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Che Fu

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Che Fu
MNZM
Fu in 2009
Background information
Birth nameChe Kuo Eruera Ness[1]
Born1974 (age 49–50)
OriginAuckland, New Zealand
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • rapper
  • record producer
Years active1989–present
LabelsSony/BMG
WebsiteFacebook
Che Fu The Musician

Che Kuo Eruera Ness MNZM (born 1974), better known by his stage name Che Fu, is a New Zealand singer, songwriter and producer. A founding member of the band Supergroove, as a solo artist he has gone on to sell thousands of albums both in New Zealand and internationally. Che Fu is considered a pioneer of hip hop and Pasifika music in New Zealand.

Early life

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Miriama Rauhihi Ness, Fu's mother, 1977
Fu with Tigilau Ness, his father

Che Fu was born Che Ness in Auckland. His mother, Miriama Rauhihi Ness is of Māori descent and his father Tigilau Ness is Niuean. Fu's parents are well-known political activists, notably as members of the Polynesian-rights group, the Polynesian Panthers, and founding members of Rastafarian movement 12 Tribes of Israel.[2][3] Tigilau is a musician and part of the band Unity Pacific as well as his son's band, The Krates. The Ness family are Rastafarians.

Career

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Supergroove (1994–1996)

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While a student at Western Springs College, Fu and a group of friends formed the Low Down Dirty Blues Band,[4] who later became Supergroove.[5] Supergroove released their debut album Traction in 1994. The album went triple platinum in New Zealand and won five Tuis.[6] Before finishing their second album, Backspacer, Fu left Supergroove to pursue a solo career.[7]

Solo career (1996–1997)

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Fu was invited to record a single with well-known New Zealand DJ DLT. The song "Chains" protested French nuclear testing in the Pacific and was released in July 1996, within weeks of Fu leaving Supergroove. "Chains" was a Number One hit on the New Zealand Singles Charts and won three Tuis, namely Single of the year, Best male vocalist, and Best songwriter.[8] This marked the beginning of Fu's solo career and brought prominence to Hip Hop in New Zealand.

2b S.Pacific (1998–2000)

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In 1998 Fu released his debut album 2b S.Pacific. The album went double platinum and spawned four top-ten hits, which was unheard-of for a local hip hop artist at the time. The following year, he received the Single of the year award for Scene III.[9] Fu subsequently formed a band named The Krates for studio work and live performances. Paul Russell, previous drummer for Supergroove, is part of The Krates line-up.[10]

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Fu released his follow-up album Navigator in 2001, debuting at number one and generating triple platinum sales.[11] At the 2002 New Zealand Music Awards, Fu took home five tuis: Single of the year for "Fade Away", Album of the year, Top male vocalist, Best R&B / Hip hop album, and Best music video.[12] That same year, Fu received the APRA Silver Scroll for his single "Misty Frequencies".[13] He went on to win Best male vocalist in 2003 for "Misty Frequencies".[14]

Beneath the Radar and Hi-Score: The Best of Che Fu (2005–2007)

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Fu's next album Beneath the Radar was released in 2005, led out by singles "2D" and "Lightwork". However, the record was not as successful as previous works. The following year Fu released Hi-Score – The Best of Che Fu, a compilation of hit singles from his previous three albums including "Fade Away", "Waka" and "Without a Doubt", as well as four new singles.

Collaborations (2008)

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Fu teamed up with the Glass Packaging Forum to promote glass recycling with youth. The Forum hosted a competition for 9- to 15-year-olds to write rap lyrics encouraging recycling.[15] The winners recorded their lyrics with Fu in a single called "Do the krusher".[16]

Fu also collaborated with Kimbra and hip hop group Nesian Mystik on their top-ten single "Mr Mista".[17]

Hedlok (2010–2013)

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Che Fu & The Krates continued to tour New Zealand and Australia. As well, Fu performs alongside another hip hop legend, Samoan rapper King Kapisi as one-half of the group Hedlok.[18][non-primary source needed]

Lifetime Achievement Award (2014)

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Fu's contribution to New Zealand music was recognised when he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2014 Pacific Music Awards.[19]

Personal life

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In 2011, Fu and his father Tigilau were featured in a documentary for Māori TV in which they travelled to their homeland of Mutalau, Niue for the first time together. While in Niue, Fu married his long-time partner Angela McDonald.[20] Fu and his wife have four sons, Loxmyn, Marley, Jeru, and Kaselle, whom they are raising in the Rastafarian faith.[21]

Fu is also a serious sneaker collector. Fu developed his love for sneakers in 1989 when he purchased his first pair of Air Jordan IV.[22] Along with a few of his friends, including Dj Sir-vere, they created the PacHeat Crew and regularly organises the biggest sneaker swap meet events in New Zealand. One of his favourite sneakers is Air Jordan IV Retro Black Laser which he stated in New Zealand Sneakerhead Documentary 2021. [23]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Title Details Peak chart
positions 		Certifications
NZ[24]
1998 2b S.Pacific
  • Label: BMG
  • Catalogue: 74321 629922
 2
2001 Navigator
  • Label: Epic
 1
2005 Beneath the Radar
  • Label: Sony
  • Catalogue: 82876729632
 7

