived in 1980s New Zealand, it was as if the small country had a cultural shock. In turn, appealing towards Pacific Islander communities (Maori, Polynesians, etc.). Urban areas such as Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Hamilton were filled with people of Pacifika Islander descent. Interestingly, the Pacifika Islander community gravitated toward the artform of Hip Hop. Breakdancing was perhaps the first aspect of the culture that got the Islanders on board. The rest of the pillars began to unravel and gave Islanders a new artform to express themselves. This lead to lineage of artists who were impacted by Hip Hop, by fusing their Pacifika Islander roots into a fresh perspective. One that led the gates for this artist to evolve and redefine what was possible for New Zealand music.

Hailing from South Auckland, New Zealand. John Chong-Nee is of Chinese, Samoan, and Maori descent. Got his start as one-half of the duo, AKA Brown, where they made a splash with the song, "Something I Need" in 1999. A, groundbreaking, big hit across the Urban Pacifika scene.

Years after working with artists and musicians. Chongnee would release his 1st album, Just Getting By On Love in 2006. The album proved to be successful with urban New Zealand audiences. He would then release a few more albums ranging his usual Urban Pacifika roots and a reggae album.

Frankly, an architect of the New Zealand urban contemporary scene. The best way to describe Chong-nee: What if someone trapped a Hawaiian Slack-key artist in a basement and forced them to listen to Jodeci the entire time in captivity?
Chong-nee's voice is a heavy baritone version of K-Ci Hailey but with a slight tint of Jaheim. Chong-nee is indeed a product of Hip Hop's impact on New Zealan, so there is a bunch of rapping and Hip Hop lingo sprinkled in for good measure (Ex. Thin Line)

In terms of soundscapes, the songs scream Rocket Power energy. Chong-nee really has vibes that evoke a skater and a surfer. Which ends up creating a Kiwi sound: Breezy, ambient synths and spatial, jeepish bass. Songs such as Something I Need, The Only One, and Never No More embody this philosophy. You can tell how Mid - Late 90s R&B/Hip Hop Soul influenced his music. The combination is why the sound was so groundbreaking to New Zealanders at the time.

Shout out to all my Pacific Islanders and New Zealanders, much love to all ya'll!

And happy Black Music Month, too!

Recommended Album
Just Getting by on Love
youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lALENfKb5_x6uY1vj2qEmqA5S-ZxdFEUk&si=TP_Ai81oo2wZV9uf

Examples

Similar Artists
Dei Hamo
Che Fu
Aaradhna
Moizna
Wiremu
Kartel

@xxxkiraxxx @Oblivion99 @BIGGWAVE @Sir_Swagalot @Ultimate_Warrior @CliCity @Jbreezyondeck

@HavenPB @degenwokemoralist @Brave

@knova @2words @Mac_Wit_Da_Cheese @tomonthekeys @Vox

@AudioConsulting @proper @Prosper @mdmadon

@xingu @Slingshot @slime_wrld @t3st1ng @lonny860

@BM_ @Impossible @SignedTwice @user_offlineforeve @ShinNohara

@GREEDISGOOD @Lord_Quas @SwilloLoubeaux @JR @JaeRell

@Heatwaves @carbonfiber @Hefstan

@Plight2 @spongebob @Experiment626

@Warren_Peace @Embezzle

@Throkaaa @Zoobooks @MikesVeryOwn @Cole2

@browser @Mastiff @Valentine @RVI

@TUNDRAIV @AvenueJones @Beach_kneega

@lightmagic @gnarlynasty @Ikki14 @Notmyfirst @NoFace @KIR @Adam

@Flaphead @Slapfiendd @BernieX @Mitchell

@twinkletoez @KILLACAM300 @9thWonderful

@mozumozu @Mac45 @heatwaves @hotpancakes @carbonfiber @johnmilton @ryuH

@Snowboy @Jim_Halpert_ @Malakas @GreedyFatApe @provider

@Elemental @offline @DownTheDrainPapi @Thread @NoGoodNamesLeft @atthepyramids

@sentient_sherm_bag @aauraa @Ron_James @Prince @Bushmanate @nightingalexo @SOLARIS

@lgbtq_God @rhinocerosbeetle

@yeezydude @thebham @ultima @keep_it_g @rano @faith

@dio @REALTALKMYNIGGA0 @Sloth @dawg

@jjthajuiceman @foreva @Itajime

@Garcon @celinee @Nas @Flubber

@vicesvotive @Shut @A_New_Impression @travis_24k @TuxedoMask

@PushaToThe @Water_Giver

In

my NZ brother @GALAXYZ

Happy Black Music Month fam!

Gonna check this in a few

Yeah this nice

I feel like I swear I've heard the 2nd song before but I'm almost certain I'm just mixing it up with sumn else similar

in

Aquilla exclusive

South Africa next

Need to check this out over the weekend

You real for this as someone that lives and grew up here

Lemme know if you got any questions

Where he at?