Tohe by UHP
Bi-lingual dubstep/drum&bass with lyrics focusing on Indigenous resistance and Tino Rangatiratanga (Māori sovereignty).
Title track ‘Tohe' (to persist) encapsulates the vigorous pace which eases on the ethereal ‘Hineahuone' (earth mother) and downtempo dubstep of closing track ‘Mōhio' (to know).
Implanting assertive socio-political perspectives Tohe breaks new ground in dubstep/drum&bass through extensive usage of Māori language lyrics - testifying to UHP's versatility, musicality, and ability to embrace and reshape musical genres into their own style.
Vocals are a family affair with brothers Te Kupu and MC Wiya on lead, and Te Kupu's 16yr old daughter Ātaahua backing on six songs. Music sequencing by Kiki Marama, Te Kupu and MC Wiya with additional input from Koru.
Review: Graham Reid | Aug 2, 2010 |
For quite a while it seemed that the seminal Aotearoa/New Zealand hip-hop outfit Upper Hutt Posse might have been reduced down to Dean Hapeta, who was actually appearing under the name Te Kupu (aka The Word).
But here, on an album which kicks along on the back of staccato, minimalist dubstep beats and huge reggae style bass, the Posse are again at it . . . this time Hapeta and his brother (MC Wiya) from the original line-up, with Dean's 16-year old daughter Ataahua also in attendance. The Posse legacy is being passed on to a new generation.
The album title (Resist) also continues the get up/stand up message which they have carried for over two decades, and the assertion here of Tino Rangatiratanga (Maori sovereignty) is as relevant as ever, and comes with the appropriate punch on Mana Motuhake which sounds like a P-fuelled hip-hop haka (with a pop chorus) over the machine gun beats and synth.
The pace isn't all relentless and there are some subtle melodies here: the spooky Haramai Te Toki references Marley's Crazy Baldheads and ska dubbery; the reggae-influenced Pakanga is in the tradition of the Posse's great E Tu, but Ataahua's vocals bring a charm which is a neat counterpoint to the declaiming; and Mohio right at the end has an ethereal, otherworld quality to it which locates itself somewhere between a marae in distant history and space flight into the hi-tech future.
Being largely in te reo (Maori) might put this beyond the reach of some, but as mentioned previously when writing about Hapeta/Posse that is rarely a problem: the urgency of Te Kupu's delivery and the way he references significant events/figures/beliefs/Maori politics means there is more familiarity than many would think.
This is a musical departure for the Posse, but in bringing in these sparking, flinty beats (mixed and mastered by Chris Chetwin at Kog) they have sounded contemporary once more.
No mean feat after all these years.
Tracklist
| 1. | Tohe | 3:54 |
| 2. | Haramai Te Toki | 5:14 |
| 3. | Ira Ahikāroa | 3:55 |
| 4. | Mō Ake | 4:20 |
| 5. | Parakūkā | 4:48 |
| 6. | Hineahuone | 5:03 |
| 7. | Mana Motuhake | 4:36 |
| 8. | Pakanga | 3:25 |
| 9. | Wewete | 3:16 |
| 10. | Mōhio | 4:48 |
Credits
Music:
Kiki Marama 1, 2, 5, 7, 10
Dean Hapeta aka Te Kupu 3, 4. 6, 8, 9
Matthew Hapeta aka MC Wiya 8
Koru - additional programming 3, 6, 8, 9
Lyrics:
Dean Hapeta aka Te Kupu 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9,10
Matthew Hapeta aka MC Wiya 5, 7, 8
Kirsten Hapeta 6
License
All rights reserved.Tags
Rap-Reggae-Funk fusion band. Formed 1985. Inducted into Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa | NZ Hall of Fame 2018. Led by Te Kupu - rhythm guitar/vocals, with MC Wiya - bass/vocals, Blue Dread - percussion/vocals, Jeff Henderson - saxophones, drummers Earl Robertson & Ruben Das Gonzales, + a fluid lineup of additional musicians. Music challenging the status quo, in both English and Māori languages.