Nesian 101

Nesian Mystik , Music Video – 2008

from the album Elevator Musiq (2008)

Luke Sharpe’s video for this 2008 number one hit sets out to educate audiences about the Nesian style: replete with graffiti hibiscus, Hawaiian shirts...and hot teacher. The band is shot in front of a green screen, with totems uniting their central Auckland upbringing with their ancestral Polynesian past shown behind them. From baggy jeans to greenstone pendants, corned beef to fish and chips, the references nod to the South Pacific influences on the Mystik sound: "Just keep it fresh no matter where you be.". Nesian 101 was named Best Hip Hop Video at the 2008 Juice TV Awards.

We asked him [director Luke Sharpe] for a video that was alive, bright and vibrant … that people watching and listening could relate to. For example, palagis might not understand some of our lyrics talking about island food!
– Sabre, aka band member Feleti Strickson-Pua