姓名： Ermehn 英文名：- 性别：男 国籍：- 出生地：- 语言：- 生日：- 星座：- 身高：- 体重：-
Often referred to by modern urban NZ music contemporaries as 'The Godfather of South Auckland Hip Hop', he has opened doors for a lot of today's current generation of Hip Hop artists. Growing up in the New Zealand South Auckland suburb of Otara in the 1980's, he first got into rapping at high school not long after the craze of the new musical genre of Hip Hop itself had reached NZ shores. Known as 'Radio Backstab' in the late 80s, he and DJ Payback released the track 'Based On A Lost Cause' on the pioneering 'Proud' music compilation, preceding the historic 1994 Proud Tour of New Zealand.
The Otara music scene was hugely thriving at the time under the direction and influence of the late Phillip Fuemana, spearheaded by the success of his group "OMC" (Otara Millionaires Club), of which Ermehn was an original member alongside Phillips younger brother Pauly Fuemana, female vocalist Sina Saipaia and others. He was then added to the 'Deepgrooves' label roster in 1996 (licensed then by Sony and distributed through Festival), who two years later, released his debut solo album, and notably, South Auckland's first Hip Hop album, titled "Samoans Part II".
Produced and mixed by Andy 'Submariner' Morton, the album included well received singles such as "Don't be Late", "Stranded in the City" and the funky "Walls of Steel" which also featured 'Tha Feelstyle'. Other guests on the album included Manuel Bundy, DJ Sub Zero, Francis Harawira and Ermehn's cousin Marie Va'a. Ermehn's Samoan heritage is quite evident on this album, not only through the album's track content, but also by the album cover which depicted Mau leader Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III. It was a cultural influence that also translated into his live shows, gaining notoriety for playing live shows dressed in a lava lava while waving a machete over his head. South Auckland topics and issues are also covered in detail on the album, from the pressures of living amongst the neighborhood gangs and poverty to the devastating effect of the then active notorious South Auckland Rapist. In 2001, he was one of the team responsible for bringing the famous Los Angeles based Samoan (Blood's) Gangster Rap group "Boo Yaa Tribe" to New Zealand, which also lead to a collaboration with them on a song. It was around this time that his music's vivid and detailed observations of his gang affiliated surroundings gradually became a classic case of life imitating art when he found himself increasingly and directly immersed into the gang life himself.
Eventually patching up with the King Cobra gang for four years, his life quickly became a turbulent combination of gangs, violence, hustling, drugs and money; at the time, the gang was also at the forefront of establishing the 'P' methamphetamine trade in New Zealand, many years before it hit mainstream media headlines concerning the resulting epidemic. Numerous death threats, attempted drive-by shootings as well as a triad ordered hit on his life eventually woke him back to his senses; his life shook back into perspective, he bravely left the gang and accompanying lifestyle behind him. It also became the catalyst for some much delayed (and also much needed) creative expression; surveying the resulting aftermath in his personal life upon his exit, he realized that his passion and talent for music was still undiminished; his recent experiences still raw, he poured his (admittedly gang/ drug money attained) funds he had acquired from his former lifestyle into the recording of his second album, "The Path of Blood", widely recognized as New Zealand's first Gangster Rap album.
With a changed new mindset and a more positive lease on life, he decided to return to his hometown roots, initiating the recording of this second album at the Otara Music & Arts Centre (OMAC); however, the dark, explicit and violent nature of his work emanating out of the council run studio facility had centre management increasingly nervous, eventually forcing the project to relocate to and be completed at Manukau's "South Auckland Studios" under the production of Alan Togi, OMAC's head engineer. The album featured two well received singles; the first was the controversial "Bank Job", whose topic matter is self explanatory - robbing a bank to pay the bills. The dark, brooding single also had an accompanying Oscar Keightly directed music video which due to it's graphic violent nature could only be screened on TV after 9pm.
The second single, "Silver and Gold" featuring Cydel, was ingeniously released shortly after as the corresponding counterbalance; it's a much more positive track, whose content (and corresponding music video) confronts the aftermath of criminality where Ermehn talks of "lost souls" and fractured families, highlighting the very real need for positive change. Although the album as a whole is heavily laced with expletives and physically confrontational topics including gang fighting, shootings, tinny houses, crack whores, drug dealers and the like, it also possesses an element of escape and redemption that can be seen in tracks like "Better Place" and "Outside Looking In".
Once again with his story telling prowess to the fore, the album features many other prominent urban artists such as Tha Feelstyle, DJCXL, Savage Poets, Mr Sicc, 2face amongst others.
Despite the album proving to be quite a healing and therapeutic exercise for himself, Ermehn had very little expectation for an actual public release of it, originally planning to just sell it out of the boot of his car. However, his good friend Daryl Thompson (DLT) who had heard the album passed a copy on to Heart Music founder Malcolm Black - also conveniently the A&R Contractor for Sony BMG NZ. Black had already known Ermehn for about seven years, and upon liking what he heard, decided to work with him on refining the album for the next three years before Sony BMG officially released it in 2005.
After the album's release, mainstream media still tried to keep Ermehn attached to the old gangster stereotype that he had since moved on from, but by then quite used to the media hype and spin, he ignored the unwanted attention and continued to pursue new, more positive opportunities that had presented themselves in his career. In 2006, he established a security company (that he still currently runs and is a director of) based on the Hibiscus Coast called "Pride Security Ltd" which currently employs 40 employees; in addition to the usual bar work, he supplies security for music events such as Coromandel Gold, Big Day Out, Music Mountain and many others.
Having always been interested in various disciplines of martial arts, he still remains an active fighter himself who regularly fights in both New Zealand and Australia; in addition to this, he currently runs Hibiscus Coast MMA, training up and coming fighters as well as teaching kids self defense through anti Bully programs. Outside of the ring, he has also been promoting successful fight events since 2010 in both New Zealand and in Australia with the hugely popular 'King of the Doors' bouts; the Australian version is even currently being turned into a reality TV Show. His "Submission" Cage Fight shows have also proved to be hugely popular with well attended events in New Zealand.
His upcoming new album, titled "Trained to Kill", produced by Anonymouz, is currently in post production set for release and distribution in 2012. Having already released an old single off it back in 2008, the Chong-Nee featuring "I Love the Way", the new album includes a PNC assisted follow up single called "Stare and Whisper", as well as other tracks featuring the likes of Gangsta Ridd of Boo Yaa Tribe, Dei Hamo, Young Sid, The Movement and others. In addition to his own music, he also has upcoming work and collaborations lined up with Tiki Taane as well as work on a brand new OMC album.
Currently residing in Whangaparoa on Auckland's North Shore with his partner of 14 years Merisa, he also has three sons, Lukhan, Rhyme and Cash.
