Pump Up D'Angelo

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Internet

2011-08-10T09:52:00.000+12:00

‎"When you cut facilities, slash jobs, abuse power, discriminate, drive people into deeper poverty and shoot people dead whilst refusing to provide answers or justice, the people will rise up and express their anger and frustration if you refuse to hear their cries. A riot is the language of the unheard."~ Martin Luther King, Jr ~Someone posted the above on their Facebook page, a 'copy n paste'

Passport scammer Gerry Otimi 'preyed on vulnerable'

2011-07-30T09:45:00.002+12:00

Since I've posted previously about my run ins with Gerry (Gerald) Otimi I thought it only fair I update you on his most recent court case. The following is via the NZ Herald website: Passport scammer 'preyed on vulnerable'By Edward Gay5:30 AM Saturday Jul 30, 2011 Gerard Otimi (left) appears in court yesterday with supporter Akarana Rewi. Otimi charged overstayers $500 for a worthless

The Rock Steady Crew and The Megazoids

2011-05-10T13:50:00.002+12:00

Roger Perry posted this clip on his Facebook page and it took me straight back to the early 80s when Hip Hop was all about B-Boys and B-Girls, and not Gangsta Bust-A-Cap In Yo Ass Biitch. The RSC were the most famous NYC rappers (internationally at least) and therefore role models for many in New Zealand. Anyway, seeing this clip reminded me of the time I secured a deal whereby the #1 NZ

Shazam!

2011-04-11T13:46:00.013+12:00

Shazam! was an 80s TV show that played pop music and screened midweek, in the afternoon... about 5pm from memory? It was a simple format: play some music videos and chat to which ever pop star was visiting that week. If there were no international artists in town they'd talk to a local, who invariably had a new single and video to push. For local musicians one midweek screening on Shazam! and

No, I didn't really shag a sheep...

2011-04-08T17:32:00.001+12:00

this is a column I wrote in the late 90s for Rip It Up (v2) - double click on the image to read it (double click again or use the magnifying glass icon to bring it to full size)

Don't mess with Dei Hamo!

2011-02-21T22:27:00.001+13:00

I've long been a fan of Sonny Sagala, now performing under the name "Dei Hamo'. Like me he's been around NZ Hip Hop since the 80s, so it was only natural we would become Facebook friends a year or two back. Over that time with both cracked a few jokes on eachothers posts, but today I went too far. Result? He deleted me! To be honest, I was little stunned by his (IMO) over-reaction; but at the

FEAR OF A SLACK PLANET ~ first published in SWERVE Magazine, September 1994

2010-02-23T14:33:00.000+13:00

FEAR OF A SLACK PLANET a Public Enemy interview/story, first published in SWERVE Magazine, September 1994… It was quite a shock meeting Public Enemy in person two years ago. Flavor Flav was bouncing off the walls, bug-eyed, and making no sense at all. I thought at the time that he was definitely on something but PE was so vehemently anti-drugs I dismissed that idea. He

YO NICK (originally published March 1995 in Swerve magazine)

2010-02-23T13:24:00.001+13:00

YO NICK (originally published March 1995 in Swerve magazine) Be they serious or inane, Nick D’Angelo answers your queries and responds to your opinions. If you have a burning question that needs answering - or just want to get something off your chest, write to Yo Nick, PO Box [redacted], Dominion Rd, Auckland 1003. Keep your letters brief and to the point - we reserves the right to edit for

PUMP UP D’ANGELO – originally published OCT 1995

2010-02-18T06:58:00.008+13:00

PUMP UP D’ANGELO – originally published October 1995 “It’s been a long time, I shouldn’t have left you - without a strong rhyme to step to” Ah yes, the immortal words of Rakim… what can I say other than: “It’s good to be back!” It’s been 18 months to the day since my last column, although the good folk at Rip It Up have been kind enough to tide me over with Mo’ Better Beats. We can’t

Pauly Fuemana- NZ Hip Hop Pioneer - RIP

2010-02-01T02:52:00.003+13:00

On January 31, 2010, Pauly Fuemana, aged 40, died after a short illness, surrounded by his wife, children, and family. He'll be missed by everyone involved in NZ Hip Hop, and remembered for putting us on the world stage. I won't bore you with specific dates and times (it's all true tho' forgive me if my memory fudges a little), but my favourite Pauly Fuemana story goes a liddle sumpin' like this:

"Should a smack, as part of good parental protection, be a criminal offence in New Zealand?"

2009-08-20T17:38:00.004+12:00

"Should a smack, as part of good parental protection, be a criminal offence in New Zealand?"That's the Referendum question we have to answer by the end of the week. I've already given my answer: I ticked the box "NO" and sent it off as soon as I got it (the voting slip mailed to me). To me the question was pretty simple, and I'm amazed at how the Anti Smacking Brigade keep trying to claim the

Beat Street - The Movie

2009-07-22T11:21:00.005+12:00

C4 is screening the movie Beat Street tonight, and I can't wait. For anyone into B-Boy culture (rap music, breakdancing, and graffiti) back in the early 80's then you'll know just how important it was. It reflected the lifestyle we were living (as best we could half way around the world), like no other. Sure, there was 1979's The Warriors but even back then we knew it was bit silly - no real gang

My Meeting With Michael Jackson

2009-07-09T23:49:00.001+12:00

No, not me actually. On the Facebook group Old School NZ Hip HopI asked if anyone had any memories of Michael Jackson. Jon Davis (DJ/Promoter) sent me this email:Jon Davis 08 July at 20:24 Meeting Michael Jackson I was lucky enough to be working for Sony Music NZ in 1996 and unlike Australian Sony Staff (or Annie Crummer) he deigned to meet 10 of us working Sony grunts. We were herded into a

A Last Word About Gerry Otimi (I promise!)

2009-06-23T16:04:00.001+12:00

The Gerry Otimi story seems to have died in the media (even though today the Police came to his house and took him back to the station for a 'voluntary interview') and that's fine by me. I've unburdened myself (twice) of the angst I've been carrying for 25 years. Some have asked 'why is it such a big deal?' and I guess it's not. To anyone but me.My main beef is that Gerry attacked me personally,

Gerry Otimi Was Taking People's Money 25 Years Ago

2009-06-20T01:14:00.000+12:00

In yesterday's blog I discussed how I came to cross paths with Gerry Otimi, currently in the news for what the media are calling 'an immigration scam'. Today I will explain how Gerry took money for Breakdance contests way back in 1984, claimed it was all for the kids, but the kids never seemed to see much of it themselves.25 years ago I was running the nation's first Breakdance contests at

Gerrard Otimi - I knew him first!!

2009-06-19T17:03:00.001+12:00

From Gerry Otimi 19/06/09 1:30 PM Gerrard Otimi was the top story on the Evening news on both TV networks last night, when it emerged he was the man charging Pacific Island overstayers $500 to stamp their Passports to give them New Zealand citizenship - thereby allowing them to stay in this country. Well, that's what they thought he was doing but Gerry says otherwise. He says he was merely '

PUMP UP D’ANGELO – originally published OCT 1995

1995-10-01T06:59:00.002+13:00

PUMP UP D’ANGELO – originally published October 1995 in Rip It Up magazine “It’s been a long time, I shouldn’t have left you - without a strong rhyme to step to” Ah yes, the immortal words of Rakim… what can I say other than: “It’s good to be back!” It’s been 18 months to the day since my last column, although the good folk at Rip It Up have been kind enough to tide me over with Mo’ Better