SA:HOME

South Auckland. 

Dangerous. 

Jawsh 685's newfound success has made headlines numerous times this year. Joshua Nanai, a 17-year-old born and raised in Manurewa, produced the 'Laxed (Siren Beat)' which found fame on TikTok before being picked up by Jason Derulo. The song's remix featuring BTS topped the Billboard Hot 100, ultimately surpassing the success it gained with Derulo. 

The original beat:

Why is it that when anything positive is associated with South Auckland, we are no longer the outsiders, but now considered to be a part of 'Auckland'? Our Brown people are no longer 'hood' or 'hori' when we are successful. The stereotypical images of our Brown communities are no longer 'ratchet' when the images are aesthetically acceptable. 

It was quite upsetting to see articles and posts similar to the one below, refusing to put the words 'success' and 'South Auckland' in one sentence. It would probably be easier to use 'South Auckland' next to 'shooting' or 'school fight', right? 

 

Note here that the article title was changed. It was originally 'Auckland teenager Jawsh 685...'. Multiple posts surfaced, similar to the one below. 

It's no secret that South Auckland has a rep for school fights, robberies and whatever The NZ Herald's daily headline is. No one seems to understand why South Auckland suburbs are 'repped' so hard - but the answer is quite clear. If we aren't proud of our villages, then who will be? Who will defend our streets and our children? Our talent? Who will be proud of the positive happenings in our communities (things that go unreported by the media) if we aren't? 

South Auckland also happens to be the home of the hardworking. Dancers and singers. Artists. Graduates. Workers. Jawsh 685, his success and how he's handling fame is proof of the humility and realness that we are taught in the hood. Josh has now worked with Lauv and Tyga and we are all hoping for continued success in his career. 

 

South Auckland. 

 

Home.