Legacy

Legacy is the new 21-song double album by New Zealand’s most influential and best selling hip-hop/reggae group, UHP. UHP’s most recent albums have been 100% in te reo Maori; the lyrics on Legacy are mainly in English on disc one and completely in te reo Maori on disc two.

UHP have always been innovators and their engaging breadth of expression ensures that Legacy stands apart from most of the complacent imitations of todays local music. Mixing majestic anthems like E Te Iwi with captivating pop tunes like Sight Divine and the lyrical fortitude of Warmongers with the unique Maori flavour of I Nga Ra O Mua, is a testament of UHP’s prowess nearly two decades after they first came to the world’s attention with the groundbreaking E Tu. Dean Hapeta (aka Te Kupu), who has produced and written most of the songs, carries many of the lead vocals as well as nice-ing up the vibes on alto sax and flute. Bringing something special to this recording is Dean’s 11 years old daughter Ataahua who is a pleasure to hear on the aptly named New Generation and Ko Te Tino Aroha Nui. MC Wiya kicks off disc one with Ngati, a hip-hop reggae haka laying down the kaupapa of upliftment. Overcome, the first single, features guitarist and vocalist Tihikura Hohaia who is being heard on CD for the first time. Crowd pleaser Sight Divine features a verse from Nat Rose and introduces the soulful voice of Joe Hauwaho who is also on the stand-out activist track Hold I True. Huia is an anthemic unity call with Te Kupu an vocals and flute while Emma Paki hits the high octaves sublimely, as she does on seven other tracks.