Che Fu

Che Ness MNZM (born 1974), better known by his stage name Che Fu, is a New Zealand hip hop, R&B and reggae artist, 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.

Che Fu MNZM
Fu in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Che Kuo Eruera Ness[1]
Born	1974 (age 46–47)
Origin	Auckland, New Zealand
Genres	Hip Hop Reggae Soul Funk
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Sony/BMG
Associated acts	Supergroove, DLT, Dam Native, King Kapisi, Aaradhna
Website	Facebook Che Fu The Musician

Early life

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

Supergroove (1994–1996)

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)

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)

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]

Navigator (2001–2003)

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)

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)

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)

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]

Lifetime Achievement Award (2014)

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

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. His favourite sneaker is Air Jordan IV Retro Black Laser.

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Title	Details	Peak chart positions	Certifications
			NZ[23]
1998	2b S.Pacific	Label: BMG Catalogue: 74321 629922	2	NZ: Platinum[24]
2001	Navigator	Label: Epic	1	NZ: Platinum[24]
2005	Beneath the Radar	Label: Sony Catalogue: 82876729632	7	NZ: Gold[24]

With Supergroove

• Traction (1994) BMG
• Backspacer (1996) BMG
• Postage (2003) BMG

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions	Album
		NZ[23]
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	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

• 2002 – APRA Silver Scroll Awards: Che Ness (Che Fu) and Godfrey de Grut, "Misty Frequencies"
• 2009 – Appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to music, in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours[25]
• 2014 – Pacific Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award

RIANZ Awards

Year	Award[26]	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

1. "Welcome". che-fu.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
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. "CHE FU IN NEW ZEALAND CHARTS". charts.nz. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
24. "Gold and platinum New Zealand albums to 2013". Te Ara. Encyclopedia of NZ. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
25. "Queen's Birthday honours list 2009". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
26. "NZMAs". nzmusicawards.co.nz. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.

External links

• AudioCulture profile
• Che Fu The Musician
• MusicBrainz Page
• Che Fu Instagram