After throwing an album release party on Friday 25th June, Poetik has some more celebrating to do, with his album Poetik Justice reaching number 1 in the official Top 20 NZ Albums over the weekend.
Poetik is undoubtedly one of the most respected rappers in the South Pacific. He is known for his outspoken character on matters that affect our Pasifika people such as poverty, racism, street violence, love, Polynesian culture and mainstream media – all which spring inspiration for his music and are made apparent throughout the 14-track album.
Born in west Tāmaki Makaurau, the Samoan-raised rapper lost his mother at a young age and started experimenting with music at the age of 12. MC battles with rappers that have returned from California and Utah were a method of honing his skills, and at 14, he met Bass, whom he formed a five-member rap crew with called Vital Status.
Poetik’s father, Dave Parker, worked in entertainment, so he was often shifted from family-to-family during his childhood. At age 16, his family moved him to South Auckland after a street fight in Apia and later moved him to West Sydney, where he released his first three solo tapes.
Like every successful Pacific Islander, we live by the famous idiom of “it takes a village”. In creating Poetik Justice, it took just that. The 14-track album includes a mixture of hip hop collaborations ranging from West Coast legends MC Eiht and Kokane, along with upcoming star Yung LB, to local artists Melodownz, Sammy Johnson, Chong Nee, Lion Rezz, Raggadat Cris, Flow, Lucky Lance and Chevvy.
Brotha D from Dawn Raids helped with co-producing some of the tracks alongside Bass685 and Poetik himself. Spell and SWIDT producer Smokeygotbeatz produced three songs each on the album, Chris Chetland from KOG mixed and mastered the tracks and Dan Martin engineered everything.
The award-winning rapper is famous for using his background as a testament to his strength and motivation to always remain true to not just himself, but to his fans and to his music.
Listen to the album here.
