Upper Hutt Posse

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Upper Hutt Posse


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born =
Died =
Origin = Wellington, Aotearoa/New Zealand
Instrument =
Genre = Reggae/Rap
Occupation =
Years_active = 1985–to present day
Label = Jayrem Records
Southside Records
Kia Kaha Productions
Associated_acts =
URL = * [http://tekupu.com/UPPERHUTTPOSSE.html Official site]
Current_members = Te Kupu
MC Wiya
Maaka Phat
Des Mallon
Nathan Warren
Past_members = Blue Dread
Acid Dread
DLT
Tere
MC Beware
Kiki Marama
Voodoo Chile
Taki Matete
Earl Lee Dee
DJ Rhys B
Past_guest_members = Emma Paki
Tihikura Hohaia
Nat Rose
Kevin Rangihuna
Leiana Robertson
Dready
Heremaia Parangi
Eruera Tuhura-Mita
Glynis Paraha
Lucy Hutchings
Melanie Brimblecombe
Teulia Blakely
Kim Wallace
Wi Tate
Francis Harawira
Enoka Love

Upper Hutt Posse is a musical band named after the city of Upper Hutt in Wellington, New Zealand. They were the most prominent rap group in the late 1980s and early 1990s in the country. They were influenced primarily by socio-politically conscious reggae and rap music from Bob Marley to Public Enemy's hardcore rap, and had a impact on both New Zealand and Australia.

UHP formed as a four-piece reggae band in 1985. Since their inception, Dean Hapeta, aka D Word, aka Te Kupu and the Posse have been fighting racial injustice through their music. In 1988 they released New Zealand's first rap record and their first 12-inch hip-hop record, "E Tū" through Jayrem Records. The song combined African American revolutionary rhetoric with an explicitly Māori frame of reference. It pays homage to the rebel Māori warrior chiefs of Aotearoa's colonial history, Hone Heke, Te Kooti, and Te Rauparaha. [Mitchell, Tony. "Kia Kaha! (Be Strong!): Māori and Pacific Islander Hip-hop in Aotearoa-New Zealand." In Global Noise: Rap and Hip-Hop Outside the USA, ed. Tony Mitchell, 280-305. Middletown: Wesleyan University Press, 2001.]

Releasing their debut album, "Against The Flow" in 1989 through Southside Records, they toured Australia and America the following year. The album consists of rap and reggae songs and a political slowjam titled Stormy Weather. The unique lineup of two rappers, a reggae toaster, a female singer, a male singer, and a dj allowed main songwriter D Word to compose without having to utilise 'featured' vocalists outside the groups membership.

In 1990, the group toured "maraes" (Māori community centers), toured with Public Enemy when they were in New Zealand, and performed with the ragga artist, Macca B. and the Zimbabwean group the Bhundu Boys in Australia. [Mitchell, Tony. "Kia Kaha! (Be Strong!): Māori and Pacific Islander Hip-hop in Aotearoa-New Zealand." In Global Noise: Rap and Hip-Hop Outside the USA, ed. Tony Mitchell, 280-305. Middletown: Wesleyan University Press, 2001.]

October 1992 saw the completion of a music-documentary, Solidarity, showing the UH Posse's 1990 visit to America. Co-directed by Dean Hapeta and Rongotai Lomas the music-documentary was aired on TV ONE's "Marae.

With the departure of Darryl Thompson around this time, and then Teremoana Rapley 1993, who became a member of Moana and the Moahunters, and a presenter on television series "Mai Time", being joined later by MC Beware who had left the group back in 1990. D Word formed Kia Kaha Productions Ltd and continues up to the present day as the leader of UHP through various lineup changes.

Upon the release of the movie, "Once Were Warriors", the group's single, "Ragga Girl" appeared on the soundtrack, with MC Wiya and D Word making cameo appearances.

The new lineup in 1994 of live musicians produced the 1995 album, 'Movement In Demand', mixing their signature hip-hop style with their reggae roots, and adding the distinctive raggamuffin rap of Wiya.

The next line up in 2000 to record the 'Mā Te Wā' album, saw the re-introduction of founding member Blue Dread, and also Katarina Kawana who had 'jammed' with the group in their formative years in the mid 80's. 'Mā Te Wā' is a digital reggae album totally in the Māori language.

In 2002 UHP released 'Te Reo Māori Remixes' a ten track album of earlier favourites remixed and featuring only Māori language lyrics. This album received a Tui Award at the 2003 NZ Music Awards for 'Best Mana Māori Album'.

In 2005 they released a double album titled 'Legacy' which includes two tracks performed by Te Kupu's daughter Ataahua, notably a Māori language version of 'The Greatest Love Of All'. Disc One 'Ngati' is predominantly in English language while Disc Two 'Huia' is totally in the Māori language

In 2007 the new 'live' lineup includes Maaka McGregor (drums) who has performed live with the group at various gigs since 1995, Dez Mallon (guitar) and Nathan Warren (bass), Te Kupu and MC Wiya make up the five core members which at various times includes additional musicians. Now producing an album to be released in 2009/2010, and a special 12" record denoting 20 years since debut recording 'E Tū' to be released in late 2008.

Founding Members 1985)

*Dean Hapeta (D Word)
*Matt Hapeta (MC Wiya)
*Darryl Thompson (DLT)
*Aaron Thompson (Blue Dread)

Members (Against The Flow Album 1989)

*Dean Hapeta (D Word)
*Matt Hapeta (MC Wiya)
*Steve Rameka (Acid Dread)
*Darryl Thompson (DLT)
*Teremoana Rapley (Tere)
*Bennett Pomana (MC B-Ware)
*Aaron Thompson (Blue Dread)

Key Members (Movement In Demand Album 1995)

*Dean Hapeta (D Word)
*Matt Hapeta (MC Wiya)
*Kiki Marama
*Taki Matete
*Earl Roberston
*Rhys Bell (DJ Rhys B)
*Emma Paki

Key Members (Ma Te Wa Album 2000)

*Dean Hapeta (D Word / Te Kupu)
*Aaron Thompson (Blue Dread)
*Katarina Kawana (Voodoo Chile)

Key Members (Te Reo Maori Remixes Album 2002)

*Dean Hapeta (Te Kupu)
*Matt Hapeta (MC Wiya)
*Aaron Thompson (Blue Dread)
*Katarina Kawana (Voodoo Chile)
*Emma Paki
*Rhys Bell (DJ Rhys B)

Key Members (Legacy Album 2005)

*Dean Hapeta (Te Kupu)
*Matt Hapeta (MC Wiya)
*Ataahua Hapeta-Taereau
*Emma Paki

Discography

ingles

References

External links

* [http://www.tekupu.com/UPPERHUTTPOSSE.html A review] from [http://www.tekupu.com/ Te Kupu]
* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3509232&thesection=news&thesubsection=general NZ Herald article on Dean Hapeta]
* [http://tekupu.com/UPPERHUTTPOSSE.html Official site]