Rei is a 21 year old Hip-Hop artist hailing from Wellington. I was first introduced to Rei through Kid n Rei and their music video for their song Bloody Sick Kids. I thought the song and music video were really cool and I've just checked out Rei's solo music and his new video for his song Peace Pipes from his upcoming debut album C.H.I.E.F, which is dropping in April 2015.
I felt that his song Peace Pipes is a thoughtful self analysis of Rei's Whakapapa and genealogy and where he wants to go in his life with his musical ambitions. Basically looking back through his past to discover who he is so he can move forward through the obstacles of this very hard industry with confidence.
It's certainly evident that Rei is a talented artist who takes what he does seriously. He produced, mixed and mastered his Kid N Rei EP Balanced and on this new track his music video has some really cool black and white artistic imagery and is a step up in quality to the usual home made looking music videos you'd expect from an up-and-comer.
At only 21 Rei is really giving it all he's got with two music videos released for his forth coming album, not to mention the work he did with Kid n Rei. This is the level of grind needed to make it in this very competitive and ultra critical industry and I think Rei has what it takes to make it. Oh and best of all Rei uses his own very strong kiwi accent. Which gives him extra points from me.
Check out Rei's new single Peace Pipes.
Check out Rei's first single Not Yet
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.