AFTER flipping the local hip-hop scene on its head with their infectious hit singles I Got , It's The Incredible and Suburbia Streets , Auckland outfit Fast Crew has scored nationwide acclaim with their debut album Set The Record Straight.
Hooking up with Auckland independent label Akrite and distributed via Universal, Fast Crew's Jerome Fortune, Kid Deft, d-arblo, Bex and DJ Alias have come a long way since they formed in 1999. Compadres and hip hop fans, they began making music for fun but soon realised they were destined for greater things. ``Before we got the band together we were all good friends and we'd hang out together all the time,'' Jerome said. ``We all had a passion for music and as soon as we started writing songs it became apparent that we should take it more seriously.'' Fast Crew began playing live around Auckland and rapidly built a serious and loyal following in underground hip-hop circles here and at home.
Inevitably, this success led to mainstream exposure. Fast Crew's debut single Mr Radio was released in 2002 and hit high rotation on radio and television, paving the way for its irresistible successor, I Got, released in May last year. This track was a top five hit for the group and reached gold status within weeks. Also reaching the top five was the booming Its The Incredible, unveiled last October as the lead-in single to their top 20 Set The Record Straight album.Already seasoned performers at events such as the Big Day Out and the Aoteraora Hip Hop Summit, the popularity of I Got and Its The Incredible saw the Fast Crew receive rapturous ovations at support gigs for international hip hop stars Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes. More recently, the band joined US rap star Chingy on the nationwide Edgefest concerts and are soon to travel New Zealand on the all-star local hip hop tour, Hook Up 2.Fast Crew's fourth single and top ten hit, Suburbia Streets is out now and is another example of the musical diversity showcased on Set The Record Straight. Fast Crew will perform this Friday at The Bandroom at Newcastle Leagues.
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