Strong bonds earn DJ big wraps

By GRAHAM REID

While there's no guarantee that being Jonah Lomu's cousin will assist your career, Sosaia Kailahi has discovered the coincidence of birth helpful in ways he never expected.

Kailahi, known as Mid-il-man in the hip-hop group Strong Islanders and as MC Sire, has filled the dual role of family support and security for the big man of New Zealand rugby when Lomu has been touring the country on promotional work.

And when New York rapper Snoop Doggy Dog performed in Auckland 18 months ago, Kailahi and the Strong Islanders crew filled a similar role.

"They needed someone to take care of him [Snoop Dog], show him around, and make sure he wasn't bugged by anyone, and we take care of Jonah when he's around the country doing in-stores and make sure he's where he's supposed to be at the right time. So that's what we did for Snoop Dog."

So when New York hip-hoppers Naughty By Nature arrived in New Zealand for a concert last week, Kailahi took the call from the Australian promoter asking would they take care of them also.

Then, at the group's invitation, Kailahi introduced them at their Logan Campbell Centre show and an opportunity presented itself.

"I MCed and had to do a few rhymes and some freestyling because the crew weren't ready. I got the crowd going and the next day [Naughty By Nature manager] Rebecca Foster said, 'I want to take you to Australia'."

He appeared at their shows in Sydney and Melbourne, and has now had confirmation from Foster, who also handles Method Man, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliot and other high-profile rap and hip-hop acts, that he will be joining them this week at shows in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Kailahi has had a long career in local hip-hop.

While at school, his group Homeboys recorded a track for the bFM compilation In Love With These Rhymes and he has DJed in clubs around South Auckland.

He took a degree in business at Manukau Institute of Technology and while working in administration at the institute got an offer from Jonah Lomu to do some more recording.

"Sony Music was interested in doing an album with him but he said, 'I don't do rap and that stuff, that's your thing,' and that I should look at getting back into it. And the timing was right because hip-hop was pretty big then."

Kailahi recorded some material with DJ Manuel Bundy and Andy Morton from Hut Productions and shopped it around the record companies.

Sony Music released Strong Islanders' first single Shining On in January but Kailahi admits it was largely ignored by radio.

He is more hopeful for their next single, Strong Island Flow, which will be on a forthcoming compilation album using Lomu's image and profile.

For that collection of some of Lomu's favourite hip-hop, Strong Islanders will appear alongside Naughty By Nature, TLC and other international acts on an album which will receive international distribution by BMG New Zealand.

With a career being helmed by Lomu's manager, Phil Kingsley-Jones, and with highly placed contacts in the influential New York hip-hop community, Kailahi is ready to put his music and business administration experience to work.

"But right now I'm just honoured to be with the Naughty By Nature guys."