Super Bad

March 2000, by KERRY BUCHANAN

Another beautiful release is Te Kupu's Ko Te Matakahi Kupu (Kia Kaha). D Word from Upper Hutt Posse has given us a gift, a koha, to treasure. A spiritual work that uses the rap idiom of storytelling but places it in a new perspective, its writing has the resonance of knowledge that comes from resistance and thoughtful struggle. Te Kupu writes, 'fear the inciter', because such a person does what we don't - that is talk in words of beauty, so we can learn from them and talk in words of strength, so we can act on them. 'Chosen paths of resistance/Blooming flowers of existence/Sing to me the treasures of thee/Speak the words for all to be'. It's a humbling experience, arohanui Dean. Ko Te Matakahi Kupu is released in two versions, English and the sublime Te Reo Maori edition.