KING Kapisi may look tough, but the hip hop rapper, scratcher, and all-round musician can sing like an angel.
“I’ve always got my serious look but I’m a smiley guy,” he says. “I’m very passionate about what I do and have to tour internationally so you have to think about how you are received. But I’m an Island Bay boy through and through. Wellington is really special to me,” he says.
Kapisi, who moved from Wellington to Auckland 15 years ago, to be closer to his son, but fondly remembers his childhood in the capital.
“I was born in Newtown, then we moved to Island Bay when I was about 10 and then we moved to Lyall Bay. My Mum and Dad sold the family house a month ago. It feels weird, but I can always stay at my cousin’s.”
Since leaving Wellington, Kapisi (real name Bill Urale) has toured the world, released three albums, and in 1999 was the first Polynesian hip hop artist to receive the APRA Silver Scroll Award for Songwriter of the Year for his single Reverse Resistance.
When he’s home, he always makes a special trip to Hataitai Bakery. In October, he jumped in a taxi and headed east following a passionate vocal performance, as part of the Eru Dangerspiel ensemble at the town hall.
“After the after, after party I went to get a bacon and egg pie and apricot Danish and then went back to the hotel. Before, I would have gone home to Lyall Bay so that was a bit weird,” he says.
The show, involving 30 musicians, plus a choir, and headed by former Trinity Roots drummer Riki Gooch, featured Kapisi’s fine singing.
“It is my gig of all time. It really amazed me – what Riki had put together. It made me think am I living in the right place for music?”
When he lived in Wellington Kapisi says there was no musical vibe.
“At that time there was no Fat Freddy’s Drop and no people to vibe with in Wellington. It was slower at that time. I do wish it was like it is now when I was there,” he says.
Next year, Kapisi releases his fourth album Hip Hop Lives Here. This week, he performs with Che Fu at Hope Bros on Dixon Street.
“We’ll be free-styling it and you don’t know what could happen. A lot of people see Che as R&B but he can scratch and rap with the best of them.”
King Kapisi and Che Fu, Hope Bros, December 23.