William Florelle & Bahia - Make It Right

That 2nd track Make It Right is some cool, swirling sonic soup...

"William Florelle’s debut Two & Three EP on WotNot caused an impressive stir for a newcomer. His collaboration with Lua was a thick soup of bumpy jazz and soul-inflected tracks that earned him a 9/10 in DJ Mag, airplay on BBC 6Music and 1Xtra, coverage on Stamp The Wax, Bolting Bits and Ransom Note, as well as Resident Advisor track features for both of the remixes.

This new release, written and recorded at The Docks Studios (nestled in the Total Refreshment Centre), continues where he left off. However, this time William Florelle includes his own vocals, and Swedish vocalist Bahia (Zed Bias, EVM 128, Elliphant) lends an irresistible, sensual R&B edge to the tracks, leaving them finely perched between the underground and mainstream.

One of the artist’s best abilities is to distill his featured artists to their very best, while maintaining his own strong sense of style. FSG, or Feels So Good, opens with a murky swirl of Rhodes-like chords and a wash of vocals, launching into a bumping, sexy, half-time R&B roller, allowing Bahia’s singing to recall Erykah Badu while remaining undeniably Florellistic.

Make It Right’s sleazy guitar fills and wobbling keys betray the influence of Steve Lacy, with a lurching drum loop performed by Joe Wood from psyche-poppers Mellow Gang, creating a counterpoint to Bahia and Will’s tender vocals." Out now on WotNot.

Ring The Alarm playlist, July 20

DL Jones and DJ 2nd Nature  -Whoa Bobby
Bohannon - South African man
Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band - Do your thing
Darondo - My Momma and my Poppa
Preston Love - Cool ade
The Believers - Mr hot pants
Marva Whitney - I'm tired I'm tired I'm tired
Fred Wesley and the JBs - You can have Watergate but gimme some bucks and I'll be straight
Prince - Raspberry beret (12" version)
Man Parrish - Hip hop be bop
52nd Street - Cool as ice
Ballistic Bros - Prophecy reveal
George Faith - Turn back the hands of time
Joe Tex and U Black - Standardisation
Wrongtom meets Deemus J - Wa do dance

Jackie Mittoo - Stereo freeze

Dee Felice Trio - Nightingale

Music Inc - Abscretions

Bishop Norman Williams -  Billy's ballet

Mark de Clive Lowe and the Rotterdam Jazz Orchestra - Money (Don't let it catch ya)

The 100 Knights Orchestra - Soul fugue (Daptone's 100th 45)

Donnie Elbert - Sweet baby

El Michels Affair - Tearz

The Imports - I'm not ashamed of loving you

The Family Daptone - Hey brother

Manu Dibango - African pop session

Nathan Haines - Epiphany (Julien Dyne remix)

Aotearoa Hip Hop Summit 2002 report

Aotearoa Hip Hop Summit 2002 (4-5 October)

by Emma Philpott, NZ Musician, Vol. 10, No. 5, October/November 2002

A few days out from the third annual Aotearoa Hip Hop Summit, co-organiser  Phil Bell was looking a lot less concerned than he had been a month earlier.

Difficulties with finalising sponsorship deals and a late international act pull out meant that the Summit programme was printed only three weeks out from the 48 hour event on the first weekend of October. Of course that risked jeopardising ticket sales and after a year of planning Bell was anxious to see the event maximise its potential.

And succeed it did, Good weather finally blessed the third Aotearoa Hip Hop Summit and the DJs, b-boys, mcs, graffitists and curious were out in numbers at the Auckland Town Hall and Aotea Square. The weekend ran to schedule, looked flash (with the aid of prominent sponsors' product placement which also helped keep the ticket prices down), and it seemed that any wrinkles from previous years had been been smoothed out.

Organisers Bell (DJ Sir Vere) and Ali Toto estimated 2,000 headed to the ticketed events held on Friday and Saturday night - enough for them to cover costs and find some enthusiasm to start the process all over again! In every element of the event they saw an improvement on last year's (by no means shoddy) Summit.

"We had a better handle on production," says Bell. "It ran to time, had no blowouts. Now that we've got the event down, we can focus on things inside the formats. It always takes a few years to get it right."

Around 400 attended the free panel discussion - led by MC Anton Carter which again opened event as a whole. Carter observed what many were thinking, "We are watching the evolution of NZ hip hop."

International artists including British hip hop theatre performer Jonzio-D and USA b-boy Teel Steel enthused about NZ's scene, while sharing their own hip hop histories to an enthralled audience. The major message from all speakers was of dedication and focus with plenty of positive feedback about Aotearoa. Minnesota graffiti artist Ewok said, "Be happy with what you are doing. I'm impressed with the scene here - it's real dope - eons beyond what we're doing in the States".

When the panel was handed over to a group of local figureheads (P-Money, DJ Raw, and Dawn Raid's Brother D and Andy Murnane) they focused on the future development of the NZ scene. A spare seat was offerred to any female involved in hip hop who wanted to speak, but no-one took up on the invitation. The exodus at the end of the international section indicated that many were there for the stories rather than advice.

