Mount hip hop artist performing for US record label

'Mr Craze' is a hip hop artist from Tauranga, chosen to perform for a US record label. Photo/supplied

A Mount hip hop artist has caught the eyes and ears of a visiting American record label and is one of 16 musicians nationwide selected to perform for them.

Louis Moeau of Arataki has one song and one shot to impress Def Jam - the record label of top hip hop and RnB artists such as Iggy Azalea, Kanye West, Common and 2 Chainz.

Known as 'Mr Craze' the 36-year-old is performing today in Def Jam's New Zealand Showcase final in Wellington.

In November when Mr Moeau found out about the opportunity to audition he was hooked on showing what he had.

But since there were no auditions in Tauranga he jumped on the next bus to Neck of the Woods on K Rd in Auckland.

"There were so many artists I wasn't on stage until 2am but I was hyped up and wanted to show New Zealand what Tauranga had to offer."

Mr Moeau was humbled and excited. when he was chosen as one of 16 artists nation-wide to go to the final in Wellington and perform for Def Jam exec and talent scout Mike Neely.

He said he was chosen for his clarity, crowd interaction, singing skill and originality.

Music has been a big part of his life - touring around with his father's band when he was a young kid and singing along with his mother - "our family always had a gat ready to play."

Hip hop and RnB was his chosen genre, particularly rap with a "silky smooth" style.

The experience and opportunity to be scouted meant "so much" to him.

"Not only does it give me a chance to show the world what we can do here in NZ but also gives a different kind of artist to do it - hip hop doesn't really get that much exposure here in NZ."