King Kapisi

KING KAPISI is hip hop royalty in his native New Zealand but he’s not one for resting on his laurels. BENNY DOYLE feels immediately lazy as he listens to some tales regarding the present life of the King.
“I’m off down to Christchurch today,” Kapisi explains from across the pond. “I’m a bit scared to be honest though, you know they’ve had like 2,000 aftershocks? King Kapisi is used to shaking the foundations of a venue but when the shaking isn’t his own, understandably the King is concerned. We’re staying inside a hotel but as soon as I feel that shake bro I’m running frantically! I’m mad looking forward to the gig though!”
Having been commanding the mic for well over a decade, the South Pacific hip hop icon is well aware of the positive force his music can bring to the people and is happy to take a risk if it means making a difference.
“My music has had the chance to touch the hearts of some people,” Kapisi begins. “Like I’ve had some people come up to me and go, ‘Listen bro, all I had was your album for the last three years in Albania’, somewhere real far away. I used to laugh at that type of stuff y’know, but now I truly understand how music can reach and move and be a part of someone’s life, where before I just used to make it. It becomes really humbling when someone comes up and says that to you, so just going down to support the people of Christchurch and give them a bit of relief is a real honour and why I make music.” You can’t keep King Kapisi still, his fingers in many pies including songwriting, production, music video directing and fashion with his successful line of clothing, Overstayer. This weekend the workhorse is bringing this ethic to Island Vibe where he is not only performing his usual freestyle duties but playing with a full band, doing a DJ set and assisting with workshops during the three day festival.
“The main thing about Island Vibe for me is to put some smiles on the young people’s faces. I’ll be spinning some reggae records then I’ll play some hip hop songs so people will get a different vibe.” Kapisi continues, “We have youth, we have people in general that need guidance. With the workshops, a couple of things I have learnt along my journey, that knowledge can be passed on to help others. That’s what it’s all about.”
Kapisi’s latest film clip, Safari, sees the New Zealander travelling to Bangkok for the shoot. Typically, it was an incredibly productive holiday that saw King and his posse barely come up for air in over a week.
“Any minimum amount of money you’re given is much appreciated so we utilised the money we have and shot two music clips while we were there,” he says. “I shot Safari and Superhuman, that’s on my TV channel as well, Manifestation NZ on YouTube. We had nine days there and knocked out two music videos, did a gig for 300,000 people, did another gig in Bangkok and then I recorded a track with one of Thailand’s leading hip hop groups, Thaitanium. They’re going to be on my next album.” Having shared the stage with many big names over his career, the man his mother calls Bill Urale still isn’t short on dream collaborations for the future. Some a little more surprising than others... “Stevie Wonder definitely. Buju [Banton] as well... Did I say Bounty Killer? Even on the Australian side, I want to do a song with Jimmy Barnes,” he states without a hit of humour in his voice. “If you know him bro tell him. I’ve been trying hard to get a message through to him to say, ‘Bro there’s this dope cat from New Zealand that wants to do a track with you!’”
WHO: King Kapisi WHERE & WHEN: Island Vibe, Stradbroke Island, Friday Oct 29 (DJ set) and Saturday Oct 30 - timeoff.com.au

KING KAPISI is hip hop royalty in his native New Zealand but he’s not one for resting on his laurels. BENNY DOYLE feels immediately lazy as he listens to some tales regarding the present life of the King.
“I’m off down to Christchurch today,” Kapisi explains from across the pond. “I’m a bit scared to be honest though, you know they’ve had like 2,000 aftershocks? King Kapisi is used to shaking the foundations of a venue but when the shaking isn’t his own, understandably the King is concerned. We’re staying inside a hotel but as soon as I feel that shake bro I’m running frantically! I’m mad looking forward to the gig though!”
Having been commanding the mic for well over a decade, the South Pacific hip hop icon is well aware of the positive force his music can bring to the people and is happy to take a risk if it means making a difference.
“My music has had the chance to touch the hearts of some people,” Kapisi begins. “Like I’ve had some people come up to me and go, ‘Listen bro, all I had was your album for the last three years in Albania’, somewhere real far away. I used to laugh at that type of stuff y’know, but now I truly understand how music can reach and move and be a part of someone’s life, where before I just used to make it. It becomes really humbling when someone comes up and says that to you, so just going down to support the people of Christchurch and give them a bit of relief is a real honour and why I make music.” You can’t keep King Kapisi still, his fingers in many pies including songwriting, production, music video directing and fashion with his successful line of clothing, Overstayer. This weekend the workhorse is bringing this ethic to Island Vibe where he is not only performing his usual freestyle duties but playing with a full band, doing a DJ set and assisting with workshops during the three day festival.
“The main thing about Island Vibe for me is to put some smiles on the young people’s faces. I’ll be spinning some reggae records then I’ll play some hip hop songs so people will get a different vibe.” Kapisi continues, “We have youth, we have people in general that need guidance. With the workshops, a couple of things I have learnt along my journey, that knowledge can be passed on to help others. That’s what it’s all about.”
Kapisi’s latest film clip, Safari, sees the New Zealander travelling to Bangkok for the shoot. Typically, it was an incredibly productive holiday that saw King and his posse barely come up for air in over a week.
“Any minimum amount of money you’re given is much appreciated so we utilised the money we have and shot two music clips while we were there,” he says. “I shot Safari and Superhuman, that’s on my TV channel as well, Manifestation NZ on YouTube. We had nine days there and knocked out two music videos, did a gig for 300,000 people, did another gig in Bangkok and then I recorded a track with one of Thailand’s leading hip hop groups, Thaitanium. They’re going to be on my next album.” Having shared the stage with many big names over his career, the man his mother calls Bill Urale still isn’t short on dream collaborations for the future. Some a little more surprising than others... “Stevie Wonder definitely. Buju [Banton] as well... Did I say Bounty Killer? Even on the Australian side, I want to do a song with Jimmy Barnes,” he states without a hit of humour in his voice. “If you know him bro tell him. I’ve been trying hard to get a message through to him to say, ‘Bro there’s this dope cat from New Zealand that wants to do a track with you!’”
WHO: King Kapisi WHERE & WHEN: Island Vibe, Stradbroke Island, Friday Oct 29 (DJ set) and Saturday Oct 30 - timeoff.com.au

Transcribed radio interview - ABC - Australia Broadcasting Corporation

Transcribed radio interview - ABC - Australia Broadcasting Corporation

All of the vocalists sang with passion and style. King Kapisi proved to be the perfect picture of restraint, showing off a sweet soul croon and managing the task of being an occasional hype man, helping to keep the audience's energy up, without resorting to hip-hop clichés. - Stuff.co.nz

His first album, 'Savage Thoughts' was the first NZ hip-hop
album to go Gold

He was the first Polynesian hip-hop artist to receive the APRA Silver Scroll (for 'Reverse Resistance')

He has won countless awards for his music and videos – one year collecting 7 (out of 13 nominations) B-Net awards alone

The first single, "Raise Up" was written with Scribe and is a statement of intent for the album -- a call to action for the rest of us.

He has played with international acts like Beastie Boys, Janet
Jackson, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Black-Eyed Peas

Both prior albums were successfully released in Australia
There is no one else like this man. He challenges the status quo, he challenges himself musically and with this album, he is definitely back and entirely on form to the benefit of us all. He's raised the bar. - Amplifier.co.nz