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Scribe (rapper)

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Scribe
Scribe in 2019
Scribe in 2019
Background information
Birth nameMalo 'Scribe' Luafutu[1][2] or Jeshua Ioane Luafutu[3][4]
Born (1979-05-29) 29 May 1979 (age 45)
Christchurch, New Zealand
OriginChristchurch, New Zealand
GenresHip hop
OccupationRapper
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2000–2018
LabelsDirty Records

Malo Ioane Luafutu,[1][2] also called Jeshua Ioane Luafutu[3][4] (born on 29 May 1979), and better known by his stage name Scribe, is a New Zealand rapper of Samoan descent. He achieved two solo number ones on the singles chart from his debut album, The Crusader, which was released in 2003 in New Zealand and later certified four times platinum. He also reached number one as a featured artist on P-Money's 2004 song "Stop the Music",[5] and in 2010 on R&B singer J.Williams' single "You Got Me".[6]

Early life

[edit]

Scribe was born Malo Loane Luafutu on 29 May 1979 in Christchurch, New Zealand, to Caroline 'Carol' Luafutu[7] and Fa'amoana John Luafutu.[8][9] He grew up in the suburb of Philipstown, Christchurch.[10][11]

Career

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With the initial focus on the song "Stand Up", director Chris Graham gave the video for the single the energy of a rock video. He invited music guests, DJs and even the general public to participate as extras in the video. The song debuted at number 6 on the New Zealand top 40 singles chart and soon rose to number 1. The single spent 12 (non-consecutive) weeks at number one.[12]

Dirty Records released Scribe's debut album The Crusader in New Zealand in October 2003 with distribution through Festival Mushroom Records. The album went gold within hours and platinum within days. It sold 60,000 copies in New Zealand, which is four times platinum status in that country.[13]

Scribe followed the success of the album with the limited-edition release of "Not Many – The Remix!" featuring guest vocals from MCs Savage and Con Psy which peaked at No. 2.[12] He then released a new single, "Dreaming" in January 2004; this also reached No. 1.[12]

Scribe took a break from new singles and toured the country on the Hook It Up tour before he returned in late 2004 with a new single off P-Money's Magic City album called "Stop the Music", again reaching No. 1.[12]

In 2005, he opened for the Beastie Boys at shows in Australia.[14]

Rhyme Book

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Scribe's second studio album, titled Rhyme Book, was released by Scribe in Australia on 29 September 2007 and in New Zealand on 1 October 2007. Rhyme Book did not sell as well as its predecessor. It featured collaborations with New York hip-hop artist Talib Kweli (of Reflection Eternal and Black Star fame) on the track "Be Alright".

The first single off the album in New Zealand, "My Shit", had its video premiere on 12 August 2007 on local music channel C4. "F.R.E.S.H." was the second single released in New Zealand. The first single in Australia however was "F.R.E.S.H.", followed by "My Shit". The third single in both countries, "Say It Again", features Scribe's cousin Tyra Hammond.

Scribe performing at Big Day Out in 2007

Scribe is Dead

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After a decade hiatus, Scribe released a single titled "Non Attachment" which will feature on the forthcoming independently released album Scribe is Dead, due for release in 2024.[15][16][17] This effectively shelved his third album Therapy that was announced in 2011 but never released.[18][19]

A second single for the album, titled "Glowstick", was released at the end of 2023.[15] A third song, "Do or Die, Don’t or Die", was premiered in late April 2024. Scribe said in an interview with Rolling Stone that it would be his final album.[20]

Personal struggles and addictions

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In 2011, in an interview on Campbell Live, Scribe described how he became addicted to drugs, alcohol and gambling between 2005 and 2007 following lacklustre sales of his second album, Rhyme Book. His addiction led to his family denying him access to money. He decided to pawn off the platinum awards he had won with his debut album.[3]

In November 2011 Scribe was arrested in Wellington for disorder and released after being formally warned.[21] Scribe said his arrest was illegal, but he admitted he was "dissing" the police but that "their ego couldn't handle it".[22]

Following the assault on cricketer Jesse Ryder in late March 2013, Scribe took to Twitter, implying that Ryder was somehow responsible because his behaviour was not "humble" enough for someone visiting Christchurch. He further noted that "Cantabrians don't beat people up for no reason."[23] Scribe's comments were widely vilified on Twitter and numerous blogs, with many posters alluding to Scribe's role in the violent, unprovoked assault on Phil Armstrong in 2004 as further evidence that he condones violence.[24] Ryder later jokingly thanked Scribe for his "support".[25]

In August 2018, Scribe was imprisoned for two months after breaching his curfew and performed in Motueka. He was released on 29 October. He was later due in court on 13 December for methamphetamine possession and breach of protection order.[26]

Christchurch earthquake

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Scribe released a remix of his single "Not Many" to show support for the victims of the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. "Not Many Cities" features Scribe rapping in different parts of the CBD's red zone, with altered lyrics such as "I don't know any city" instead of "I don't know anybody". Although his video received positive attention from the media, there was outcry from some Christchurch residents who claimed it was unfair that Scribe was allowed in the red zones when red zone business owners were not.

Shortly after the remix's release, Scribe announced that he was working on a third album, titled Therapy, but it was later shelved.

