Che Fu
Encyclopedia
Che Fu MNZM
is a New Zealand Hip hop
/R&B and Reggae
recording artist and producer. Originally one part of the band Supergroove
, as a solo artist he has gone on to sell thousands of albums both in New Zealand
and internationally, including in Australia
and the UK.
's most successful male vocalists. He began his music career at Western Springs College
with a group of friends in forming the Low Down Dirty Blues Band, which went on to change their name to Supergroove
. While a member of Supergroove, Fu went by his birth name, Che Ness.
Supergroove's award-winning debut album Traction
went triple platinum in New Zealand. Supergroove struggled with the success of Traction, and soon altered their musical style. Follow-up EP Tractor introduced a heavy rock influence, and although Ness was still a band member, his interest in hip-hop and reggae was running against the evolution of Supergroove. Before recording their second and final album, Backspacer, Supergroove significantly altered their line-up. Ness was one of three casualties and turned his attentions to hip-hop.
One of Fu's early hip-hop shows was billed as "Che-Fu", a take on kung-fu. Although not originally intended as a new name to record under, it stuck. The hyphen seems to come and go - it is used on one of three album covers. Within weeks of leaving Supergroove, Fu was invited to record a single with DJ DLT
. The result, Chains, focussed on French nuclear tests in the South Pacific, and was a New Zealand number 1.
In 1998 Fu released his debut solo album 2b S.Pacific with BMG
. At the 1997 New Zealand Music Awards
he received the single of the year, songwriter of the year and male vocalist of the year awards. He then signed to Sony Music and began work for his next album Navigator
released in 2001. He also formed an eight piece live band called The Krates. 2005's Beneath the Radar
was led out by singles 2D and Lightwork. He has now released a Best Of album Hi-Score: The Best Of Che-Fu.
Fu is the son of Miriama, and one New Zealand's founding reggae
musicians, Unity Pacific (Tigilau Ness
). Tigilau is a full-blooded Niue
an who came from the village of Mutalau
. Fu is half Māori, half Niue
an. He and wife Angela McDonald have a son Loxmyn. Fu and Angela got married at Uluvehi, Mutalau
, Niue
on Thursday 28 April 2011, they have 4 sons.
In 2008, Fu teamed up with the Glass Packaging Forum to promote glass recycling with youth. They hosted a competition for 9 to 15 year olds to write rap lyrics to encourage recycling, and the winner would record their lyrics with Fu.
Solo
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
is a New Zealand Hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
/R&B and Reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
recording artist and producer. Originally one part of the band Supergroove
Supergroove
Supergroove is a New Zealand funk rock music group. Their debut album Traction was released in 1994. The group disbanded in 1997 but recently reformed in 2007.- History :...
, as a solo artist he has gone on to sell thousands of albums both in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and internationally, including in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the UK.
History
Fu is one of New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's most successful male vocalists. He began his music career at Western Springs College
Western Springs College
Western Springs College is a co-educational state secondary school in Auckland, New Zealand. It teaches students from years 9 to 13 and is located near both Western Springs Park and Auckland Zoo...
with a group of friends in forming the Low Down Dirty Blues Band, which went on to change their name to Supergroove
Supergroove
Supergroove is a New Zealand funk rock music group. Their debut album Traction was released in 1994. The group disbanded in 1997 but recently reformed in 2007.- History :...
. While a member of Supergroove, Fu went by his birth name, Che Ness.
Supergroove's award-winning debut album Traction
Traction (album)
Traction is the first album by New Zealand rock band Supergroove. It was released in 1994 by RCA Records, debuting at #1 on the National Album Charts and quickly reaching platinum status. Before the band could record their second album, creative differences forced member Che Ness to leave to...
went triple platinum in New Zealand. Supergroove struggled with the success of Traction, and soon altered their musical style. Follow-up EP Tractor introduced a heavy rock influence, and although Ness was still a band member, his interest in hip-hop and reggae was running against the evolution of Supergroove. Before recording their second and final album, Backspacer, Supergroove significantly altered their line-up. Ness was one of three casualties and turned his attentions to hip-hop.
One of Fu's early hip-hop shows was billed as "Che-Fu", a take on kung-fu. Although not originally intended as a new name to record under, it stuck. The hyphen seems to come and go - it is used on one of three album covers. Within weeks of leaving Supergroove, Fu was invited to record a single with DJ DLT
DLT (musician)
DLT is a New Zealand DJ, music producer, composer & artist. Born Darryl Thompson in Maraenui, New Zealand.DLT was inspired by an article about rap and breakdancing in Life magazine when he was 16 years of age; he moved to Wellington in the '80s and established himself as a graffiti artist known as...
