Proud (compilation)
| Proud: An Urban-Pacific Streetsoul Compilation | |
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| Compilation album by Various | |
| Released | May 2, 1994 |
| Recorded | Uptown Studios, Freemans Bay, Auckland |
| Genre | Hip hop, R&B |
| Label | Second Nature, Volition Records |
| Producer | Alan Jansson |
Proud: An Urban Pacific Streetsoul Compilation is a 1994 New Zealand hip hop and R&B compilation album. It was released in New Zealand by Second Nature Records and in Australia by Volition Records, and later rereleased in New Zealand by Huh! Records in 2000. Proud has been described as "one of the most important NZ releases in the past decades" by New Zealand music industry figure Simon Grigg.
The album had its origins with the work of record producer Alan Jansson. In his Freemans Bay recording studio, Uptown Studios, he was impressed with the young hip hop and R&B acts from South and West Auckland who were recording at the studio, and the initial success of the resulting singles. Encouraged by Andrew Penhallow of Australian label Volition Records, Jansson started work on a compilation album to showcase the new musical talent of Auckland.
While the album was based around hip hop and R&B music, Jansson's production emphasised the Pacific sounds of the songs - log drumming, ukuleles and 'Maori strumming', though some performers felt their songs did not sound American enough. Breaking from the urban styles of the rest of the album, the final two tracks featured acoustic log drumming ("Pacific Beats") and an a cappella version of the New Zealand national anthem. The resulting album was received well in both New Zealand and Australia.
In 1994, Phil Fuemana organised the national Proud tour, in order to promote the acts featured on the album. Fuemana described it as "like a modern version of Motown – taking the talent and travelling around the country with it." The tour included the Otara Millionaires Club (and singer Sina) and Sisters Underground. The tour lost money, but boosted the profile of the featured acts.
The main breakout act from Proud was the Otara Millionaires Club. The following year, as the OMC, Pauly Fuemana had a worldwide hit single with "How Bizarre". Hip hop duo Sisters Underground had two tracks on the album, including "In the Neighbourhood", which is now regarded as a landmark single for both in the emerging South Auckland music scene of the 1990s and for New Zealand music as a whole. Musician and producer Phil Fuemana made a heavy contribution to Proud and continued his work with the South Auckland music scene, developing the urban Pasifika sound. Hip hop performers Herman Loto (Ermehn) and Sani Sagala (Dei Hamo) later had local success with their solo work.
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