Music Maternal link in rap success story

Press, 21 July 1989, Page 23

Music Maternal link in rap success story

„ Noteworthy

By

NEVIN TOPP

Double J and Twice The T, the Auckland teen-age rap duo, have Sui Tala Brown to thank for getting their career started.

Mrs Brown is the mother of Jerry, who does the writing and organising for the band, and it was she who convinced her son to enter as a rapper rather than as a singer at a Telethon talent quest last year at the Manukau shopping centre. Jerry and Jeremy, the other member of Double J and Twice The T, had earlier won a school talent quest, and it was this act, on the last day of the talent quest, that knocked the socks off Ray Columbus, of Invaders fame, who was helping in Telethon.

Definitive, the new label set up by the former Enz man, Tim Finn, and Citizen Band member, Mike Chunn, were looking for a rapper, and it was Columbus who suggested the South Auckland duo. The result is the rap version of “She’s A Mod,” the Invaders hit from 1964.

Jerry said that the single had reached No. 3 on Auckland’s 91FM hotline after the interview and promo screening of "She’s A Mod” (the rap version) on the “CV” television rock programme last Sunday. At the age of 16, Jerry has quit school to become a full-time entertainer. “I couldn’t work on songs if I knew that I had a test tomorrow, and I

couldn’t concentrate on being an entertainer if I was still at school, so I left,” he said.

However, Jeremy, the shy one, is still at school, which means that Double J and Twice The T are confined to week-end and school holiday work. Jerry said his classmates were thrilled about the success of the rap duo, but also envious that the rappers were meeting celebrities.

“I have to keep telling them that they are people, just like you and me,” he said.

Double J and Twice The T are expected in Christchurch in a couple of weeks to help promote a book on the Pacific Islands.

The Verlaines will make the trip from Dunedin to play at The Subway, New Zealander Tavern, this evening and tomorrow evening.

The band have been out and about, playing at Victoria University of Wellington last week, and will be in Auckland next month.

The band are still waiting for the release of their new album, as yet untitled, with a release date expected some time between September and December.

THe album was recorded at the start of the

year, but there have been delays in organising the cover.

Supporting the Verlaines is Chris, a solo guitarist from Auckland. ♦ ♦ ♦ Next Thursday will mark the debut of the new line-up for the Young Achievers at The Subway, New Zealaner Tavern, when lan Blenkinsop, Guy Scollay, Stephen Tobeck, and Mick El Borrado take the stage. The Young Achievers intend to release a cassette of new songs, after working on new material. The support band will be Smart Ghost. BMG’s “Music Guide” offers the following tour rumours to wet the appetite: Cowboy Junkies, the blind guitarist, Jeff Healey, and the expatriate band, Dragon. * * ♦ Radio UFM has launched its own heavy metal radio show, “Metal Attack,” which runs from midnight, on Saturday evenings, to 1 a.m., Sunday mornings. Another country Texan singer will ride into Christchurch next month. Butch Hancock will play at the Blenheim Road Motor Inn on Friday, August 11, as part of a national tour.