Scribe (rapper)

Scribe is the stage name of New Zealand rapper Malo Luafutu. His debut album, Crusader, was released in 2003 in New Zealand and has so far gone quadruple platinum in that country, achieving two number one singles.

History

Scribe (real name Malo Luafutu) was born of Pacific Islander descent in Christchurch. He grew up as a fan of rap music from a youngster with NWA as his first influence. He spent his youth developing his rapping skills with local rap group Beats n' Peaces and Polynesian theatre company Pacific Underground .

He became more widely known throughout New Zealand with his guest appearance on P-Money's Big Things album. Scribe recorded his debut album Crusader in 2003 and it was released in New Zealand in October 2003 by dirty records with distribution through Festival Mushroom Records. The album went gold within hours and platinum within days. It has so far sold 65,000 copies in New Zealand which is quadruple platinum status in that country. The album has also had several highly successful singles released off the album in New Zealand including:

• "Stand Up" which spent 12 weeks as number one, a record for a New Zealand artist in 2003;

• "Not Many" which reached number 2 on the charts and has also made the top 30 Australia ARIA singles charts in May 2004;

• "Dreaming" which was another number one single in 2004 and has also made the top 30 Australia ARIA singles charts.

Crusader was released in Australia in January 2004 and reached the top 20 of the urban music album charts for that country during the early part of that year, and also top 30 on the official album charts.

In April 2005, he featured on P-Money's single "Stop The Music", which made the top 20 on Australia ARIA singles charts.

Discography

SOLO ALBUMS

• The Crusader (2003)
  #1 NZ, NZ #42 Album for 2003, #27 Australia, NZ Platinum x4, Australia Gold

ALBUM GUEST APPEARANCES

• P-Money - Big Things (2001)
  
• P-Money - Magic City (2004)

SINGLES

• Sunshine* (P-Money feat. Scribe) (April 2001)
• Connect* (Mareko & Scribe) (April 2001)
• Remember* (P-Money feat. Scribe (2002)
• Scribe 2001* (P-Money feat. Scribe) (2002)
  
• Synchronise Thoughts* (P-Money feat. 4 Corners & Scribe) (2002)
  

• Stand Up/Not Many (August 2003)
  #1 NZ (12 weeks at #1), NZ #1 Song for 2003, Platinum NZ

• Not Many - The Remix!/Stand Up (12/03 NZ, 05/04 Australia)
  #2 NZ, #21 Australia, #77 Song Australia 2004, Gold Australia
  

• Dreaming/So Nice (01/04 NZ, 11/04 Australia)
  #1 NZ, NZ #14 Song for 2004, #23 Australia
  

• Stop the Music (P-Money feat. Scribe) (11/04 NZ, 04/05 Australia)
  #1 NZ, NZ #12 Song for 2004, #15 Australia

Notes
Originally the doubled sided single Stand Up/Not Many was released with both songs being popular enabling the single to remain on the top of the New Zealand singles charts for ten weeks and be the top "single" of the year. A few months later after the initial single release a new limited edition version was released containing a new version of "Not Many" called "Not Many - The Remix" which also had the song "Stand Up". This second CD was also released in an unlimited version in Australia with the focus being on "Not Many - The Remix" due to the chorus of "Stand Up" being about "NZ hip hop standing the **** up"

* Single was not released to stores

Links

• Scribe home page
• Festival Music Records New Zealand artist page
• NZ Music bio
• New Zealand Herald Crusader review