DJ Poroufessor

Born and raised in Gisborne, Hone Ngata aka DJ Poroufessor grew up surrounded by Maori Music from an early age. Hones parents – Hone Ngata Snr or Papa Hone as he was known in the Kohanga Reo Whanau and Ngaronoa Reweti Ngata “Mako” were singing all the time whether by the piano at home, in their band in Gisborne or around a campfire on the Hikoi Ki Waitangi.

Hone eventually had enough listening to the piano, ten guitars and using the pots n pans as drums..through the introduction of the TV programme and old skool Grafitti movie Style Wars he was introduced to Hip-Hop. He traded his Eric Clapton tapes to the local emporium to get some money to buy the tape ‘Breakdance’ that you could order through the mail. A xmas present of a Ghetto Blaster from his Nanny Wina saw Hone soon pumpin ‘Planet Rock’ down Tyndall Rd.

A dab hand and creative exhibitionist as well (loved scribbling all over the garage), Hone was soon painting and graphing all over his friends school bags and art folders as well taking to the spraycan graff element with ease although there was one time when his curiosity for the “whats that rattling inside?” got the better of him puncturing the can with a screwdriver and turning his face into a “orange colored” doughball.

He also managed to find a pair of second hand Commando shoes, old white gloves to get his hand spin on, borrowed a Sweathog sweatshirt (u know the ones) from his cuzzy and rocked some Canterbury zip up pants (u know with the knee pads). Not the.. ughmmm lightest of lads at breakdancing, his attempts at the nutcracker and flairs were no good… Hone left the breaking to the Humanoids and Humanettes in Gisborne. His Mums brother, Takiri Reweti was a dope bboy/breaker back in the day, from Tauranga he gave Hone a pair of his old slip on bboy/moonwalking shoes and puff blow up pants…so it began.

Secondary Schooling changes, the loss of his Sister Angeline Taukehu, and a change of Social Welfare career for his Father saw their Whanau move to Tauranga…

here he entered his first DJ competition as DJ Bumblebee in 1987… held at Club Alexandras, his first mix was ‘Groove Is In The Heart’ by Deelite blended into ‘Mary Had A Little Boy’ by Snap, heavily into De la Soul, Mantronix and Run DMC Tougher than Leather.

This was the beginning of eventually what would hold Hone in Hip-Hop. Hes grown literally in the DJ scene over the next 20 years, reaching many highs in his career, having represented and battled at the NZ ITF Championships 5 times and the DMC comps twice.

Hes banged beats with the cream of Aotearoa hiphop talent such as Scribe, P-Money, Katchafire, DJ Sir-Vere, The Footsouljahs, Che Fu, 4 Corners, Adeaze, the Deceptikonz, Dawnraid Entertainent, Four Five, hosting the Players Club Nites at Studio, DJ support on The Hook Up Tour, jamming at the Boost Mobile Bball Tour whilst also maintaining Tour DJ
responsibilities for Phil Fuemana.

DJ responsiblities with the Tyna and JB, Native Sons, Ardijah, Dam Native, Ermehn, the Dubious Bros, T.O.H.U, 4tafyd Pa (Fortified Pa) Represent Kru, Danjahrus Dynasteez kepp him fully occupied.

Hes also met his idol DJ Qbert (and did the haka to him at the back of the St James Theatre) opened the concert for Bone Thugs n Harmony in Rotorua and organised the Tauranga leg of the Short Khop Tour..the list goes on…referring to himself as a Dr Dre because of the many crews hes performed with, his massive list of gigs, events and bookings over the years looks like the yellow pages.

Catch DJ Poroufessor cutting it up at your favourite Auckland’s nitespots such as Vanilla, Fubar, Safari and 4:20.

Also don’t forget to check out his skills live in Maori Television every thursday nite on CODE 8.30-9.30pm

Mean Maori Mean