Photo: Mokomokai
Hip-Hop in Aotearoa has suffered greatly from an identity crisis almost since its arrival on our shores. Throughout its time here, it has gone through various transformations, from the lyrical dexterity heavy in New York raps, to the G-funk sound found in Los Angeles, we’ve tried our hand at everything.
MOKOMOKAI break free from these shackles, showcasing a sound and experiences that are uniquely Aotearoa, while also creating bodies of work any fan of hip-hop can appreciate.
MOKOMOKAI mainly consists of rapper Dirty, and producers DUSTY & GHOS, with assistance from a number of talents: Chip Matthews, Troy Kingi, Brandn Shiraz, Willie Wes, and Melodownz, to name a few.
Together, they’ve released two of the most compelling albums I’ve heard in recent history.
Producer DUSTY explained to me that where their debut project was a hot summers day in Northland, surrounded by the sounds of nature, WHAKAREHU is a cold, wet and windy night in the City. The world-building present across the projects is something that producers DUSTY & GHOS do exceptionally well, as shown on this song 'ROOFRACKS', featuring Brandn Shiraz.
MOKOMOKAI was born from a chance gathering of Dirty, DUSTY & GHOS over a weekend in the summer of 2021, at Dirty’s family home in Te Tai Tokerau. What was initially going to be a fun, lets-make-a-couple-songs, became a fully-fledged collective, with an initial project prepared, and another in the pipeline.
Following up a body of work like their self-titled debut was never going to be an easy task, but they achieved exactly that with their latest project WHAKAREHU, emphasizing their dedication to growing as artists. A great example of this is the confidence they exude on the track 'KUPE', featuring MELODOWNZ.
Dirty, who many may recognize from his exceptional catalogue with producer Eno, has not lost a step. His lyrical prowess is truly something to be in awe of. His ability to tell a compelling story while also offering a plethora of snappy punchlines creates arguably the most entertaining raps you’ll find this side of the equator. I think the single 'BABY BLUE' highlights this really well.
WHAKAREHU is a masterclass in local hip-hop. It’s a collection of some of the best talent Aotearoa has to offer, and is exclusively curated by Māori and Pasifika, something the boys have made clear is a goal of theirs; to champion their community. Whether you grew up rural, or in between the motorways of a busy city, MOKOMOKAI know how to bring it all home.
