Tipene reaches much more than just a hip-hop audience with his music, catering to all New Zealanders with phrases and references to things like pounamu pendants, gumboots, lambs tails, kina, and the classic phrase ‘goin hundy’.

With an album that has been ‘35 years in the making’, 8 of them in the public eye, Tautoko (meaning ’support’) is a personal insight into what growing up in the New Zealand provinces around the turn of the century has been like for rural Maori.

Tipene’s album Tautoko features some of the most recognised Kiwi musicians of the past 30 years. The opening track - also called ‘Tautoko’ - samples ‘For the Life of Me’ by Prince Tui Teka, an iconic entertainment great. Also included on the album are features from Che Fu, Scribe, DLT, Dam Native, Majic, Tyna Keelan, PT and Sid Diamond along with others. The Producers on the album also includes prominent names such as Sickdrumz (Rihanna, Lil Wayne), Juse (Smashproof) and Chong Nee (Che Fu, PT)

The record largely reflects Tipene’s pride and love for his Maori and rural heritage, friends and his family. Tipene pays homage to NZ hip-hop greats in ‘Pioneers (feat. DLT, Dam Native & Tyna)’. He tells of growing up in the heartland of New Zealand with his track ‘B.A.D. (feat. Scribe)', meaning (Hawkes) ‘Bay' ‘All' ‘Day’, and his recent single 'Nanny's House (feat Tyna)’ brings up memories for many kiwis who have found an escape, kai (food), acceptance and lessons that carve out our one’s character at their grandparents house.

Tipene has supported The Wailers, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Fiji, J Boog and Joe Walsh (The Eagles), also playing to crowds at Splore, Ragamuffin Roadshow, Exodus and East Coast Vibes. His 2012 release ‘West Side Hori’ earned him a shortlist finalist nomination for the APRA Silver Scroll Awards the following year. The remix version (featuring Sid Diamond and Sir T) has clocked up more than 2 million streams on YouTube and Spotify.

The Ngati Kahungunu native holds strong ties to his community and reflects this through his work. Tipene is dedicated to helping others and received the Rangatahi Leadership Award in 2016 and was a Flaxmere Hero in 2014 for his contribution to his community. He has supported the youth alcohol expo and helped to raise awareness for youth suicide, and has been mentoring up and coming musicians with the New Zealand Music Commission. Tipene also opened The Niche Aotearoa, a creative arts hub in Hastings which supported local talent in music, dance, film and art. They offered music production services, music workshops and free youth leadership programmes, providing platforms for locals to unleash their creativity.

Tipene’s work is truly something special, which New Zealanders can connect with. Featuring some of the nations most iconic Maori and Pacific musicians, Tautoko is set to become a landmark feature of New Zealand music and it’s history.