Out just in time for the Aotearoa summer, hip-hop artist Tipene has unveiled his first new EP, We No Muck Around. Created to be listened to in the sunshine over summer, the five track EP features the newly released title track.
We No Muck Around sees Tipene represent his Aotearoa East Coast hip-hop roots with the EP being sonically reminiscent of the early 2000’s nostalgic sound making a release that is truly purpose built for the summer. The EP sees Tipene join forces on the beatmaking with multi-award winning producer 10A (Tenei Kesha), who has worked alongside the likes of KYLE(U.S) Scribe, Ladi6, King Kapisi, JessB, Kings and more.
Written in the small Coromandel town of Whitianga, the EP was written, recorded, mixed and mastered in less than a month. Being released on December 16, the EP will be available for everyone to hear just over one week after its completion. We No Muck Around is not only the title for the EP, but a prevailing theme throughout the entire process - not mucking around, and getting the job done.
“No muck around is a whakataukī (proverb) that we embraced with this release from the beginning,” Tipene says on the EP. “I was raised on that proverb, meaning I had to just get in there, back myself and smash it, usually used in a challenging situation. A lot of my life has been about stepping up, doing the mahi and letting the mahi speak for itself, and that’s something that we wanted to do with these songs.”
Across 5 tracks, Tipene brings the summer-tinged vibes throughout the release, combined with 10A’s trademark production style. Tipene kicks the EP off in style with the no-holds-barred track ‘Tēnei Au’ translating to ‘I am here’. Featuring an epic beat fit for rallying the masses and lyrics stating “I come prepared now, modern day tohunga”, the track proves that Tipene has well and truly shown up.
Moving into the title track & lead single, ‘We No Muck Around’ is a nostalgic jam perfectly fit for summer. The track is where the entire EP originated - with a goal of creating a release made to be listened to in the sunshine.
Tipene’s passion is to bring an understanding of te ao Māori (Māori worldview) in his quest to uplift, empower and 're-indigenise' Māori through the power of his music. This is evident throughout the EP, particularly in tracks like ‘Freedom’ - “I feel like I’m Māori more than a Kiwi”.
‘Nothing to Say’ brings triumphant horns to the front, alongside a reggae-skank and Tipene’s effortless flow, speaking on cultural activation and breaking cultural and historical trauma caused through colonial oppression. Giving a nod to his early journey in music, track ‘Believers’ closes the release with a Spanish-guitar jam to the forefront of the tune, and sees producer 10A deliver a memorable groove, dedicated to all the R&B lovers of the world.
The new EP will arrive December 16, just in time for Aotearoa summer. This summer is set to be one of Tipene’s busiest ones yet, with support slots on L.A.B’s upcoming regional tour and other major festival slots to be announced.
All links to stream/purchase HERE
