The beat is punchy and crisp with a very strong Dr Dre feel. The beat recreates Dre’s signature piano stabs, sliding glassy “sine wave” synths and a romping bass line in the harmonic minor scale.
Icepro's timbre and accent denotes two Maori gentlemen “keeping it real” rapping about rocking shows, wiling out and hustling.
Hailing from Palmerston North, Icepro has combined the West Coast sound of the USA with the West Coast sound of New Zealand, uniting the two countries in one brilliant track while paying homage to the heyday of Gangster Rap. Last Breath brings all this to the attention of a new generation while showcasing Icepro's own take on the West Coast sound.
Check out Last Breath on Spotify.
Review written by James Castady-Kristament
Taipari ” Icepro ” Waaka is an independent Maori musician, a music producer, events and radio host, community worker and youth mentor based in Palmerston North.
With 20 years+ experience, having won regional “Pasifika Beats” competition twice in highschool, furthering education at Wintec Hamilton, and with numerous events and projects under his belt including One Love and The Marleys Festival, Icepro has built a solid foundation within the local New Zealand music scene. Performing along side international and national artists Sean Kingston and Baby Bash, Katchafire and Tiki Taane, Icepro has found much success as a solo artist. Reaching out to local youth groups and establishments, hosting shows such as Children’s Day and IT Factor, and performing at the 2016 Coronation in Ngaruawahia and Christmas in the Square, hosting an Aotearoa music radio show for the last 4 years through Access Manawatu, demonstrating his willingness to be a positive member of his community.
Currently producing music out of his studio for various national and international musicians, and continuing community participation through music workshops and performances, Icepro recently released his first solo body of work titled The Me, My Selfie & Ice EP and found great success, having being nominated for Best Rap / Urban / Hip Hop & RnB album for 2017 by the Waiata Maori Awards. The project is a personal and revealing piece, intended to show the depth and diversity of his passion for the craft of music.