Family

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Scribe is the cousin of other prominent Samoan New Zealand musicians Ladi6[27] and Tyra Hammond of The Opensouls.[28] His father is Fa'amoana John Luafutu, who wrote the 2022 film A Boy Called Piano, directed by Nina Nawalowalo. Scribe's brother Matthias Luafutu is an actor.[29][30] Scribe, Matthias and their father John also collaborated with Tom McCrory and Nina Nawalowalo on the stage play A White Guitar in 2015, which was an autobiographical story that did an eight-city sold-out tour in 2016.[31][32][33]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Album Peak chart positions Certifications
NZ
[34] 		AUS
[35]
2003 The Crusader
  • Released: 16 October 2003
  • Label: Dirty
 1 12
2007 Rhyme Book
  • Released: 1 October 2007
  • Label: Dirty
 4 9
TBA Scribe is Dead

Major album guest appearances

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  • P-Money – Big Things (2002) (six songs)
  • Concord Dawn – Uprising (2003) (one song)
  • P-Money – Magic City (2004) (three songs)
  • P-Money – Everything (2010) (three songs)

Singles

[edit]
Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications Album
NZ
[12] 		AUS
[38]
2003 "Stand Up"/"Not Many" 1 — The Crusader
"Not Many – The Remix!"/"Stand Up" 2 21
2004 "Dreaming"/"So Nice" 1 23
2007 "My Shit" 4 — Rhyme Book
"F.R.E.S.H." 24 30
"Say It Again" (featuring Tyra Hammond) — —
2011 "Not Many Cities" 36 — Non-album single
2022 "Non Attachment" ? ? Scribe is Dead
2023 "Glowstick" ? ?
2024 "Do or Die, Don’t or Die" ? ?
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or achieve certification
[edit]
Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album
NZ
[12] 		AUS
[38]
2004 "Stop the Music" (P-Money featuring Scribe) 1 7 Magic City
2010 "You Got Me" (J. Williams featuring Scribe) 1 — Young Love (Collector's Edition)
"Fresh Boyz" (Nesian Mystik featuring Scribe) — — 99 A.D.
"Christmas Wrapping" (Dominic Harvey featuring Scribe) 6 —
2015 "The Pigeon Song" (Guy Williams featuring Scribe) 2 —

References

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  1. ^ a b "King Kapisi supports Scribe's 'racist' arrest claim". ONE News. Auckland, New Zealand: Television New Zealand. Fairfax. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  2. ^ a b Te Koha, Nui (30 September 2007). "Taking refuge in rhyme". Sunday Herald Sun. Southbank, Victoria, Australia. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  3. ^ a b c van Beynen, Martin (29 January 2011). "Scribe comes clean on his addictions". The Press. Christchurch, New Zealand: Fairfax New Zealand. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Scribe's quake-inspired remake goes viral". The Press. Christchurch, New Zealand: Fairfax. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  5. ^ Sam - @thewriterau_sam (31 May 2017). "Meet P-Money – New Zealand's Most Renowned Producer & DJ - The Source". Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  6. ^ Shute, Gareth (28 November 2016). "Beyond Scribe: The Changing Sounds of New Zealand Hip-Hop". Vice. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Interview with Caroline Luafutu". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  8. ^ Stephenson, Sharon (15 July 2022). "The filmmaker who helped tell the harrowing story of rapper Scribe's father". Stuff. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  9. ^ "'Brought me to tears': Luafutu family finds redemption from state care trauma". NZ Herald. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Five revelations from Scribe's new doco". NZ Herald. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Scribe". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d e f New Zealand Charts
  13. ^ a b "New Zealand album certifications – Scribe – The Crusader". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  14. ^ Beastie Boys, Scribe @ TheHordern Pavilion, 27/01/05 – February 3, 2015 FasterLouder Retrieved 10 September 2015
  15. ^ a b "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Scribe drops first single in more than a decade - Non-Attachment". 15 December 2022.
  17. ^ "'I couldn't do it if I wasn't clean' - Scribe writes his own future". RNZ. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  18. ^ Beynen, Martin van (29 January 2011). "Scribe comes clean on his addictions". Stuff. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Scribe sought by police over drug charges". RNZ. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  20. ^ "'This Is My Goodbye': Scribe Says New Album Will Be His Last (Exclusive)".
  21. ^ "Rapper Scribe arrested on Wellington's Courtenay Place". stuff.co.nz. 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  22. ^ "Scribe gets support from King Kapisi". 3 News NZ. 21 November 2011.
  23. ^ Gillies, Abby (1 April 2013). "Scribe's Jesse Ryder tweets spark controversy". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  24. ^ "Radio man beaten up at Scribe Christmas party". NZ Herald. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  25. ^ "Jesse Ryder thanks Scribe for 'support'". 3 News NZ. 3 April 2013.
  26. ^ "'I've made a lot of mistakes' - Scribe teases 'amazing news' after release from prison". Newshub. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  27. ^ Jenkin, Lydia (October–November 2008). "Ladi6 – Our Leading Ladi". NZ Musician. 14 (6). Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  28. ^ "Inspire Me: Tyra Hammond". nzgirl. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  29. ^ "Kiwi father and son star in blockbuster Ghost in the Shell". thecoconet.tv. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  30. ^ Anderson, Vicki (6 August 2021). "Actor finds new light starring in 'brutal' film Coming Home in the Dark". Stuff. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  31. ^ Thompson, Tulia. "Faith and Feeling in A Boy Called Piano". Pantograph Punch. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  32. ^ "'Brought me to tears': Luafutu family finds redemption from state care trauma". NZ Herald. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  33. ^ "The White Guitar". The Conch. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  34. ^ NZ Charts – Scribe
  35. ^ Australian Charts – Scribe
  36. ^ ARIA Chart – 2004
  37. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Scribe – Rhyme Book". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  38. ^ a b Australian Charts
  39. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Scribe – Stand Up / Not Many". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  40. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2004 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  41. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – P-Money feat. Scribe – Stop the Music". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  42. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  43. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – J.Williams feat. Scribe – You Got Me". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
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