Graham Reid | | 1 min read
Che Fu: Flaxmat Theory
Given his low profile on CD since his presciently titled Beneath the Radar in 2005, these aren't just the only albums you need by this exceptional singer/songwriter but are in fact the only ones.
Che Fu came to define the intelligent face of hip-hop with is meticulously crafted music, lyrics which had something to say and a rare, soulful voice which was flexible and nuanced.
His songs crossed over between soul, hip-hop,reggae and r'n'b, but were also cleverly pop-oriented. He wasn't averse to bringing in techno touches (Machine Talk on his debut album 2b S.Pacific) and you were never in any doubt where he came from (Chains) but how much he could touch his own heritage (Brainfighta) or the wider hip-hop culture (Hoodies, all also on that debut).
By the time of his second album Navigator -- with the hits Misty Frequencies and Fade Away -- he was without peer and if that third album was a little more difficult to get a grip on, you got as clear sense he was pushing his own and hip-hop's boundaries.
But since then . . .?
If you haven't got these albums (and the first two should be in any serious music collection) then this budget price set -- just $15 at JB Hi-Fi stores here -- is your chance to catch one of New Zealand's most important artists at the top of his game.
And a Bargain Buy.
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