The Scene

One of the beauties of kiwi music is that its best is a combination of elements taken from other nations and a kiwi twist, which usually comes in the form of an immensely laid back vibe. Like other top kiwi musical acts, Team Dynamite mix the core foundations of hip hop with what can only be described as funk (hence it's awesome) and they have quickly built up a impressive CV of work.

Part of Young, Gifted and Broke, Team Dynamite consists of Lucky Lance, Tony Tz and Haz Beats with Lance and Tony offering up swift rhymes over Haz's ... beats. Their previous work includes 'The Demo Tape' and 'Shepherd's Delight' which established them as one of Aotearoa's more enjoyable hip hop groups before dropping 'Never Again' a few days ago.

The Songs

Haterz Down - Might as well try be free
Tricky Death - Dreamy, so wake up
All For Nothing - Lance could rap for days
Tropicola - Look after yours and stay mellow
Marvin (Beam Me Up) ft. Laughton Kora - I dare you not to clap along
Cosmos Re-Up - My summer jam, it should be yours as well
Tonight's Ego - DJ spin that shit!

The Vibe

'Never Been' follows an enlightened path, mixed with kiwi lingo and perspective. Lance and Tony both rap skillfully and quickly, packing rhymes tightly while spreading a message of freedom which is becoming more and more prevalent in anyone who isn't silly.

The Music

Haz Beats is responsible for this collection of music and he does a fine job in serving up drum patterns for Lance and Tony to flex their muscle over. That's where I found joy in 'Never Again' as Haz not only provides the perfect platform for his emcees to work their magic on, he also shines in adding plenty of spice and creating an eeire, dreamy image of utopia. All this comes as Haz presents a unique sound, unheard on the radio or in the depths of any musical underground which is a salute to the craft displayed by Haz.

I said beats before, which under-sells what Haz does as the producer because this is far from any boom-bap or even any typically modern sounding hip hop. There's always an interesting twist awaiting the listener yet it's delivered in a simple fashion, which is odd given how many different sounds you initially think there are.

"It doesn't really matter what maximum lift you do if you can't find time to lift your mind out of dark times" Lucky Lance | Haterz Down

"I'll settle for comfortable, I'm a simple dude who's out for impeccable" Tony Tz | All For Nothing

Finale

To say that I'm excited to spend my summer with 'Never Again' in my back pocket is an understatement. It's the perfect company on a long sunny day, whether vibing with your homies or if you're posted in your backyard trying to catch them rays as there's nothing to skip, no lulls and there's a high chance that you'll feel uplifted after listening through the EP.

Go cop it and open your ears to something new if you haven't heard much Team Dynamite before. The mellow yet toe-tapping vibes may or may not be your cup of tea, same with the rapid-fire bars laced wisdom but if you're looking for some new kiwi flavour to enjoy then you could do much worse than giving 'Never Again' a few plays.