Dawn Raid, the critically acclaimed documentary about the New Zealand hip-hop label of the same name that has grown from humble beginnings to achieving global fame, has secured a US release.
Universal Pictures is making Oscar Kickley’s feature-length documentary available to rent or own on all major US platforms from January 11. The film was released in theaters in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year.
The film tells the story of South Auckland friends Andy Murnane and Tanielu ‘Brotha D’ Leaosavai’i, who have gone from selling trophy merchandise to building Dawn Raid Entertainment, a vast media empire. put Kiwi, and especially Polynesian, hip-hop on the map in the early 2000s.
The studio has pushed homegrown artists like Savage, Adeaze and The Deceptikonz to collaborate and work with names like Pitbull and Soulja Boy. Success was short-lived because debt, internal conflicts, and conflicts caused the company to fall from the top.
Conversation heads in the document include Judd Apatow, who used Dawn Raid music in his film Knocked Up, Savage, Mareko, Adeaze, and Aaradhna, and the film includes exclusive archival footage of Akon, Wu-Tang Clan, and other hip-hop legends.
Dawn Raid produced by GFC Films in association with the New Zealand Film Commission.
