Demetrius Christian Taanuu Savelio (born 28 June 1981), better known by his stage name Savage, is a New Zealand hip hop recording artist, record producer and member of hip hop group the Deceptikonz. Savage was the first New Zealand hip hop artist to have a commercial single achieve platinum certification status in the United States. Retrieved November 2016 The "International Breakthrough" accolade of the Pacific Music Awards was created in his honour. Savage also has applied his recognisable voice in the electronic dance music space with 5× platinum hit ''Freaks'' with Timmy Trumpet, and 4 times platinum hit ''Swing'' with Joel Fletcher.
Early life and the Deceptikonz Savage grew up in Samoa and South Auckland, New Zealand, raised by his mother and siblings.
Savage joined with friends to form a hip-hop group, the Deceptikonz, in 1997. Success was not instant, however, as the group struggled through several talent shows and small concerts. Their big break came in 1999 when they were signed to South Auckland (Papatoetoe) hip hop label Dawn Raid Entertainment.
In 2002, the Deceptikonz released Elimination; a studio album that peaked at number four on the New Zealand albums chart.Elimination – charts.org.nz In late 2003, Savage featured as a member of the Deceptikonz on the Mareko hit single Stop, Drop and Roll; a number six hit on the New Zealand singles chart.Stop, Drop and Roll – charts.org.nz
Solo career Moonshine era (2005–2007) Savage's first solo single; Swing, was released in January 2005. The hit would eventually crack the Australian singles chart in 2014 and peak at number one for five weeks in the New Zealand singles chart. Three months later, Savage released his debut solo album Moonshine which reached number two in the New Zealand album chart and included a title track as a follow-up single. This became an even bigger success than the previous single; spending seven weeks at number one on the New Zealand singles chart, and reaching the top ten in the Australian singles chart. The Moonshine single would eventually become certified twice platinum in New Zealand and gold in Australia. The third single from the album; They Don't Know reached number three in the New Zealand singles chart and was also a hit for several weeks on the Australian singles chart. In 2007, Swing featured in a club scene for the United States film Knocked Up and was also included on the movie soundtrack album.Knocked Up – soundtrack.info.com
Savage Island era (2008–2009) Following the success of appearing in "Knocked Up", Swing was released as a single for the United States in 2008, and remix versions were made with American rappers Soulja Boy Tell 'Em and Pitbull. Upon re-release, Swing reached number forty-five on the US Billboard Hot 100, re-entered the New Zealand singles charts peaking at number twenty-three. By the end of January 2009, the song had sold over 1.5 million units in the United States alone. Because of this; Swing was certified as a platinum single in the United States.
In February 2009, Savage released Savage Island, the second studio album of his solo career. The release became his second consecutive top-ten entry on the New Zealand album chart debuting at number nine. The album included Moonshine from the previous album as well as a remix version of the New Zealand number-one hit Not Many. The release also featured two new singles Wild Out (Chooo Hooo) and Hot Like Fire. These songs became New Zealand singles chart hits with the former becoming Savage's fourth top-ten peaking song in the national chart. Savage appeared in an issue of Source Magazine to discuss the lyrical meanings behind the tracks of Savage Island the following month. In October, Savage performed the Savage Island album track I Love The Islands, to raise funds for the Samoan tsunami relief effort. In December, the video for Wild Out (Chooo Hooo) was named as one of the five most-watched YouTube music videos in New Zealand.YouTube reveals New Zealand's most watched videos Press Release: YouTube 17-12-2009 11:41
Battle of the Century era (2010–2012) In 2010, Savage featured in "Battle of the Century", a nationwide tour across New Zealand alongside internationally successful New Zealand rapper Scribe.Scribe vs Savage – Battle of the Century nzherald.co.nz The same year, the Presents... The Tribal Council album was released.Presents... The Tribal Council – australian-charts.com Retrieved April 2012 In 2012, Savage featured on the Jade Louise single "Vibrations"JADE LOUISE FEAT. SAVAGE – VIBRATIONS (SONG) which was the theme song for the television series The GC.
Collaboration era (2013–present) In 2013, "Swing" was remixed by Australian producer Joel Fletcher. The song peaked at number 2 on the ARIA Singles Chart and has been certified quadruple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipments exceeding 280,000 copies. In 2014, Savage added vocals to Timmy Trumpet's song "Freaks". The song peaked at number one in New Zealand and was certified 2× Platinum by Recorded Music NZ. In Australia, it peaked at number 3 and was certified 5× Platinum by ARIA. It also reached the top five in FinlandTIMMY TRUMPET & SAVAGE – FREAKS (SONG) and won "Highest Selling Single" at the 2015 New Zealand Music Awards. Retrieved November 2016
In 2015, Savage teamed up with Kronic and Far East Movement on "Push". The track was featured in the trailer for Fast and the Furious' eighth installment "The Fate of the Furious". This trailer was premiered during Super Bowl LI.
In 2016, Savage released "Zooby Doo" with Tigermonkey. The official video was overseen by world-famous choreographer Parris Goebel who runs the Palace Dance Studio in Savage's hometown of Auckland. The dancers, The Ladies of ReQuest, Mini ReQuest & Ezra from The Palace Dance Studio, New Zealand, were featured in Justin Bieber's mega YouTube hit "Sorry".
