Double J and Twice the T

Double J and Twice the T was a New Zealand hip hop duo, best known for their 1989 #2 charting song "She's A Mod/Mod Rap", a hip hop reworking of Ray Columbus & the Invaders' 1964 cover of "She's a Mod".[1] They are also known for their 1990 eco anthem "Def to be Green" in which they teamed up with Auckland Regional Council's water conservation mascot Robert D Frogg.[2][3][4]

Double J and Twice the T
OriginAuckland, New Zealand
GenresHip hop, pop
Years active1988 (1988)–1991 (1991)
LabelsDefinitiv/EMI NZ
Past membersJerry Tala Brown
Jeremy Toomata

History

The group consisted of Samoan-New Zealand school friends rapper Jerry Tala Brown and beatboxer Jeremy Toomata who originally met at Otahuhu College. The pair started performing in 1988 as JJ and the Jammers, and the Double Jays.[5][6][7] They won two battle of the bands competitions, which brought them to the attention of Mike Chunn who signed them to his Definitive Records label, an imprint of EMI Music New Zealand.[8][9]

It was Chunn who suggested the duo perform a rap cover of "She's A Mod", inspired by the Fat Boys hit reworking of "Wipe Out" with The Beach Boys. Their four charting singles were co-written with Stanley Manthyng of World Gone Wild, another Definitiv Records act.[10] At the 1989 New Zealand Music Awards, the duo were nominated for three awards including Most Promising Group.[11] Their debut album All Wrapped Up was released in 1989, but did not chart. The group enjoyed three top-ten singles and released two more singles before breaking up in 1991.[5]

In 1994 Jeremy Toomata teamed up with Herman Loto to form the hip hop duo Radio Backstab & DJ Payback. Their song "Bassed on a Lost Cause" appeared on the iconic New Zealand compilation album Proud: An Urban-Pacific Streetsoul Compilation.[12]

Discography

Albums
Year Title Details Peak chart
positions
NZ
1989 All Wrapped Up
  • Label: Definitive
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles
Year Title Peak chart positions Album
NZ[13]
1989 "She's A Mod / Mod Rap" (as Double J and Twice the T with Ray Columbus) 2 All Wrapped Up
1989 "Seven Days" 7
1990 "Def to be Green" (as Double J and Twice the T with Robert D Frogg) 4
1990 "U Can Do It 2" 37
1990 "Have You Heard" (as Double J and Twice the T with DJ Freddy V ) —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1989 Double J & Twice the T "She's A Mod / Mod Rap" Single of the Year (New Zealand Music Awards) Nominated[11]
Double J & Twice the T Most Promising Group (New Zealand Music Awards) Nominated[11]
Tony Johns "She's A Mod/ Mod Rap" Best Video (New Zealand Music Awards) Nominated[11]
Mike Chunn All Wrapped Up Best Producer (New Zealand Music Awards) Nominated[11]

References
  1. "'She's a mod' by Ray Columbus and the Invaders". NZ History. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  2. "In Search Of: Double J and Twice the T". The Enthusiast. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  3. "Double J & Twice The T / with Robert D Frog / Def To Be Green". YouTube. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  4. "WATERCARE SERVICES LIMITED (AUCKLAND EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY) BILL : Withdrawal". Hansard. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  5. Shute, Gareth (2004). Hiphop music in Aotearoa. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed. p. 26. ISBN 0790009617.
  6. "02 A Fire In Happy Land MP3". Mike Chunn. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  7. "Double J and Twice The T - Go For It (live 1988)". YouTube. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  8. "Joel and Nathan Haines talking all that jazz". DubDotDash. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  9. "Tonic for musicians". Auckland Library. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  10. "MANTHYNG". Amplifier. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  11. "1989 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  12. "Essential NZ Albums: Proud - An Urban-Pacific Streetsoul Compilation". Radio NZ National. Radio NZ. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  13. "Double J and Twice the T discography". charts.nz. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
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