Gidday Mate!

Rip It Up, Issue 244, 1 December 1997, Page 33

Gidday Mate!

[Huh! Records' (OHO) Simon Grigg replies to last month’s letter from Phil Fuemana of Urban Pacifika Records.] Dear Phil, . . Thanks for your kind words but you seem to have taken my words out of context and missed the point. I signed Pauly sound unheard. That is, I had heard absolutely none of his solo stuff - but then you knew that. The Proud track was made by a group effort, including yourself (check the songwriting credit) and it was a very cool track. However that OMC track was not, Paul excluded, made by the same group that made Pauly’s album and you are aware of that. I was not denigrating or playing down Pauly’s talent and the rest of my interview made that clear. But Pauly’s music came to me via and because of my relationship with A) an, and I don’t want to re-write history - if you do, then fine. I don’t sign talentless people and Pauly’s subsequent global success story makes it clear my instincts were correct this time - around too. I’m sorry if my successful attempts to help expose Pauly’s talent globally were offensive to you -1 never meant it to be so and I thought you’d be happy for your brother. As for jumping on bandwagons - if working with Alan Jansson since 1987 and introducing him to the people that eventually introduced him to the people that made Proud, is bandwagon jumping, then I plead guilty. I don’t feel the need to apologise for my skin colour, my business location, or my car (which is not owned by my record label, unlike yours). I’ve always regarded you highly, and despite your pointless and unnecessary attack, continue to do so. I guess those many many hours spent by you in my High Street drinking establishment over the years are now just a distant memory. Simon.