Friday night's 3 on 3 Invitational Battle saw eight local breaking crews judged by the international b-boys - an evolution from last year's breaker showcase. Held in the Town Hall this year, a couple of fixed cameras projecting onto a screen above the action ensured that attention was firmly to the front of the room! There were lines outside when the doors opened at 5:30, illustrating P-Money's popularity. 

Between b-boy battles (DJ Kerb providing the soundtrack), local groups took to the stage, including R.E.S., Ill Semantics (see story this issue) and closing act the Deceptikonz. The Quik & Easy crew from Auckland won a Playstation (the major sponsors for the event) and other sponsor goodies. Second placegetters Common Ground were the only South Island representatives.

Aotea Square was busy on Saturday, four local graffiti crews joining forces with internationals for the Disrupt The System live graffiti art show. Ninety metres of progressively covered ply panelling provided a bright backdrop for the outdoor stage showcasing up and coming performers R.E.S., Savage Poets, 3DESPMC's, Word Perfect Fresh Dialects and Hamofide.

A b-boy workshop took place on Saturday afternoon, local breakers taking advantage of the international guests' expertise. Throughout the event an exhibition in the Town Hall showed some outstanding canvas-based pieces by various artists, brought together by Summit co-organiser Elliott O'Donnell, who also launched his Disrupt The System graffiti art magazine over the weekend.

To the big event - Saturday night's ITF Final. This year veteran champion P-Money took a judging role, along with DJ Raw, and international guest DJs Apollo and Vinroc. Picked from regional finals held earlier this year, the nine finalists (recent DMC winner Alphabethead unfortunately had to pull out due to study commitments), all displayed fine turntable skills. 

After the preliminary rounds DJ CXL, DJ Shan, Goosh and The Abbot battled for a chance to play against first and second ranked DJs Manchoo and Mouli, Wellington's Goosh and The Abbot from Hastings getting through to the semis. Again it was Aucklanders Mouli and Manchoo who stood out, and the final battle saw Manchoo taking the title of NZ ITF champion 2002 and the winnings which include a trip to the ITF World Champs in Germany.

The all-ages night was interspersed with entertainment. P-Money's Dirty Records Showcase saw the 4 Corners mcs running around like madmen and ex-Sheelaroc mc Ladi6 spouting lyrical alongside the ever- entertaining Scribe. Wellington's Footsouljahs further encouraged the crowd prior to the final battle. Their turntablist, the esteemed DJ Raw, was later awarded a $5000 British Council Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement in NZ Hip Hop.

Closing international act (Apollo and Vinroc with mc Tajai from the Souls of Mischief) was, at best, on a par with the Kiwi performers seen over the weekend, which indicates the genuine strength of the locals.

"That's reflective of everything in NZ hip hop at the moment," says Ali Toto. "From the production to the ability of the crews, everything has stepped up. It feeds off itself - as the Summit gets better, the crews are better, making the Summit better."

Organisers spent "way more" on the international acts this year and say that the positive reports made back in the States by the likes of Ken Swift, who came last year, are invaluable. There was significant interest from the Australian hip hop community but as they consciously limited the number of performances this year, no slots were available.

Ticket prices were also deliberately kept low ($30 weekend pass), when, as the organisers observe, the Summit is really a $100 event. It is this issue which creates the need for substantial sponsor support and provided the major headache for Bell, who believes the funding situation will improve for next year. This is an invaluable event for the ongoing development of our phenomenal hip hop scene, so let's all hope that it does.

Ring The Alarm playlist, July 13

The Parliaments - Sgt Peppers lonely club band inst take 3
Roger and the Gypsys - Pass the hatchet
Irma Thomas - Don't mess with my man
Wild Magnolias - Soul soul soul
James Brown - Shoot your shot
Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band - The joker
The Impressions - Fool for you
Dusty Springfield - Stay awhile
Otis Redding - Hundreds and pounds
Mabel John - Running out
Staple Singers - Everyday people
Roy Ayers - Running away (12" version)
Gwen Guthrie - Getting hot (12" mix)
Sister Sledge - Thinking of you
Chaz Jankel - Whisper
Lee Scratch Perry - International broadcaster
Colm K - Dancing skulls
Farm Fresh Sound System - Roots once again (Max Rubadub mix)
Footsie - Cus cus (Footsie dub)
Junior Murvin - Cool out son
Toots and the Maytals -54-46 was my number
African Head Charge - Dobbyn joins the head charge
Trinity Roots - Just like you (Max Maxwell and Bluey version)
Salmonella Dub - Johnny (DLT remix feat Mighty Asterix)
Jules Issa - Dangerous game
Soul Sugar with Leo Carmichael - Never too much (discomix)
AceTones - Rolling like a trojan

