Editing Che Fu (section)

== Career ==

=== Supergroove (1994–1996) ===
While a student at [[Western Springs College]], Fu and a group of friends formed the Low Down Dirty Blues Band,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/che-fu|title=Che Fu – AudioCulture|website=audioculture.co.nz|access-date=19 January 2018}}</ref> who later became Supergroove.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fox|first=Michael|title=Che Fu honoured in Auckland|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/2870999/Che-Fu-honoured-in-Auckland|work=Stuff|access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref> Supergroove released their debut album ''[[Traction (album)|Traction]]'' in 1994.  The album went triple platinum in New Zealand and won five [[New Zealand Music Awards|Tuis]].<ref name=nzmusicawards>{{cite web|title=1995 Winners|url=http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2009/10/29/1995-winners/|work=New Zealand Music Awards|access-date=23 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016004941/http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2009/10/29/1995-winners/|archive-date=16 October 2013}}</ref> Before finishing their second album, ''[[Backspacer (Supergroove album)|Backspacer]]'', Fu left Supergroove to pursue a solo career.<ref name=backspacer>{{cite web|title=Che Fu fired up and ready to Supergroove|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/41008/Che-Fu-fired-up-and-ready-to-Supergroove|work=Sunday News|access-date=23 May 2014}}</ref>

=== Solo career (1996–1997) ===
Fu was invited to record a single with well-known New Zealand DJ [[DLT (musician)|DLT]]. The song "[[Chains (DLT song)|Chains]]" protested [[Mururoa|French nuclear testing in the Pacific]] and was released in July 1996, within weeks of Fu leaving Supergroove.  "Chains" was a Number One hit on the New Zealand Singles Charts and won three Tuis, namely Single of the year, Best male vocalist, and Best songwriter.<ref name=chains>{{cite web|title=1997 Winners|url=http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2009/10/29/1997-winners/|work=New Zealand Music Awards|access-date=23 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016024252/http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2009/10/29/1997-winners/|archive-date=16 October 2013}}</ref> This marked the beginning of Fu's solo career and brought prominence to Hip Hop in New Zealand.

=== ''2b S.Pacific'' (1998–2000) ===

In 1998 Fu released his debut album ''[[2b S.Pacific]]''.  The album went double platinum and spawned four top-ten hits, which was unheard-of for a local hip hop artist at the time.  The following year, he received the Single of the year award for ''Scene III''.<ref name=sceneiii>{{cite web|title=1999 Winners|url=http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2009/10/29/1999-winners/|work=New Zealand Music Awards|access-date=23 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613172239/http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2009/10/29/1999-winners/|archive-date=13 June 2011}}</ref> Fu subsequently formed a band named ''The Krates'' for studio work and live performances.  Paul Russell, previous drummer for Supergroove, is part of The Krates line-up.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eight bio|url=http://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/301/eight|work=New Zealand Musicians & Bands|publisher=muzic.net.nz|access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref>

=== ''Navigator'' (2001–2003) ===

Fu released his follow-up album [[Navigator (Che Fu album)|''Navigator'']] in 2001, debuting at number one and generating triple platinum sales.<ref name=navigator>{{cite web|title=Hi-Score: The best of Che Fu|url=http://www.amplifier.co.nz/release/24131/hi-score-the-best-of-che-fu.html?full=1|access-date=23 May 2014}}</ref> At the 2002 New Zealand Music Awards, Fu took home five Tui awards: Single of the year for "Fade Away", Album of the year, Top male vocalist, Best R&B / Hip hop album, and Best music video.<ref>{{cite web|title=2002 Winners|url=http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2009/10/29/2002-winners/|work=New Zealand Music Awards|publisher=nzmusicawards.co.nz|access-date=24 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023062225/http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2009/10/29/2002-winners/|archive-date=23 October 2013}}</ref> That same year, Fu received the [[Australasian Performing Right Association|APRA]] Silver Scroll for his single "Misty Frequencies".<ref>{{cite web|title=Silver Scroll Award|url=http://www.apra.co.nz/apra-awards/apra-silver-scroll-awards/silver-scroll-award.aspx|work=APRA|publisher=apra.co.nz|access-date=24 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604082639/http://apra.co.nz/apra-awards/apra-silver-scroll-awards/silver-scroll-award.aspx|archive-date=4 June 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> He went on to win Best male vocalist in 2003 for "Misty Frequencies".<ref>{{cite web|title=2003 Winners|url=http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2009/10/29/2003-winners/|work=New Zealand Music Awards|publisher=nzmusicawards.co.nz|access-date=24 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523112635/http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/2009/10/29/2003-winners/|archive-date=23 May 2010}}</ref>

=== ''Beneath the Radar'' and ''Hi-Score: The Best of Che Fu'' (2005–2007) ===
Fu's next album ''[[Beneath the Radar]]'' was released in 2005, led out by singles "2D" and "Lightwork". However, the record was not as successful as previous works.  The following year Fu released ''[[Hi-Score – The Best of Che Fu]]'', a compilation of hit singles from his previous three albums including "Fade Away", "Waka" and "Without a Doubt", as well as four new singles.

=== Collaborations (2008) ===
Fu teamed up with the ''Glass Packaging Forum'' to promote glass recycling with youth. The Forum hosted a competition for 9- to 15-year-olds to write rap lyrics encouraging recycling.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0906/S00203/pick-it-up-youth-concert-promotes-recycling.htm|title=Pick It Up Youth Concert Promotes Recycling {{!}} Scoop News|website=www.scoop.co.nz|access-date=19 January 2018}}</ref> The winners recorded their lyrics with Fu in a single called "Do the krusher".<ref name=krusher>{{cite web|title=Class Rap|publisher=Glass Packaging Forum|url=http://www.glassforum.org.nz/classrap_08.html|access-date=24 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114061817/http://www.glassforum.org.nz/classrap_08.html|archive-date=14 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Fu also collaborated with [[Kimbra]] and hip hop group [[Nesian Mystik]] on their top-ten single "Mr Mista".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/che-fu-mn0000865278/songs|title=Che-Fu {{!}} Songs {{!}} AllMusic|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=19 January 2018}}</ref>

=== Hedlok (2010–2013) ===
Che Fu & The Krates continued to tour New Zealand and Australia.  As well, Fu performs alongside another hip hop legend, Samoan rapper [[King Kapisi]] as one-half of the group Hedlok.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hedlok on Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hedlok-Che-Fu-King-Kapisi/203222996389076|work=Hedlok|publisher=facebook.com|access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=October 2019}}

=== Lifetime Achievement Award (2014) ===
Fu's contribution to New Zealand music was recognised when he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2014 Pacific Music Awards.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lifetime Achievement Award announced|url=http://www.pacificmusicawards.org.nz/index.php/news/filter_tags/2014+Lifetime+Achievement+Award/|work=Pacific Music Awards|publisher=pacificmusicawards.org.nz|access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref>