View source for Upper Hutt Posse

{{Short description|New Zealand hip hop group}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2012}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Upper Hutt Posse
|image =
|caption = 
|background = group_or_band
|alias = 
|origin = [[Wellington]], [[New Zealand]]
|instrument = 
|genre =  Reggae, Rap Fusion 
|occupation = 
|years_active = 1985&ndash;present
|label = [[Jayrem Records]]<br>Southside Records<br>Tangata Records<br>[[Universal Music]]<br>Kia Kaha Productions
|associated_acts = 
|website = *[http://tekupu.com/UPPERHUTTPOSSE.html Official site]
|current_members = 
* Te Kupu aka D Word
* M.C. Wiya
* Aaron Thompson
* Jeff Henderson
* Earl Lee Dee
* Des Mallon
* Ātaahua Hapeta-Taereau
|past_members = 
* MC Beware
* [[DLT (musician)|DLT]]
* [[Teremoana Rapley|Teremoana]]
* Maaka Phat
* Nathan Warren
* Acid Dread
* Enoka Love
* Kiki Marama
* Voodoo Chile
* Taki Matete
* Lincoln Hapeta-Timoteo
* Rhys B
* John Henare aka Dready
}}

'''Upper Hutt Posse''' ('''UHP''') are a New Zealand [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] group formed in [[Upper Hutt]], [[Wellington]], in 1985. Upper Hutt Posse are one of the earliest New Zealand hip hop groups, known for their fusion of [[Rapping|rap]] and [[New Zealand reggae|reggae]] in both [[English language|English]] and [[Māori people|Māori]]. Prominent members include [[DLT (musician)|DLT]], [[Dean Hapeta|Dean "Te Kupu" Hapeta]] and [[Teremoana Rapley]].

After signing to [[Jayrem Records]], Upper Hutt Posse released their first single, [[E Tū (Upper Hutt Posse song)|'E Tū']], in 1988, which paid homage to [[Te Rauparaha]] and the [[Ngāti Toa]] heritage of the [[Hutt Valley]]. Their debut album ''Against The Flow'' was released the next year, which brought them international recognition. The group then became closely associated with Moana and The Moahunters, of whom their key member Teremoana was also part of. The group's single [['Ragga Girl' (Upper Hutt Posse song)|'Ragga Girl']] appeared on the soundtrack the film [[Once Were Warriors (film)|''Once Were Warriors'']] in 1994. A new lineup of live musicians produced the 1995 album ''[[Movement in Demand (Upper Hutt Posse album)|Movement in Demand]]'', mixing their signature Hiphop style with their reggae roots. Subsequent albums increasingly featured the Māori language, such as ''[[Mā Te Wā (Upper Hutt Posse album)|Mā Te Wā]]'' in 2000 and ''[[Te Reo Māori Remixes]]'' in 2002, for which they won a [[Aotearoa Music Awards|Tui Award]]. In 2007 another 'live' lineup was formed including [[Maaka McGregor]] (drums) who had performed live with the group at various gigs since 1995. In November 2018, Upper Hutt Posse were inducted into the [[New Zealand Music Hall of Fame|New Zealand Music Hall of Fame - Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa.]]

== History ==
UHP formed as a four-piece reggae band in 1985.  Since their inception, Dean Hapeta (also known as D Word or Te Kupu) and the Posse have been fighting racial injustice through their music. In 1988 they released the first rap record and music-video in New Zealand, ''E Tū'', through [[Jayrem Records]].  The song combined African American revolutionary rhetoric with an explicitly [[Māori people|Māori]] frame of reference. It pays homage to Māori warrior chiefs resistant of British colonialism, [[Hōne Heke]], [[Te Kooti]], and [[Te Rauparaha]].<ref name=Mitchell>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.</ref>

Releasing their debut album, ''Against The Flow'' in 1989 through [[Southside Records (label)|Southside Records]], the group performed nationally and the following year in [[Sydney]] and then [[Detroit]].  ''Against The Flow'' consists of sequenced/programmed rap and reggae songs and a political slow jam 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 use 'featured' vocalists outside the group. In 1990, the group toured ''[[marae]]'' (Māori community centres), and supported [[Public Enemy (band)|Public Enemy]] when they visited New Zealand, and performed with the ragga artist [[Macka B|Macca B]] and the Zimbabwean group the [[Bhundu Boys]] in Australia.<ref name=Mitchell/> October 1992 saw the completion of a music-documentary, ''Solidarity'', showing UHPosse's visit to the U.S., co-directed by Dean Hapeta and Rongotai Lomas, the music-documentary was aired on [[TV One (New Zealand)|TV ONE]]'s ''[[Marae (TV series)|Marae]]''. With the departure of [[DLT (musician)|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 in late 1989. 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 (film)|Once Were Warriors]]'', the group's single ''Ragga Girl'' appeared on the soundtrack, with MC Wiya and D Word making cameo appearances. In 1993 UHP performed at the inaugural Polynesian Music Festival held in Rarotonga.

A new lineup in 1994 of live musicians produced the 1995 album ''Movement in Demand'', mixing their signature Hiphop style with their reggae roots, and adding the distinctive raggamuffin rap of Wiya. In 2000 album ''Mā Te Wā'' 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 1980s. ''[[Mā Te Wā (Upper Hutt Posse album)|Mā Te Wā]]'' is a digital reggae album completely in the Māori language. In 2002 UHP released ''[[Te Reo Māori Remixes]]'', a 10-track album of earlier favourites remixed and featuring only Māori-language lyrics. This album received a [[Aotearoa Music Awards|Tui Award]] at the [[2003 NZ Music Awards]] for 'Best Mana Māori Album'. In 2005, the group released a double album titled ''Legacy'' which includes two tracks performed by Te Kupu's daughter Ātaahua, notably a Māori-language version of ''The Greatest Love of All''. Disc One, ''Ngāti'' is predominantly in English language, while Disc Two, ''Huia'', is all in Māori.

In 2007 another 'live' lineup was formed including Maaka McGregor (drums) who had performed live with the group at various gigs since 1995, Dez Mallon (guitar) and Nathan Warren (bass), [[Dean Hapeta|Te Kupu]] and MC Wiya made up the five core members at that time which also included additional musicians. In July 2008 the first recording session for a new 'live band' studio album commenced at Trident Studio and in September 2008 ''Ka Whawhai Tonu Mātou'' from this first recording session was released digitally (alongside a music-video) as a special song denoting 20 years since the release of debut recording ''E Tū''. While production continued for the live band album through 2009, production began also on a bilingual (Māori and English language) electronica album titled ''Tohe'' released in July 2010. Then in October 2011 the live band album ''Declaration of Resistance'' was released, featuring images on its front cover from Te Kupu's six-part rap documentary ''Ngātahi – Know The Links''. Supported by the most extensive touring by the band to date, with Te Kupu fronting the band on electric guitar and MC Wiya on bass (a significant revamp), performing with a fluid lineup of live musicians.

In November 2018 Upper Hutt Posse were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame | Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa. Te Kupu selected eighteen past and present band members, and additional musicians whose contributions to the group warranted their being recognised: Dean Hapeta, Matthew Hapeta, Aaron Thompson, Darryl Thomson, Bennet Pomana, Teremoana Rapley, Steve Rameka, George Hubbard, Earl Robertson, Kiki Marama, Taki Matete, Katarina Kawana, Ātaahua Hapeta-Taereau, Maaka McGregor, Emma Paki, Des Mallon, Jeff Henderson, Kevin Rangihuna.

In January 2019 the first recording session for the next UHP album is held with Earl Robertson drumming to music sequenced by Te Kupu, followed by further sessions with drummers Ruben Das Gonzales, and then Riki Gooch, as well as recording sessions held at Matakahi Studio with various live musicians pulled in by Te Kupu, who himself plays bass, guitars, piano, synthesizer, alto saxophone and percussion, creating what he says is probably "the most musically-realised UHP album yet." 2021 will see ''Say Do Don't Do People'' the first single released prior to the album.

== Upper Hutt Posse lineups ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"|Member + Guest Musicians !! Founding members<br>(1985) !! ''Against The Flow''<br>(1989) !!  ''Movement in Demand''<br>(1995) !! ''Mā Te Wā''<br>(2000) !! ''Te Reo Māori Remixes''<br>(2002) !! ''Legacy''<br>(2005) !! ''Tohe''<br>(2010) !! ''Declaration of Resistance'' (2011)
|-
|style="background:black"| || '''Dean Hapeta / D Word / Te Kupu''' || colspan=8 style="background:black" |
|-
|style="background:darkred"| || '''Matthew Hapeta / M.C. Wiya'''  || colspan=3 style="background:darkred" | ||  || colspan=4 style="background:darkred" |
|-
| style="background:MediumBlue"| || '''Aaron Thompson''' || colspan=2 style="background:MediumBlue"| || || colspan=2 style="background:MediumBlue"| || || || style="background:MediumBlue"|
|-
| style="background:Green"| || '''Darryl Thomson / DLT''' || colspan=2 style="background:Green" | ||  ||  || style="background:Green" | || ||  ||
|-
| style="background:FireBrick"| || '''Bennett Pomana'''||  || style="background:FireBrick"| ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|style="background:Gold;"| || '''[[Teremoana Rapley]]''' ||  || style="background:Gold;"| ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|style="background:orange"| || '''Steve Rameka''' ||  || style="background:orange"| ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
| style="background:LimeGreen"| || '''Kiki Marama''' ||  ||  || colspan=2 style="background:LimeGreen"| || ||  || style="background:LimeGreen"| ||
|-
| style="background:Coral"| || '''Taki Matete'''  ||  ||  || style="background:Coral"| ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
| style="background:Teal"| || '''Earl Robertson''' ||  ||  || style="background:Teal"| ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
| style="background:SteelBlue"| || '''Rhys Bell''' ||  ||  || style="background:SteelBlue"| ||  || style="background:SteelBlue"| ||  ||  ||
|-
| style="background:GreenYellow"| || '''Emma Paki''' ||  ||  || style="background:GreenYellow"| ||  || colspan=2 style="background:GreenYellow"| ||  ||
|-
| style="background:MidnightBlue"| || '''Katarina Kawana''' ||  ||  ||  || colspan=2 style="background:MidnightBlue"| ||  ||  ||
|-
| style="background:Indigo"| || '''Ataahua Hapeta-Taereau''' ||  ||  ||  || style="background:Indigo"| || || colspan=3 style="background:Indigo"|
|-
| style="background:Purple"| || '''Des Mallon''' ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || style="background:Purple"|
|-
| style="background:DarkOrchid"| || '''Jeff Henderson''' ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || style="background:DarkOrchid"|
|-
| style="background:MediumOrchid"| || '''Maaka McGregor''' ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || style="background:MediumOrchid"|
|-
| style="background:MediumOrchid"| || '''Kevin Rangihuna''' ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || style="background:MediumOrchid"|
|-
| style="background:MediumOrchid"| || '''Crete Haami''' ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || style="background:MediumOrchid"|
|-
| style="background:MediumOrchid"| || '''Nathan Warren''' ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || style="background:MediumOrchid"|
|-
| style="background:MediumOrchid"| || '''Jeremy Coubrough''' ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || style="background:MediumOrchid"|
|-
| style="background:MediumOrchid"| || '''Nigel Paterson''' ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || style="background:MediumOrchid"|
|}