With Supergroove

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For a more comprehensive list, see Supergroove.
  • Traction (1994) BMG
  • Backspacer (1996) BMG
  • Postage (2003) BMG

Singles

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Year Single Peak chart
positions 		Album
NZ[24] AUS
[26]
1996 "Chains" (DLT feat. Che Fu) 1 - The True School / 2b S.Pacific
1997 "The Son" (Dam Native & Che Fu) 25 - Kaupapa Driven Rhymes Uplifted
1998 "Scene III" 4 - 2b S.Pacific
"Without a Doubt" / "Machine Talk" 1 -
1999 "Waka" 6 -
2001 "Fade Away..." 2 72 Navigator
"Random" 19 -
2002 "Misty Frequencies" 10 -
2003 "U Can't Resist Us" (King Kapisi feat. Che Fu) 9 - 2nd round Testament
2005 "2D" — - Beneath the Radar
2006 "Lightwork" — -
2006 "Spin 1" (Che Fu feat. Aaradhna) 20 - Hi-Score – The Best of Che Fu
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Honours and awards

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RIANZ Awards

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Year Award[28] Work As Result
1995 Album of the Year Traction Supergroove Won
Single of the Year "Can't Get Enough" Supergroove Nominated
1996 International Achievement Supergroove Nominated
1997 Single of the Year "Chains" DLT feat Che Fu Won
Best Male Vocalist "Chains" Won
Best Songwriter "Chains" Dl Thompson, C Ness, A McNaughton, K Rangihuna Won
1999 Single of the Year "Scene III" Che Fu Won
Album of the Year 2b S Pacific Nominated
Best Producer 2b S Pacific Che Fu & Andy Morton Nominated
2002 Album of the Year Navigator Che Fu Won
Single of the Year "Fade Away" Che Fu Won
Top Male Vocalist Navigator Che Fu Won
Best R&B/Hip Hop Album Navigator Che Fu Won
Best Songwriter "Fade Away" Che Fu Nominated
Best Cover Design "Fade Away" Che Fu and Kelvin Soh Nominated
2003 Single of the Year "Misty Frequencies" Che Fu Nominated
Best Male Vocalist "Misty Frequencies" Che Fu Won
Best Music Video "Misty Frequencies" Che Fu Won
Songwriter of the Year "Misty Frequencies" Che Fu Nominated
2006 Best Male Solo Artist Beneath the Radar Che Fu Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Gibson, Eloise (1 June 2009). "Music and business go together for 'Mr Fu'". New Zealand Herald.
  2. ^ Hewitson, Michele. "Religion more than dope, dreadlocks". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  3. ^ Russell, Nicola. "Che Fu remembers his roots". Sunday News. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  4. ^ "Che Fu – AudioCulture". audioculture.co.nz. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  5. ^ Fox, Michael. "Che Fu honoured in Auckland". Stuff. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  6. ^ "1995 Winners". New Zealand Music Awards. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  7. ^ "Che Fu fired up and ready to Supergroove". Sunday News. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  8. ^ "1997 Winners". New Zealand Music Awards. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  9. ^ "1999 Winners". New Zealand Music Awards. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  10. ^ "Eight bio". New Zealand Musicians & Bands. muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  11. ^ "Hi-Score: The best of Che Fu". Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  12. ^ "2002 Winners". New Zealand Music Awards. nzmusicawards.co.nz. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  13. ^ "Silver Scroll Award". APRA. apra.co.nz. Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  14. ^ "2003 Winners". New Zealand Music Awards. nzmusicawards.co.nz. Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  15. ^ "Pick It Up Youth Concert Promotes Recycling | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  16. ^ "Class Rap". Glass Packaging Forum. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  17. ^ "Che-Fu | Songs | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  18. ^ "Hedlok on Facebook". Hedlok. facebook.com. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  19. ^ "Lifetime Achievement Award announced". Pacific Music Awards. pacificmusicawards.org.nz. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  20. ^ "Sons from afar". Maoritelevision.com. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  21. ^ "Che Fu remembers his roots". Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  22. ^ "NZ Sneakerheads Documentary". YouTube. 11 June 2013.
  23. ^ "New Zealand Sneakerhead Documentary 2021". YouTube.
  24. ^ a b "CHE FU IN NEW ZEALAND CHARTS". charts.nz. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  25. ^ a b c "Gold and platinum New Zealand albums to 2013". Te Ara. Encyclopedia of NZ. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  26. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 55.
  27. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2009". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  28. ^ "NZMAs". nzmusicawards.co.nz. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
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