WATCH: PNC's heartwrenching tribute to his late mother

Publish Date: Monday, 10 July 2017, 11:12AM

When Sam Hansen wrote a song about his love for his mother, he never thought it would become her epitaph.

But that's what happened when Kathryn Hansen died tragically in a Feilding house fire in August last year.

All I See. 📸:@timdfilm

A post shared by Sam Hansen (@pnc06) on Jun 18, 2017 at 11:48pm PDT

Her death occurred just weeks after the release of All I See, a song included on the rapper's most recent release, The Luke Vailima EP.

All I See features many lines in which Hansen, known as PNC, pays tribute to his mother and the bond they shared as she raised him as a solo parent.

"Thanks for everything, I owe you in the worst way," he raps at one point. "For making Ninja Turtle cakes back on my birthday... topped up my account when you could tell I was hurting."

Now, a video for the song has been released - and the Auckland-based rapper has turned it into one finale tribute for her.

It features images harking back to PNC's childhood - from being born to getting the mail in and playing basketball on a hoop on the outside garage erected by his mother.

I fondly remember this day 17 years ago. I was a broke 16 year old, and I'd failed by not getting my mum anything for Mothers Day. I knew I had to at least get her a card, but i was never the greatest at conveying in words how I felt about someone. All I could think of was a song called "Anything" off my favourite artist Jay-Z's new album. It had a verse that really seemed to embody and parallel my relationship with Mum. I printed a card off the computer and hand wrote the verse inside, hoping she'd at least be satisfied with the sentiment. I'd never really seen my mum cry before, but when I gave it to her she broke down in tears. From then on she loved Jay-Z. She'd text me when she had seen him on TV, would play his albums when she'd pick me up from the airport. Though I'm sure she legitimately liked the music, I knew it was really about the verse in that card. The fact his lyrics had helped me sum up my love for her. When we were organizing Mums funeral last year, they asked me what bible verse I'd like in the program. Mum was far from religious, but I definitely knew what the verse would be. That day really taught me the importance of letting people know how you feel about them, by any means necessary. Turns out the most important gift I ever gave her cost me nothing and they weren't even my words. Happy Mothers Day Mum. I miss you.

A post shared by Sam Hansen (@pnc06) on May 13, 2017 at 3:27pm PDT

"Andy Morton, our Director, had a strong vision for it from the start."

He also said he's hoping to play the song with a live band during future shows.

In his report into Hansen's death released in May, Coroner Tim Scott said Hansen and her pet dog came very close to escaping the kitchen blaze that engulfed her Feilding home. He also said alcohol may have been a factor, Fairfax reported.

"(She) had mobility issues and could not move quickly. Had this not been the situation, I believe it is most likely that she and her pet dog would have escaped from the fire.

"Sadly, that was not to be."

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission.

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