The History of Rap Music in New Zealand

A “You Beauty Productions & Belmont Productions” FILM
WRITTEN BY Jody Lloyd

In the recent demolitions of earthquake damaged buildings in Christchurch many historical artefacts have been recovered from attics and walls. One such discovery was a very rare and previously unknown gramophone wax dubplate recording – the master recording.

When this recording appears on the desk of Christchurch University lecturer and linguistics expert Dr Geoff Matheson, he is inspired to explore the possibility that this could be the very first recording in the history of rap music, and perhaps even the first New Zealand recording.

What he discovers is a very convincing timeline of recordings and film footage dating as far back as 1926, right up ‘til 1973. The documentation suggests that the birthplace of rap music was not in the rough streets of New York City, but in the rural township of Invercargill, NZ.

The documentary treks all over NZ (and eventually to New York) in the search of the first New Zealand rappers. We discover a handful of unknown musical characters who seemed to be so unique, that they were predominantly ignored by the scenes of their time.

We meet family members of the deceased, ex-band members, familiar peer & inspired musicians and music industry & archival experts. In instances where known recordings have been lost, or never existed, new versions of the songs have been recreated by popular New Zealand musicians from the original sheet music.

This is the most intriguing historical documentary to come out of New Zealand since Peter Jackson’s ‘Forgotten Silver’.