By Wal Reid

The I Love The 90s Tour returns to Auckland next year March 23rd at Auckland’s Spark Arena, with a completely off the chain lineup featuring classic Hip Hop crew Naughty by Nature. Vin Rock from the Grammy Award winning rap group speaks fondly of this country and love of our people.  They’ve been here before and are looking forward to returning to these shores.  Sharing his fondest memories he recalls the first time they encountered the ‘wero’ or Maori welcome.

“First and foremost, I remember the ‘wero’ you know?” he says.  “That official greeting you get when you come out there. I remember the first wero done for us, I remember seeing that and I felt honoured, it was so tribal so organic, it felt like you were going back in time.  That was one of my fondest memories of New Zealand.”

Joining Naughty by Nature are other 90s music legends, Blackstreet, Sisqo, Montell Jordan, All 4 One, Rob Base, C&C Music Factory with Freedom Williams, and Snap. Expect a nostalgic night crammed full of banging party hits and soulful R'n'B slow jams by the creme de la creme of yesterday's pop talent.  This year's tour was a massive success and the returning show looks to be just as epic.  Naughty by Nature’s iconic rap anthems like OPP or Hip Hop Hooray have shaped the culture and style that today’s artists have built a foundation on.  

“Hip Hop was started here in the East Coast here in the US.” he says. “You had the New York influence, we were from Jersey so we’re considered East Coast. We grew up on Grandmaster Flash, Biz Markie and Big Daddy Kane and these guys and then things swung over to the West Coast where artists like Ice T and NWA - next thing you know it went to the South Rap-A-Lot records with the Geto Boys the pendulum has been going all over the place; then sonically, musically the production and the sound has changed.

“You go from the Trap music movement introducing what T-Pain and now what Future is doing and now you have Lil Uzi,Lil Yachty, they are taking things to a different level and I’m one of the veterans who says “Let these young guys evolve the music, evolve the culture”, “Let them have their time with it you know?”

While most have their own opinion on which era is best in Hip Hop, most people are in agreement which decade was the most influential. Naughty by Nature was involved in the most influential period of its Halcyon Day in the 90s when artists such as Dr Dre, Wu Tang Clan, NWA and Tupac were at their most popular, however it seems today’s community is as united as ever to the Hip Hop cause.

“It’s nothing to be alarmed about because the music’s been around a long time” he tells.  “I don’t want Hip Hop to sound the exact same for twenty five, thirty years, that means there’s no growth.  You still have guys like Kendrick Lamar who’s more of a throwback artist, he’s a  lyricist he raps the traditional way where a lot of his forefathers would appreciate him – him and J Cole.  There’s room for everyone to exist; I’m just happy young people are still interested in Hip Hop and the culture.

“I think it comes down to being authentic and genuine and just doing it for the love. I think as an artist, as a musician, people can see right through you, no matter who you are, or think you are.”

‘I LOVE THE 90's - THE PARTY CONTINUES':
Naughty By Nature, Blackstreet, Sisqo, Montell Jordan, All 4 One, Rob Base, C&C Music Factory with Freedom Williams, Snap

Friday March 23, 2018 - Spark Arena, Auckland

Tickets via www.mjrpresents.com

AUSTRALIA DATES

SUNDAY 11 MARCH – REDHILL AUDITORIUM – PERTH, WA
WEDNESDAY 14 MARCH – ADELAIDE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE – ADELAIDE, SA
FRIDAY 16 MARCH – MELBOURNE SHOWGROUNDS – MELBOURNE, VIC
SATURDAY 17 MARCH – PARRAMATTA PARK – SYDNEY, NSW
SUNDAY 18 MARCH – EATONS HILL OUTDOOR – BRISBANE, QLD
TUESDAY 20 MARCH – REID PARK – TOWNSVILLE, QLD