The Upper Hutt Posse is a musical group named after the city of Upper Hutt in Wellington (region), New Zealand. It has a pan-racial message, which often seems to criticise aspects of the Government of the day.
The group started as a reggae band in 1985. In 1988 it produced the country's first rap record, E Tü, and has done much hip-hop.
After years of going from strength to strength, the Posse got a "Tui" Award for Best Mana Maori Album at the NZ Music Awards 2003.
Members
Dean Hapeta (D-Word)
Matt Hapeta (Wiya)
Steve Rameka (Acid Dread)
Darryl Thompson (DLT)
Teremoana Rapley (Tere)
External links
Te Kupu's long review (http://www.tekupu.com/UPPERHUTTPOSSE.html)
NZ Herald article on Dean Hapeta (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3509232&thesection=news&thesubsection=general)
These include Dalvanius Prime, whose "Poi E" was the first New Zealand hip hop hit, Dean Hapeta, and UpperHuttPosse, whose 1988 E Tu was the first album of pure hip hop.
Some rappers, such as the members of UpperHuttPosse, became known for politicized lyrics in support of tino rangatiratanga (Maori sovereignty).
It was UpperHuttPosse's DJ, DLT, that helped lay the groundwork for a local scene in Auckland, from which arose Joint Force, Che Fu and Dam Native.
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