Hip Hop in Aotearoa

In Aotearoa – New Zealand, only about 3% of the population speaks Maori. The colonization and rapid change in society has resulted in a disconnection between the traditional Maori culture that the older generation grew up in and the younger generation in the modern, Western culture. One of the bridges is hip hop. When hip hop was introduced to Aotearoa, the younger generation immediately gravitated towards this new identity. But recent adaptations of hip hop have featured Maori musicians and artists including the Maori language into the songs. The blend of hip hop rap and culture with traditional Maori is an example of the adaptability of hip hop and the impact it can have on the rest of the world.

Breakdancing was introduced to Aotearoa in 1983 from Western Samoa. This was quickly adopted by the Maori youth, who saw breakdancing as a way to form an identity. Kopytko argues that breakdancing was a way to earn recognition when they were not able to from education and other traditional methods. After breakdancing came rap and other parts of hip hop that attracted the youth. Soon African American music, films, TV shows and clothes started becoming part of the Maori youths' identity. This was in part due to the lack of exposure of traditional Maori culture on these mass media centers. The Maori youth were looked down upon if they incorporated Maori patterns on their clothes because it was seen as “prostituting the culture or selling out”. So ironically the African American symbols and culture was seen as appropriate.

   

The first major Maori hip hop hit was “Poi E” by the Patea Maori Club in 1984. It utilized traditional Maori chants and the use of poi dancing with rap and breakdancing. But New Zealand artists are pressured to produce “radio-friendly, pop-oriented singles” rather than Maori rap and other music genres. The radio often plays US R&B and when it does play New Zealand music, it often does not include Maori lyrics. This music filtration system has kept many Maori artists from getting airtime but this has not stopped certain groups such as Upper Hutt Posse and Iwi from incorporating Maori into their lyrics.

Hip hop in Aotearoa is still a work in progress. The traditional Maori people do not want the Maori culture to be shown on clothing, calling it culture prostitution. This has alienated the youth who see hip hop as a substitute and adopt the African American style of clothing. The radio stations have filtered out the music that includes Maori lyrics, enforcing the colonialism that started generations ago. But Maori artists still use Maori in their lyrics as a sign of national pride and rebellion. The Maori hip hop is still localized within Aotearoa - New Zealand since there is little exposure outside. But hopefully it will one day spread throughout the Pacific and the rest of the world. 

A. Chang