Discography
Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications NZ AUS US Heat Moonshine Released: 11 April 2005 Label: Dawn Raid Formats: CD, digital download 2 75 — RMNZ: Gold Savage Island Released: 23 December 2008 Label: Dawn Raid, Universal Republic Formats: CD, digital download 9 — 12 Mayhem & Miracles Released: 29 June 2012 Label: Dawn Raid Formats: CD, digital download 25 — — "—" denotes a release that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Compilation albums Title Album details Savage Presents... The Tribal Council Released: 5 October 2010 Label: Dawn Raid, SMC Formats: CD, digital download
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album NZ AUS BEL(WA) FRA SWE US "Swing" 2005 1 36 — — — — RMNZ: 2× Platinum ARIA: 2× Platinum Moonshine "Moonshine" 1 9 — — — — RMNZ: 2× Platinum ARIA: Gold "If You Love Savage" — — — — — — "They Don't Know" 3 26 — — — — RMNZ: 5× Platinum "Street Music" 2007 — — — — — — "Swing" 2008 23 — — — — 45 RIAA: Platinum Savage Island "Wild Out (Chooo Hooo)" 2009 6 — — — — — RMNZ: Gold "Hot Like Fire" 26 — — — — — "I Love The Islands" — — — — — — "This Is Me" 2011 — — — — — — Mayhem & Miracles "I Promise" — — — — — — "Twerk" 2012 — — — — — — "Because of You" — — — — — — "Swing" 2013 — 2 — — — — ARIA: 4× Platinum Non-album singles "Freaks" 2014 1 3 — 11 6 — ARIA: 9× Platinum RMNZ: 5× Platinum "Take These Shots" — — — — — — "Like Michael Jackson" 2015 — — — — — — "Not Many If Any" — — — — — — "Push" — — — — — — "Zooby Doo" 2016 — — — — — — "Fire" 2020 — — — — — —"The Bender"(with Joel Fletcher and Luciana) 2021 — — — — — — "Whistle" 2026 — — — — — — "—" denotes a release that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
As featured artist Title Year Peak chart positions Album NZCharts as a featured artist in New Zealand: "Not Many – The Remix!": "Vibrations": "Team Ball Player Thing": AUSCharts as a featured artist in Australia: "Not Many – The Remix!": "Turn Me Loose": "Not Many – The Remix!" 2003 2 21 The Crusader "Turn Me Loose" 2007 — 15 New Attitude "Vibrations" 2012 7 — The Jade Louise EP "Team Ball Player Thing"(#KiwisCureBatten featuring Lorde, Kimbra, Brooke Fraser, et al.) 2015 2 — "Move Back"(Crankdat featuring Savage) 2023 — — Slaughter House EP "One More Chance" 2024 — — "—" denotes a release that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Other appearances Title Year Artist Album Note "Big Things" 2002 P-Money featuring Mareko, Patriarch, Koma, Hepaklypz, Hazaduz, Unique, Tyna, Savage, Che Fu & Scribe Big Things "Freestyle" 2003 Savage Mareko Is the Future "Capital SA" 2004 Alphrisk featuring Savage The Best Kept Secret "Savagefeel" Tha Feelstyle Break It to Pieces Vocals "Ain't Got Nothing" 2005 David Banner featuring Savage & Tyree "The Nod" Weapon X & Ken Hell featuring Savage Sneakerpimpin Aint Easy "Live It Up" King Kapisi featuring Savage Dominant Species "Freestyle" 2006 Savage Street Dreams Vol. 1 "Move, Make Way" Savage featuring Tyree and PNC Sione's Wedding – Music from the Motion Picture "Chains Reloaded" Che Fu featuring Savage Hi-Score – The Best of Che Fu "The Warmth" Juse featuring Kaeson, Savage & Young Sid Global Casino "Expectations" Amiel featuring Savage & Mareko Be Your Girl "Straight Drop" 2008 C-Loc featuring Savage & Young Crucial Anybody Can Get It! "Neva Been" "You Gon Lose" "Make Way" C-Loc featuring Savage "God Chose Me" Devolo featuring Savage Heaven & Hell "We Made It" 2011 Monsta featuring Savage Pacific Coast Highway "Feel Inside (And Stuff Like That)" 2012 Flight of the Conchords Guest vocals
Music videos Title Year Director "Swing" 2005 Sophie Findlay "Moonshine" Kai Crawford "If You Love Savage" "They Don't Know" "Swing" 2008 Kai Crawford "Wild Out (Chooo Hooo)" 2009 Chris Graham "Hot Like Fire" Ivan Slavov "I Love the Islands" Chris Graham "I Promise" 2011 Olivia Laita "Come Out (Wrath of a Menace)" TJ "Twerk" 2012 Askew One "Because of You" Anthony Plant "Swing" 2014 "Freaks" "Take These Shots" AshCon Street Proz "Like Michael Jackson" 2015 James Chappell "Zooby Doo"2016Parris Entertainment
Notes
Awards and nominations APRA Awards The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".
! |- | 2015 || "Swing (Joel Fletcher Remix)" || Dance Work of the Year || || |- | 2015 || "Swing (Joel Fletcher Remix)" || Most Australian Played Work of the Year || ||
Pacific Music Awards YearNominated workAwardResult2006SwingBest Pacific SongWinning night for Dei Hamo – STUFF — MANUKAU COURIER — AUCKLAND — 16 MAY 2006 2009International Breakthrough2010Savage IslandBest Pacific Urban ArtistS3 Pacific Music Award Winners Announced Press Release: Pacific Music Awards 30-5-2010 Best Pacific Music Album2016FreaksNZ ON AIR RADIO AIRPLAY AWARDSPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD – Outstanding Achievement
New Zealand Music Awards YearNominated workAwardResult2008International Achievement (shared with Flight of the Conchords) Retrieved November 20162015 (shared with Lorde)FreaksHighest Selling Single MTV Europe Music Awards YearNominated workAwardResult2015Like Michael JacksonBest New Zealand ActWon
References
External links Savage's Myspace Dawn Raid – Savage's Official Record Label Website RIANZ Chart