1 Nov 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Rei - Album Review: Hoea

14 Jul 2020 // A review by Steve Shyu
Over the past five years, Rei has worked his way to become arguably Wellington’s new king of Hip-Hop, on top of which he is also one of many in the rising tide of Rap artists writing in both English and Te Reo. Ever since I saw Rei open for Sons of Zion at The Powerstation two years ago, my interests have piqued further every time his name is mentioned on air or shows up billed on a music event.

I should state early on that, though my understanding of Te Reo has not exceeded Intermediate School levels, I still hold deep reverence for the language and culture. Needless to say, I’ve also been watching with equal parts interest and excitement the gradual rise of Te Reo in Kiwi music in recent years. Besides, there’s much more to music than just a song’s lyrical content, so understandably, when this album fell in my lap I was beyond eager to hear what Rei has been creating.

Straight off the bat in the opening instrumental, the cultural influences are clear, as heard in chorused chants and traditional wind instruments. Immediately followed by the lead single, and album namesake, Hoea, a groove-heavy number with a hyper-catchy chorus.

As with the rest of the album, there are some very clean and clever rhythmic manipulations in Te Reo on every track. It becomes clear pretty early in the album that one doesn’t necessarily need to comprehend the lyrics to appreciate the positive energy and songwriting that has gone into creating this album.

There’s the radio-ready Ohia, which is pumped full of melodic hooks smoothed out over a bopping, tropical-house groove. Most rhythms across the album revolve around deep bass kicks and snappy snares, in the mid-to-slow tempos common in hip-hop since the early 2010’s. Tracks like Ohia and Nohea lean harder into reggaeton grooves, giving summery and refreshing Pacific tastes that have long been signatures of Aotearoa pop and RnB. The more urban sounding tunes of Auahi Ana and Rapeti boast a generous serving of attitude and deep basslines.

Holy Heka, serving as the album closer, is also the only track that features English lyrics. The rhythms on this song are particularly deep, making it easy to picture this played at a downtown nightclub. However, Rei’s imprint of heritage is not lost, as samples of tribal drums and flutes punctuate the choruses. Possibly the most impactful track of the record, it’s an understatement to say that Rei has saved the best for last!

Hip-Hop and Rap music has thrived in New Zealand for as long as the genres themselves have been around; here, Rei has now left a mark on the scene that is unique and created a sound of his own.

Be sure to follow Rei on Facebook and YouTube, then stream his latest album Hoea on Apple Music and Spotify.

Rating: ( 4 / 5 )
 

About Rei

Chief, Rangatira, Fair-skinned, Rapper… we all have our definitions of ourselves and those that are given to us. Rei's album A Place To Stand is a personal and universal. It's beautifully produced with content that rides the line between reverse colonisation, inspiration, hip-hop, culture and a passion to make a dope album.

If Rei is an example of upcoming Kiwi artists, the future looks bright. From creating music the last 10 years to present his multi genre sound, Rei is definitely on the cutting edge, and is influenced by our global music community. Mostly by the UK House/Garage style, by Hip hop from major US rappers but, his album has the extra elements of Maori language, haka and kiwi slang, making the sum of A Place to Stand a smoothly produced audio experience. It also sounds BIG in a stadium or club setting.

Already releasing a number of tracks from this album, A Place To Stand includes beauties like Mix an electro acoustic ballad (with Rei on guitar), a lot of club bangers such as Deep and a few not-so- cheesy love songs like Basics.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Rei

Releases

Ariki
Year: 2022
Type: Album
Enjoy The Ride Pt 1
Year: 2021
Type: Album
Hoea
Year: 2020
Type: Album
The Bridge
Year: 2019
Type: Album
Rangatira
Year: 2018
Type: EP
A Place To Stand
Year: 2017
Type: Album

Other Reviews By Steve Shyu

Gig Review: Dougfest 2 - Night 2 @ Last Place, Hamilton - 26/10/2024
28 Oct 2024 // by Steve Shyu
DougFest is back. Bigger, bolder, and heftier than the first.
Read More...
Muriwai - Album Review: Muriwai
02 Oct 2024 // by Steve Shyu
Muriwai is the latest undertaking by Bob Bickerton and Ariana Tikao, a new and greatly anticipated collaboration in Aotearoa’s world of traditional music. Bob is a highly influential sound engineer, performer, educator, a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music, and composer who has worked in the New Zealand music industry for almost 50 years.
Read More...
Fan Club - EP Review: Towards The Sun
09 Jul 2024 // by Steve Shyu
2024 is set to be another monumental year for Tamaki Makaurau’s Fan Club. Just last year they claimed a multitude of awards, including the top prize at Raise Up’s New Found Sound, and placing first in the Auckland Central Final of the SmokeFree RockQuest.
Read More...
Havening - Double Album Review: Wavelengths of Light
26 May 2024 // by Steve Shyu
Big things are happening for Bonnie O'Donnell. Under her alias of Havening, she’s been eagerly crafting bucketloads of electronic music, releasing them all as not one, but two albums.
Read More...
Gig Review: Homegrown 2024 @ Wellington Waterfront - 16/03/2024 Part 2
18 Mar 2024 // by Steve Shyu
With nothing of last night's rainstorm in sight except puddles in the asphalt, the sun warmed the air to counter the day's cold breeze. There was plenty of talk of a cold snap on the way, but I was confident my tee and hoodie combo would suffice.
Read More...
EP Review: PHNX
11 Mar 2024 // by Steve Shyu
Aotearoa, look out for a rising star on the horizon.Under his stage name PHNX, 18-year-old singer-songwriter and producer Phoenix Simpson has released his self-titled debut EP and it’s a gem.
Read More...
EP Review: Ben Ruegg
29 Feb 2024 // by Steve Shyu
Ben Ruegg is one of the most hard-working people I personally know. He's a Muzic.
Read More...
Bevan Mical - Album Review: Division & Difference
12 Dec 2023 // by Steve Shyu
Since 2017 Bevan Mical has been busy. Hailing from the small Waikato town of Turua, he’s now onto his fourth full-length album, this one entitled Division & Difference.
Read More...
View All Articles By Steve Shyu

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • APT.
    ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
    Gracie Abrams
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • SAILOR SONG
    Gigi Perez
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem