UPPERHUTTPOSSE

'Droppin' bombs on the wicked deed' (by Stephen Zepke)

Upper Hutt Posse aren't a symptom of the recent rise in Mäori activism, they're a cause.Since their inception as a reggae band in 1985, Dean Hapeta, aka D Word, aka Te Kupu and the Posse have been fighting racial injustice through their music. In 1988 they released Aotearoa's first rap record, 'E Tü', and with it they defined themselves as one of Mäori youth's most relevant voices, and more than that, a voice for the youth of Aotearoa, and all those who see the need for change. UHP and Dean Hapeta are radicals, and thats one of the best things about them. The Posse just go from strength to strength, with the latest album, 'Movement In Demand', mixing their signature hip-hop style with their reggae roots, and adding the distinctive raggamuffin rap of Wiya. The lyrics, as uncompromising and uplifting as ever, send an astute message of anger, action, and education. The Posse are 'Droppin' bombs on the wicked deed' ('Can't Get Away'), but they're 'warriors of knowledge' as well. Dean Hapeta and the UHP have an uncanny ability to combine anger and aggression, with knowledge and love, and this is what makes both their music and their politics so appealing. The new album is musically smooth, sophisticated and very seductive. It's lyrics however, are defiantly hardcore, and it is this disjunction of tones, like that in G-funk but to a different end, that makes it awesome. The striking cover for 'Movement In Demand' collages together previous great Mäori leaders, and there are liner notes on each inside. First, its educational, as the schools don't teach us about these people. Second, the Mäori heroes come from a widely spread number of tribes, and as such represent one of Dean's underlying messages, tribal unity. For him, tribalism is a curse, and while respecting tribal differences in protocol and other like things, believes that as Mäori people face the same problems of institutional racism, so they will be strongest and most effective if facing them together. The figures on the cover include warriors, such as Hone Heke or Rewi Maniapoto, politicians such as Apirana Ngata, and pacifists like Te Whiti O Rongomai. To explain the variety Dean invokes Malcolm X, 'By any means necessary', and while he has never been against violent struggle believes politics also has its role. Unsurprisingly then, Dean has been actively involved in the current protests, spending time at Pakaitore, Wanganui, during its recent occupation. At the height of the stand-off with the police the word from from the elders was that there was to be no violence, and this was something Dean found hard to deal with, thinking he had 'better sneak out the back, then'. But the police backed off from forcibly evicting the protesters, mainly, according to Dean, because of the widespread support for the protest. This support was forthcoming from many Pakeha's, a fact generally unreported in the press. This made the victory of the occupation that much more important for Dean, it being 'in the heart'. So the Posse's political rhetoric is not simply anti-white, rather their anger is directed at the white institutions, institutions which victimise white youth as well as minorities. Indeed much interesting Posse politics come in on this point, condemning 'Three piece suits stifling younger generations/... Too damn ignorant to understand /Blinded, deafened by misconception/Unwilling to trust unconvention/Norms of society afraid of rejection/Change is the threat, difference is accommodated/Fair decision is dismissed, society's upheld/Conformative behaviour the play of the pawns/Fence dwelling, truth selling I scorn' ('Fuck The Status Quo'). So the message is pan-racial; 'Wake up, get up. Mash up society/So we can forge a better place to be/Free of wicked politics and dirty tricks against true humanity/ ...Actions now are gonna forge the future tense/Hence we gotta teach peace, truth/ Inspiration for true equity thats what we gotta be'. ('Movement In Demand'). The Posse are a force of change, challenging the status quo and its racism, but seeking a new world in which harmony and peace can get a chance to work; 'Connection is positive, not enough touching/Lives avoided, barricades of fear colliding'. ('Fuck The Status Quo'). But the radicalism remains undiluted, and compromise is not the path the Posse advocates. 'Movement In Demand' contains plenty to inflame: 'Like Hone Heke don't be no weak heart fool/Non-violence is a choice, it ain't no fucken rule' ('Hardcore'). Dean is definitely drawn to the romance of declaring war and going out to fight the invader. And there is plenty of this feeling on the album; 'For Babylon put a gun in ya hand/So here's what I figure, pull the trigger' ('Gun In My Hand'). But it's not simply violence for its own sake, governments racism puts a gun in the hand of the oppressed, and Mäori people have been targets of the government for so long that shooting back becomes a natural option; 'The heads of Government are evil and cunning/The Polytricks man out there, yes creating war /...So now listen here man cause a this ya have to know/What so ever you reap you will surely sow' ('Dread On A Mission'). Shooting back at the government is nothing less than it deserves. But the Posse's anger is against an institution of, not the race it represents. As such, Dean isn't interested in getting an equal slice of the white mans pie, or any other sell-out plans. His is a politics of difference, 'We should be looking for a different way' he says, not white against black (the status quo), nor black against white, but love verses hate and freedom verses oppression, because we all suffer under a government and its institutionalised mechanisms of oppression; 'This law is a redneck law - institutional racism with blameless flaws - this justice wretched by nepotists - bigoted in concept inept and lacking depth' ('As The Blind See'). The Posse are activists, angered by prejudices, discrimination and injustices, and prepared to fight for what is right. But they are teachers too, and see past the racial hatred the government tries to encourage, towards an educated and aware youth able to take control of its own lives, and a society where they can do that. So Dean's emphasis on education, giving people the information they need to see the lies we live our lives through. In this sense one of the most potent aspects of the album is the use of Mäori language in the songs, with 'Tangata Whenua' being entirely in Mäori. And it sounds great, Maori seemingly an excellent language to rap in. Dean Hapeta and UHP occupy one of the most interesting political positions in Aotearoa today. Maori activists and warriors, but teachers also, their project combines these aspects within the immediately accessible genre of hip-hop, indicating a true way forward. And we can all do well to listen, which given the Posse funk is a pleasure to do. 'I belong in this land Aotearoa/Discovered long ago by my mighty Tupuna/So I'm on a high, dedicated many many years/Fight against the racist, he missed, I resist/ Blissed out with the knowledge of victory, I'll neva stop/Drop solid props like I said to the struggle/Fed well from the words ya hear I'm sayin' it no shit Hardcore'. ('Hardcore')