King Kapisi

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Bill Urale
Festival Mushroom Records
Quabax Wax
Websitekingkapisi.net
King Kapisi (Bill Urale) performing "Raise Up".

Bill Rangi Urale

hip hop recording artist. He was the first hip hop artist in New Zealand to receive the Silver Scroll Award at the APRA Awards
for Songwriter of the Year for his single Reverse Resistance in 1999.

Career

King Kapisi signed as an artist with Festival Mushroom Records (NZ). In 2000 he released his critically acclaimed debut album Savage Thoughts, followed by a second album, 2nd Round Testament, released in New Zealand and Australia in 2003. Local sales for both albums hit the gold status mark. King Kapisi also achieved gold with his single U Can't Resist Us, featuring New Zealand hip hop icon Che Fu in 2003.

International acts

King Kapisi has performed alongside

The Black Eyed Peas, Beastie Boys, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more. He has performed at almost every major music festival and event in New Zealand as well as tours to Australia, Japan, Fiji, Hawaii, Tonga, New York City, London, Toronto, Germany, Ireland, France and Norway
.

In 2003, King Kapisi represented New Zealand at the

Cold Crush Brothers, Jazzy Jay
and The Rocksteady Crew. King Kapisi was also given the opportunity to record a track with the legendary Kay Gee from the Cold Crush Brothers. The European leg of his 2003 overseas trip saw him perform a showcase at the international music conference POPKOMM in Cologne, Germany. He also spent time in Kaiserslautern, Germany recording with Germany-based American producer, Smitty K.

In 2004, Kapisi was invited by the German government as part of its new initiative scheme to promote cultural exchanges between New Zealand and Germany. Having supported German rap star MC Clueso in a New Zealand tour, Kapisi headed back to Germany to attend the POPKOMM music conference for a second time with Goethe-Institute playing host. Kapisi had the opportunity to record two tracks with German music producers Trickski and Slope from the Sonar Kollectiv record company. Kapisi also produced tracks for various local hip hop artists in Berlin, Amsterdam, Dublin, Toronto and Sydney.

Lyrics

King Kapisi's music and lyrics raise issues relevant to Pacific Island people living in New Zealand. He often challenges the role of Christianity and the church in contemporary Samoan society which is deeply devout. King Kapisi believes his music to be deeply connected to the culture of the Pacific people.[1]

King Kapisi attempts to keep his music "real" by rapping about his Pacific heritage and the hip hop scene. He uses hip hop to promote the message of "keeping it real" through your culture, learning your language, and knowing "where you are from."[2] Kapisi's lyrics and imagery have explored his complex post-Diaspora Pacific immigrant identity. He is a prime example of how New Zealand MC's are able to rap about their Diasporic identity in the text of their rap lyrics. Kapisi is now reaching out to the bigger global market. The transfer of Samoan hip hop identity to the US is something that already exists with artists who have settled and embraced their cultural heritage.[3]

Samoa

King Kapisi is from

Savaii. His family are from the villages of Fagamalo, Matavai & Faletagaloa, Falealupo
and Safaatoa in Lefaga district.

Overstayer Label

In 2002, he started his own urban streetwear clothing label Overstayer Clothing. The name Overstayer refers to the infamous

Farmers (department stores) in New Zealand. The label is now available through selected outlets and his web store, The Plantation Store
.

Discography

Albums

Year Title Details Peak chart
positions
NZ
2000 Savage Thoughts
  • Released: 29 November 2000
  • Label: FMR
  • Catalogue: D 32110
  • Features: Overstayers from Kua (DJ Raw, Tha Feelstyle), Teremoana Rapley
 9
2003 2nd Round Testament
  • Released: 5 June 2003
  • Label: FMR
  • Catalogue: 336412
  • Features: Che Fu, Spikey Tee
 11
2005 Dominant Species
  • Released: 10 October 2005
  • Label:
    Warner Music
  • Catalogue: 338765
  • Features: Savage, Adeaze, Scribe, Open Thought, Ben Makisi
 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

EPs

Year Title Details Peak chart
positions
NZ
2011 Salvation
  • Released: 27 February 2011
  • Label: Quabax Wax
  • Features: The Mint Chicks, Luciano
 9
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
NZ
1998 "Vertikal Sequels" — Non-album single
"Sub-Cranium Feeling" 8 Non-album single
1999 "Reverse Resistance" 21 Savage Thoughts
2000 "Screams from da Old Plantation" —
"2nd Migration" 45
2001 "Saboteur" —
2003 "U Can't Resist Us"
feat. Che Fu 		9 2nd Round Testament
"Stomping" —
"Conversate" —
"Elemental Forces" —
2005 "Raise Up" 18 Dominant Species
"Lollipop" —
2009 "Hip Hop 4 Life" — Non-album single
"Stand"
feat. Luciano 		— Non-album single
2010 "Safari"
feat. Dr Richard Nunns 		— Non-album single
"Superhuman"
feat. The Mint Chicks 		— Non-album single
2011 "Salvation" — Salvation EP
"Clap Ya Hands" — Non-album single
"Won't Stop, Can't Stop"
feat. Teremoana Rapley 		— Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Honours and awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1999 King Kapisi NZ Music Awards: Most Promising Male Vocalist Nominated
1999 "Sub Cranium Feeling" NZ Music Awards: Best Music Video Nominated
1999 King Kapisi bNet Music Awards: Male Fox Won
1999 "Reverse Resistance" APRA Silver Scroll Won
2000 "Reverse Resistance" bNet Music Awards: Best hip hop/reggae/dub release Won
2000 "Reverse Resistance" bNet Music Awards: Best song Won
2001 Savage Thoughts bNet Music Awards: Best Cover Art Won
2001 "Screems from da Old Plantation" bNet Music Awards: Best Music Video Won
2001 King Kapisi bNet Music Awards: Best Live Act Won
2001 Savage Thoughts bNet Music Awards: Best Hip Hop Release Won
2001 "Screems from da Old Plantation" bNet Music Awards: Best Song Won
2001 Savage Thoughts bNet Music Awards: Best Album Nominated
2004 2nd Round Testament NZ Music Awards: Best Urban/Hip Hop Album Nominated
2006 Dominant Species Pacific Music Awards: Best Pacific Male Artist Nominated
2006 Dominant Species Pacific Music Awards: Best Pacific Urban Artist Nominated
2014 "Crush" Pacific Music Awards: Best Pacific Music Video Won
2014 "Crush" Pacific Music Awards: Best Pacific Urban Artist Nominated
2015 "Welcome Back" Pacific Music Awards: Best Pacific Male Artist Nominated

In the

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to music and the community.[4]

References

  1. ^ The Space Music Feature: King Kapisi & the rise of Samoan hip hop
  2. ^ Zemke-White, Kirsten. 'How many dudes you know roll like this?': the re-presentation of hip hop tropes in New Zealand rap music' Issue 10. The Visualization of the Subaltern in World Music. On Musical Contestation Strategies (Part 1) http://www.imageandnarrative.be/worldmusica/kirstenzemkewhite.htm Archived 13 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Henderson, April K. "Dancing Between Islands: Hip Hop and the Samoan Diaspora." In The Vinyl Ain’t Final: Hip Hop and the Globalization of Black Popular Culture, ed. by Dipannita Basu and Sidney J. Lemelle, 180-199. London; Ann Arbor, MI: Pluto Press, 200
  4. ^ "The Queen's Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours List 2022". The New Zealand Herald. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.

External links

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