Make no mistake, these three artists are the hottest hip hop acts to emerge out of Aotearoa right now..
In fact, Freddy Reynold is one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets as a live performer. He has an electric energy and flawless delivery which sets him apart.
It’s a rare thing to find a child of Hip Hop who has absorbed three decades of evolution and distilled it within their own artistic voice, but Freddy Reynold is that different type of animal. Raised in the cultural melting pot of South Auckland, with Hip Hop an inescapable part of South Auckland’s ‘tapa’. Freddy reflects "..there’s a lot of cars in the Hip Hop intersection and I don’t want to wait in traffic. I genuinely love electronic, music, house music, dance music, and needed to bring it into my sound. Making the music that I like and I want to hear."
In recent years the UK has supplied a steady stream of inspiration for Freddy’s sonic leanings. “It’s been there forever. Since Dizzee Rascal came through with Sirens, Bonkers, they’ve always been the ones with the electronic side of Hip Hop done correctly.
Freddy's hype set will include his 2021 hip hop / house release 'South Side Run It' which took off locally and in Oz. When it comes to Freddy's live performance, there is a generosity and commitment to the moment which must be seen to be understood. In his words “I don’t care if it’s 2, 10, 100people or whatever. Every time I treat it like I’m playing infront of a million people.”
Freddy will be joined by South African-raised Jujulipps and Zimbabwe born Timmy The First.
Jujulipps is an Aotearoa-based rapper, another force to be reckoned with live. Jujulipps stepped onto the scene with her debut single, 'Hilary Banks' in 2021. Citing Leikeli47, Nicki Minaj, and Rico Nasty as her blueprint, Jujulipps channels the assertive feminine energy of each rapper while commanding her own lavish allure.
With the introduction of 2022 Jujulipps presented a new tone of artistry to the Aotearoa rap scene, including a live collaboration and tour with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, performing at times to a crowd of up to 6,500 people, where she was also coined a crowd favourite.
As a first-generation immigrant to Aotearoa, Jujulipps prides herself on her diverse cultural background. Her Mother hails from Burundi and her Father from Congo. With a unique and audacious sound, Jujulipps introduces a newfound sense of confidence within her tracks that goes on to capture the attention of audiences from all backgrounds and spaces.
Timmy The First will open up these two fire acts. Born in Zimbabwe, raised in Dunedin having recently relocated to Tāmaki Makaurau. He's been clocking years on the live scene in Dunedin before his move. His live set will include his 2021 release Throne.
Born in Zimbabwe, TîMMY the FIRST moved to Dunedin at five years old, where he has lived until his 2022 move to Tāmaki Makaurau.
TîMMY has developed his sound in the bustling Otago music scene, carving a niche for himself as a hip-hop act. Over the past two years, TîMMY has developed his sound to a sharp point, boldly exploring his truth across infectiously energetic performances. He’s forged a name for himself within New Zealand’s music community, performing at festivals and opening for Savage, JessB, CHAII, and more.
TîMMY released his debut single “Throne” in December 2021 as a frenzied response to racial injustices taking place around the world. In ‘THRONE,’ TîMMY pays tribute to generations of black activists whilst, at the same time, confronting his own relationship with the world around him. The single isn’t just a protest against injustice, but also a protest against inaction.