NZ Hip Hop Stand Up (2020) Upper Hutt Posse 'E Tū'
The story behind New Zealand’s first ever hip hop track, 'E Tū' by Upper Hutt Posse. Featuring members Te Kupu, DLT, Teremoana Rapley and Bennett Pomana. In 1988, Upper Hutt Posse released Aotearoa’s first ever rap song, E Tū. Years later, the hip hop group stood on stage at the New Zealand Vodafone Music Awards, broadcast live to the nation, finally gaining the recognition they deserved for their landmark contribution to New Zealand music. Their belated induction to NZ’s Music Hall of Fame “didn’t mean shit” to Upper Hutt Posse member DLT. It is the song that means something to him, not the accolades but the message. And it was this sentiment that the song’s writer and lead rapper, Te Kupu, was still relaying, on live television, 30 years later. Thinking back to Te Kupu’s acceptance speech, DLT laughs, “We all knew he was going to go there so we didn’t prepare nothing.” Like his song, Te Kupu’s speech at the Music Awards drew lines between New Zealand’s colonial past and the struggle for Māori rights in New Zealand’s present. He called out power. He singled out the Prime Minister. He didn’t water anything down.
Unearthing the stories behind some of the most influential tracks in Aotearoa hip hop.
Primary Title
- NZ Hip Hop Stand Up
Episode Title
- Upper Hutt Posse 'E Tū'
Date Broadcast
- Thursday 23 July 2020
Release Year
- 2020
Duration
- 10:00
Series
- 1
Episode
- 1
Channel
- RNZ Podcasts & Series
Broadcaster
- Radio New Zealand
Programme Description
- Unearthing the stories behind some of the most influential tracks in Aotearoa hip hop.
Episode Description
- The story behind New Zealand’s first ever hip hop track, 'E Tū' by Upper Hutt Posse. Featuring members Te Kupu, DLT, Teremoana Rapley and Bennett Pomana. In 1988, Upper Hutt Posse released Aotearoa’s first ever rap song, E Tū. Years later, the hip hop group stood on stage at the New Zealand Vodafone Music Awards, broadcast live to the nation, finally gaining the recognition they deserved for their landmark contribution to New Zealand music. Their belated induction to NZ’s Music Hall of Fame “didn’t mean shit” to Upper Hutt Posse member DLT. It is the song that means something to him, not the accolades but the message. And it was this sentiment that the song’s writer and lead rapper, Te Kupu, was still relaying, on live television, 30 years later. Thinking back to Te Kupu’s acceptance speech, DLT laughs, “We all knew he was going to go there so we didn’t prepare nothing.” Like his song, Te Kupu’s speech at the Music Awards drew lines between New Zealand’s colonial past and the struggle for Māori rights in New Zealand’s present. He called out power. He singled out the Prime Minister. He didn’t water anything down.
Classification
- Unknown
Owning Collection
- Chapman Archive
Broadcast Platform
- Television
Languages
- English
Captions
Live Broadcast
- No
Rights Statement
- Made for the University of Auckland's educational use as permitted by the Screenrights Licensing Agreement.
Subjects
- Rap (Music)--New Zealand
- Hip-hop--New Zealand
- Music--New Zealand
- Documentary television programs--New Zealand
Genres
- Documentary
- History
- Interview
- Music
Contributors
- Chris Graham (Director)
- Clayton Carpinter (Director of Photography)
- Thom Watts (Editor)
- Nigel McCulloch (Producer)
- The Down Low Concept (Production Unit)
- Radio New Zealand (Funder)
- NZ On Air (Funder)
- Te Kupu (Interviewee)
- Teremoana Rapley (Interviewee)
- DLT (Interviewee)
- Bennett Pomana (Interviewee)
Subjects
- Rap (Music)--New Zealand
- Hip-hop--New Zealand
- Music--New Zealand
- Documentary television programs--New Zealand