Ermehn

Ōtara's Herman Loto (Lealaiauloto) Sakaria was exposed to international hip hop via cult music show Radio With Pictures, but it was Upper Hutt Posse's 1988 single 'E Tū' that fired his ambition. He formed Radio Backstab and DJ Payback with fellow Samoan rapper Jeremy Toomata and met producer Phil Fuemana, who pulled Sakaria into his next project — the soon-to-be legendary Otara Millionaires Club (OMC). Taking the name Ermehn he joined the Deepgrooves label and released 'cult classic' debut album, Samoans: Part 2 (1998). Follow-up The Path of Blood (2005) draws on his early involvement with gangs, and leaving that world behind. Sakaria died in July, 2023.