L.A. based Samoan hip-hop group BOO-YAA T.R.I.B.E. say they are excited about coming to New Zealand to meet other
Polynesian hip-hop talent and experience the Samoan and Pacific cultures here.
BOO-YAA T.R.I.B.E. will be one of the main headline acts at the FRESHFEST to be held at the Auckland Town Hall on 30
June. BOO-YAA is considered by many to be the godfathers of the hip-hop genre, having started their careers with US
hip-hop icons Tupac and others in the 1980s and 1990s.
Ted "The Godfather" Devoux (lead singer, leader and organiser). Donald "Kobra" Devoux (choreographer and dancer), Danny
"Monster O" Devoux (bass and all round musician). Paul "The Riddler" Devoux (lead rapper and main lyricist), Vincent
"Foesom" Devoux (songwriter) and Va "Murder 1" Devoux (songwriter) - will all be visiting New Zealand for the first
time.
"We're looking forward to learning about another part of our Samoan culture and meeting our island people down there,"
say the brothers. "The hip-hop music in New Zealand is definitely evolving as well, and we'll be looking out for new
talent for our label 'Samoan Mafia Records'."
The group released their first album "New Funky Nation" in 1990. Their latest album "Samoan Mafia Lifestyle" was
released in October last year with Bayside Entertainment Distributors as part of a Halloween party release.
In recent years the brothers have worked with other high profile artists including Bone, Thugs'n'Harmony, Mary J. Blige
and Treach from Naughty by Nature. They have also produced two tracks on Tupac's latest album "Until The End of Time".
The close-knit brothers are all devoted family men who stay in regular contact with their parents and sister. Although
the brothers have had a small taste of New Zealand's hip-hop music, they're sure it will do well overseas if it's
marketed properly.
Their New Zealand trip is anticipated by many of Auckland's Samoan community. A special public welcome will be held at
the airport when they arrive next Wednesday morning (eta 0730 - 27 June). A Samoan fiafia or feast night has also been
organised by members of Mt Roskill's Samoan Congregational Christian Church as the brothers say they're "hanging out"
for some old-fashioned Samoan cooking. The brothers will also be touring several schools in South Auckland.
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