98 Cents hip-hop combo Kylah Ashwell and Paul Hawaikirangi won the open duo category at the Battle of the Bay competition to end a memorable year on a high.
98 Cents hip-hop combo Kylah Ashwell and Paul Hawaikirangi won the open duo category at the Battle of the Bay competition to end a memorable year on a high.
Gisborne hip-hop duo Kylah Ashwell and Paul Hawaikirangi, aka 98 Cents, returned to Gisborne victorious after winning the open duo category at the Battle of the Bay in Hawke’s Bay.
They performed the same routine that secured them seventh place at the Hip Hop Unite World Championships in Prague, CzechRepublic, in October.
“We are really proud of our results,” Ashwell said.
Hawaikirangi also won the open solo category in Hawke’s Bay while Ashwell was second.
Paul Hawaikirangi won the open solo category at the Battle of the Bay with a new routine.
Their group, Club 98, which comprises Ashwell, Hawaikirangi, Julie Walker and Ray Te Nahu, performed a new western hip-hop routine in placing second in the small crew category.
Hawaikirangi also won Most Memorable Routine for his new solo, and 98 Cents won Most Entertaining Routine for their robotic style dance to a “gnarly mix” Hawaikirangi made for the world competition.
Entries from Auckland, Wellington, Waikato, Taranaki, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty and Whanganui competed in this year’s Battle of the Bay.
“As always, the standard of hip-hop dance in NZ is high,” Ashwell said. “There were a lot of new faces this year in our categories, which was great to see.”
Club 98 achieved success at the Battle of Bay hip-hop dance competition, placing second in the small crew category. From left are Ray Te Nahu, Paul Hawaikirangi, Jaeda Mapu, Julie Walker and Kylah Ashwell. Mapu didn't compete this year but was there to support the group.
Club 98, who danced to Down the Road by C2C, had been practising since Ashwell and Hawaikirangi returned from their world competition.
“It was very different from last year’s old school groove routine, focusing more on intricacies and skill,” she said.
The couple were glad this was the last competition in 2025 and said they could take a well-earned break.
“It has been a successful close to what has been a very eventful year for us both.”
They thanked EIT Tairāwhiti for sponsoring their travel to the Hawke’s Bay champs.
