Block Baby is a raw and honest track created by Akatea Callaghan, a young artist from Naenae.
It is the ultimate expression of this year’s Youth Week theme: “Our Voice Matters and You
Deserve To Be Heard”.
Listen to Block Baby, learn the backstory, read the lyrics below and check out the behind the scenes interview
Akatea Callaghan (Rekap)
"Block Baby is about where I grew up and where I've been all my life. I was just telling my story. I wouldn't have done this any other way."
Where it started
Akatea is a young person from Naenae located near Wellington and has been experimenting and creating his own music for several years.
Block Baby is Akatea’s story. It is raw, vulnerable, unapologetic and an absolute banger. Inspired by rapper Jibz’s song also called Block Baby, Akatea’s song
captures a small glimpse of his journey growing up in Naenae, enduring the hardships life threw at him and becoming the exceptional tāne he is today. He presents his story as it should
be told; through his eyes and with his words.
Akatea hopes that rangatahi across Aotearoa (and beyond) will connect with his story, enjoy the track and know that their voice matters.
" When I saw him come into the centre, he was set on getting it done, he was ready and had so much intent behind his words. Naenae doesn't have a lot of resources to record and make music, so when we sold him the vision about youth week he was down. When we went to the recording studio, he was in control of everything. He knew what he wanted from verse to verse.
Check out the behind the scenes interview.
Lyrics
VERSE A:
HOOK:
VERSE B:
HOOK:
Special thanks
Recorded by Mauriora Shelford, Mastered by JPEC, Justin Cederholm, Youth worker Wasa, Ali Filmed & edited by Euan MacLaren Graham, Ara Taiohi for funding this project, the whole team at Zeal Wellington and especially Akatea Callaghan.