. The result, Chains, focussed on French nuclear tests in the South Pacific, and was a New Zealand number 1.
In 1998 Fu released his debut solo album 2b S.Pacific with BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
. At the 1997 New Zealand Music Awards
New Zealand Music Awards
The New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups....
he received the single of the year, songwriter of the year and male vocalist of the year awards. He then signed to Sony Music and began work for his next album Navigator
Navigator (Che Fu album)
Navigator is an album released in 2002 by New Zealand hip-hop artist, Che Fu.-Track listing:#"Misty Frequencies" - 3.13#"Catch One" - 3.27#"Random" - 3.37#"Share the Info" 4.07#"The Abyss" - 4.02#"Interlude" - 1 0.18#"Top Floor " - 3.34...
released in 2001. He also formed an eight piece live band called The Krates. 2005's Beneath the Radar
Beneath the Radar
Beneath the Radar is an album released in 2005 by New Zealand hip-hop artist, Che Fu.-Track listing:#"Control Tower"#"Remember To Forget"#"D&D"#"2D"#"Flax Mat Theory"#"Lightwork"#"c-Fury"#"Mock Battle"#"Not That Special"#"Mysterious Vibe"...
was led out by singles 2D and Lightwork. He has now released a Best Of album Hi-Score: The Best Of Che-Fu.
Fu is the son of Miriama, and one New Zealand's founding reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
musicians, Unity Pacific (Tigilau Ness
Tigilau Ness
Tigilau Ness is a Niuean New Zealand activist and reggae artist, and performs as Unity Pacific.Ness is a political activist and first generation Pacific Island New Zealander.-Lifetime achievement award:...
). Tigilau is a full-blooded Niue
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
an who came from the village of Mutalau
Mutalau
Mutalau is a village on Niue, with a population of 133 as of the 2001 census. It was previously known as Ululauta and Matahefonua. Ululauta and Matahefonua both mean "head of the land". Mutalau is the most northern village on Niue...
. Fu is half Māori, half Niue
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
an. He and wife Angela McDonald have a son Loxmyn. Fu and Angela got married at Uluvehi, Mutalau
Mutalau
Mutalau is a village on Niue, with a population of 133 as of the 2001 census. It was previously known as Ululauta and Matahefonua. Ululauta and Matahefonua both mean "head of the land". Mutalau is the most northern village on Niue...
, Niue
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
on Thursday 28 April 2011, they have 4 sons.
In 2008, Fu teamed up with the Glass Packaging Forum to promote glass recycling with youth. They hosted a competition for 9 to 15 year olds to write rap lyrics to encourage recycling, and the winner would record their lyrics with Fu.
Awards
- 1997 New Zealand Music AwardsNew Zealand Music AwardsThe New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups....
- Winner of "Single of the Year", "Songwriter of the Year", and "Male Vocalist of the Year". - 2002 New Zealand Music AwardsNew Zealand Music AwardsThe New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups....
- Winner of "Top Male Vocalist", "R&B and Hip-Hop", "People's Choice Award", "Single of the Year" and "Album of the Year". - 2009 Member of the New Zealand Order of MeritNew Zealand Order of MeritThe New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
Albums
With Supergroove- Traction (1994)
- Postage - The Best Of (2003)
Solo
- 2b S.Pacific (1998)
- NavigatorNavigator (Che Fu album)Navigator is an album released in 2002 by New Zealand hip-hop artist, Che Fu.-Track listing:#"Misty Frequencies" - 3.13#"Catch One" - 3.27#"Random" - 3.37#"Share the Info" 4.07#"The Abyss" - 4.02#"Interlude" - 1 0.18#"Top Floor " - 3.34...
(2001) - Beneath the RadarBeneath the RadarBeneath the Radar is an album released in 2005 by New Zealand hip-hop artist, Che Fu.-Track listing:#"Control Tower"#"Remember To Forget"#"D&D"#"2D"#"Flax Mat Theory"#"Lightwork"#"c-Fury"#"Mock Battle"#"Not That Special"#"Mysterious Vibe"...
(2005) - Hi-Score - The Best Of Che FuHi-Score - The Best Of Che FuHi-Score - The Best Of Che Fu is the first hits collection released by New Zealand hip-hop/R&B male vocalist Che Fu. It features tracks taken from his 3 studio albums, plus 4 new recordings.-Tracklisting:# Chains [DLT feat...
(2006)