Ring The Alarm playlist, July 6

Lord Echo - Sweetest meditation
Julien Dyne - Incredulous
Pitch Black - Soliton (Borrower and Lender remix)
Bjorn Torske - Dub vendors
Sade - Soldier of love
Charles Wright - Doing what comes naturally
Darondo - How I got over
Barbara Lynn - Don't be cruel
Edwin Starr - Who is the leader of the people
Chi-lites - Stoned out of my mind
Mr Clean and the Soul Inc - What's going on
Ike and Tina Turner - Can't you hear me callin'
Donny Hathaway - Come little children
Nina Simone - Work song
Sharon Jones and the Dapkings - Sail on
Mabel John - Running out
Jean Knight - Do me
The Dramatics - Get up and get down
Staple Singers - We the people
Sly and the Family Stone - Dynamite!
Ann Winley - Watchdog
The Lewis Express - Stomp your feet
Eric Boss - Closer to the spirit
African Vibration - Hinde (Julien Dyne rework)
Dengue Dengue Dengue - Semillero (Nicola Cruz remix)
Nicola Conte and Gianluca Petrella feat Bridgette Amofah - Imani river
Miles Davis and Robert Glasper feat Stevie Wonder - Right on brotha
Dee Felice Trio - Nightingale

Cyphanetik interview (2007)

Cyphanetik: Personal Triumph or Commercial Suicide

By Andrew Hughes (photography by Davinia Abbott), NZ Musician, December/January2007 (Vol:13, No:3)

We pretend it's cheating us at times, but life is real. Life allows the music to bleed through the speaker and inspire the mind with the energy provided by one artist in one studio. One man, one mic, one crew.

The Breakin Wreckwordz crew has maintained this kind of integrity throughout their time as New Zealand's underground kings over the past four years. With little glamour in their modus operandi, the collective have consistently delivered interestingly grimy, reality-driven music.

Jared Abbott, leader of Breakin Wreckwordz, is an experienced solo artist, established battle-MC and a member of Insomniacs and Oddballz. Abbott (aka Cyphanetik) has now come to the forefront with his own punchy, autobiographical debut album, knowingly titled 'Commercial Suicide'.

"Ever since I started seriously rapping I was always thinking like I was working on an album, but I just didn't have songs that I thought were good enough to be on an album," Cyphanetik states as we start the interview.

"It wasn't until the later period of recording that I started feeling comfortable with what I was doing."

Cyphanetik is his own worst critic. "I've got heaps of songs that didn't make it to the album, and I could have kept going if it was up to me. If I didn't feel like I had a responsibility to release it, due to people waiting on it, I probably would've kept going forever, thinking that (the content) wasn't good enough (for my debut album)."

Think James Gandolfini, but high expectations do help as Cyphanetik's first offering is incredibly cunning, witty and artful, whilst also angry, sadistic and personal at times.

His characteristic vocals project a thorough knowledge of style and technique, lounging with comfort over beats carved by artists Tommy Harmonics, Exile, Nate D, 22, Shadow Squad, 44 and Sam Thorne.

"Every track's different. I hear the beat, then try to visualize in my head what it's gonna sound like. With a lot of the (vocal) concepts, I make them up for tracks without having the beats yet. I was doing multi's (syllable-based rhymes) before I knew what it was, I just used to call it 'rhyming heaps of words'."

'Commercial Suicide' was recorded, mixed and mastered by Dan Mawby at Breakin Wreckwordz' own Bee Dub Studio's in Mt. Albert, Auckland. Mawby also produced the lead single Blaze Em.

The instrumental offers solid, slightly reverberated kicks, twitchy 808 rim shots, bells and vocal sample, making the beat minimal, yet effective and current. Enjoying positive feedback and generous airplay on Flava 96.1 in Auckland, the track's video has also graced television screens in recent months, a nice introduction to second single Rollin With Punches.

"We've just done the Rollin With Punches video actually. We got a video grant, so we got to use film and it looks flash. We filmed it in this massive deserted home in Grey Lynn which used to be a boys hostel. It's a performance video, so there's no story line, and it was directed by Tom Dreaver."

Cyphanetik's battle credentials are some of the most highly regarded in NZ history, standing alongside Mareko as a most daunting opponent to face. Although his title as the 2004 Boost Mobile Battle of Supremacy NZ Champion and his captaincy of the NZ team have gained him notoriety and respect, he insists the battle circuit is but a hobby.

"People have this strange idea that Battle MCs just sit there all day focusing on battles. Personally, I don't know any battle MCs who don't write songs, or haven't got into it through writing songs. I'd been writing, recording and performing songs live for two years before I'd even tried to freestyle and that was in 2000. I picked it up real quick 'cos I had heaps of rhymes, I'd just never really tried it."

'Commercial Suicide' highlights a broad selection of talented local artists including Breakin Wreckwordz' label-mates Usual Suspects, Louie Knuxx, Ethical, Red Eye Society, Tyson Tyler and producer Exile. Further approved craftsmen such as Mareko, Tyna & JB, Maia Rata, D Form and Jabawocki also have input on the album helping cohesion and continuity through the 15 tracks and 51 minutes.

Cyphanetik's ballsy attitude is prominent. An up-close look at the modern day creative, and a middle finger to the straight-laced, 'Commercial Suicide' is a devious and disobedient record, but more importantly, an honest authentic statement from one of our most talented wordsmiths.

"It's real easy to make love songs, or talk about true personal experiences, or how much you love that person and how beautiful they are but... your debut album tells a story from your birth to that point in time, and how much you truly present a realistic image of yourself is a test."

www.myspace.com/cyphanetik