The son of first-generation Tongan immigrants, Hau drew on the legacy of
his name (meaning ' King' ) to become one of the nation's most
influential musical artists. But the best stories often come from the
humblest beginnings. A promising junior rugby player, Hau decided in his
teens to trade in the footy boots for Hammer pants, soaking up every bar
and breakbeat of the new sound and culture exploding out of urban
America: DJ Kool Herc and LL Cool J, mix-tapes and graffiti, velour
Kangols and Beat Street. Determined to be more innovator than imitator,
the rhymes that eventually burst from his volumes of notebooks and epic
freestyle sessions with friends and co-conspirators would express what
was happening in his backyard, in his community, in his voice. Along
with DJ Danielsan, Hau would form Koolism, one of the seminal acts in
Australian hip hop and winner of the ARIA's inaugural Best Urban Release
award in 2004. This bolt from the blue began a professional journey that
would evolve over decades and play out over iconic albums, reflecting
the simple joys of life, the love of family, the loss of faith and the
tragedy of lives cut short.