==Discography==

===Albums===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! rowspan="2" | Details
! Peak chart<br>positions
|-
! <small>[[RIANZ|NZ]]</small>
|-
| 1989
| ''Against the Flow'' 
|
* Label: Southside Records
* Catalogue: L 30177
| align="center" | —
|-
| 1995
| ''Movement in Demand'' 
|
* Label: Kia Kaha Productions / Tangata / BMG
* Released: 2 June 1995
| align="center" | —
|-
| 2000
| ''Mā Te Wā''
|
* Label: Kia Kaha Productions / Universal
* Released: 2 June 2000
| align="center" | —
|-
| 2002
| ''Te Reo Māori Remixes'' 
|
* Label: Kia Kaha Productions / Jayrem
* Released: 31 May 2002
| align="center" | —
|-
| 2004
| ''Dedicated '88-'91''
|
* Label: Kia Kaha Productions / Jayrem
* Released: 3 May 2004
| align="center" | —
|-
| 2005
| ''Legacy'' 
|
* Label: Kia Kaha Productions / Jayrem
* Released: 13 November 2005
| align="center" | —
|-
| 2010
| ''Tohe'' 
|
* Label: Kia Kaha Productions / Rhythmethod
* Released: 11 July 2010
| align="center" | —
|-
| 2011
| ''Declaration of Resistance''
|
* Label: Kia Kaha Productions / Rhythmethod
* Released: 22 October 2011
| align="center" | —
|-
|colspan="4" style="font-size:90%" align="center" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|-
|}

===Singles===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! rowspan="2"  width="1em" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! width="3em" | Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2" | Album
|-
! <small>[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ]]</small><ref>{{cite web|title=DISCOGRAPHY UPPER HUTT POSSE|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Upper+Hutt+Posse|work=charts.nz|access-date=3 May 2013}}</ref> 
|-
| 1988
| "E Tu"
| align="center" | —
| Non-album single
|-
| 1989
| "Do It Like This"
| align="center" | 33
| ''Against The Flow''
|-
| 1990
| "Against the Flow / That's The Beat (remixes)"
| align="center" | 44
| Non-album single
|-
| 1991
| "Stormy Weather (remix)"
| align="center" | —
|  Non-album single
|-
| 1992
| "Ragga Girl"
| align="center" | 48
|  Non-album single
|-
| 1995
| "Can't Get Away"
| align="center" | —
| ''Movement in Demand''
|-
| 1995
| "As the Blind See"
| align="center" | —
| ''Movement in Demand''
|-
| 2005
| "Overcome"
| align="center" | —
| ''Legacy''
|-
| 2008
| "Ka Whawhai Tonu Mātou"
| align="center" | —
| ''Declaration of Resistance''
|-
|colspan="4" style="font-size:90%" align="center" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|-
|}

==Awards==
===Aotearoa Music Awards===
The [[Aotearoa Music Awards]] (previously known as ''New Zealand Music Awards'' (NZMA)) are an annual awards night celebrating excellence in [[music in New Zealand|New Zealand music]] and have been presented annually since 1965.

{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 1989 || Upper Hutt Posse  || Most Promising Group|| {{nom}} ||rowspan="3"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusicawards.nz/award-history/|title=Aotearoa Music Awards|website=aotearoamusicawards.nz|access-date=18 August 2021|archive-date=25 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025201023/https://aotearoamusicawards.nz/award-history/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 2003 || Upper Hutt Posse (Te Reo Maori Remixes) || Mana Māori || {{won}} 
|-
| 2012 || ''Declaration of Resistance'' || Mana Māori || {{nom}} 
|-
| 2018 || Upper Hutt Posse || [[New Zealand Music Hall of Fame]] || {{yes2|inductee}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musichall.co.nz/home/inductees/|title=HOME INDUCTEES|website=musichall.co.nz|access-date=16 August 2021}}</ref>
|-
{{end}}

== References ==

<references/>

==External links==
*[https://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/upper-hutt-posse AudioCulture profile]
*[http://www.tekupu.com/UPPERHUTTPOSSE.html A review] from [http://www.tekupu.com/ Te Kupu]
*[http://tekupu.com/UPPERHUTTPOSSE.html Official site]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:New Zealand hip-hop groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1985]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Māori-language singers]]