Can't stop hiphop: Aotearoa

Can't Stop by Jos Wheeler, photo of it by Grant Apiata

Jos Wheeler:  "I shot this image in 2000, the sign was on the corner of Ariki Street and Crummer Road, Grey Lynn. This neighbourhood spawned a huge amount of Aotearoa’s Hip Hop culture in the mid 90’s, from the FYM crew (DLT,DT,Opto…) , to Joint Force, True School Hip Hop, DLT/Che Fu, Dam Native, Tokin Village ( Che Fu, King Kapisi, Ras Dan, Phatmospheric, Juse, Submariner, Ned Ngatae, Manuel Bundy, Chip Mathews, Issac Tucker)…..the list goes on. A large chapter in what must be just around the corner, a book on the history of Aotearoa Hip Hop .

In 2003 I produced a limited edition run of 50 t-shirts with the whole image and the same year a cropped version with text was used as the entrance image for the The Dowse Art Museum’s ‘Respect’ exhibition.

There is also a back story to this image , the story of the one like graffiti artist Slope / MC Slopemist ( Son Of Upper Hutt Posse founding member Acid Dread), and a early morning stumble home:"I had a yellow oil pastel I found on the way home after a drunkin night on the piss lol aka drunken hits and I was super stoked you recognized this bro as it made it on the banners in wellington when we painted with the TB and SSS crew in Lowerhutt lol churr bro ‘ Slope, August 2014."

This artwork is part of a special fundraising show on today in Auckland, at the Blacknote Cafe, 223 Symond St from 2pm til late (also in Hamilton, and Wellington), details below...

"New Zealand hip hop and creative communities are uniting for Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, a major fundraiser across three cities *Sunday 10th August * (Lock it in your calendars.) Supporting a Wellington crew/family who lost their historic collection and personal belongings in a recent fire.

The simultaneous event at San Fran-Wellington, Black Note-Auckland and Studio 46-Hamilton is for residence: Sara "Spex" Tamati, Andrew "Kerb" Wright, Tim "Ceap" Bremner, Peter "Truce Lee" Whitinui and Khan "Khanage" Wright. 95% of their belongings were lost in a fire (Monday 23rd June) from a neighboring factory on Mansfield St, Wellington; which ripped through their upstairs flat.

Long time DJ’s, artists, b-boys, collaborators and archivists in the hip hop community, with collections of treasured original artwork, historical video footage, photos, vinyl, books, numerous priceless items. Records of over thirty years of local and international hip hop.

In response to this loss, and as a testament to what these people represent, an overwhelming number of top class performers and artists are stepping up for Can't Stop, Won't Stop to help raise money to get the four back on their feet."