The OEK Release ‘Hongoeka Til I Die’
Arama Marangai and Te Waimātao Ropata are THE OEK, the unorthodox, independent rap-duo emerging from the private Māori community of Hongoeka Bay in Porirua, Aotearoa New Zealand.
“More than anything, we just wanted to make music that we could relate to,” says producer, rapper and Porirua local, Arama Marangai. “Music our people could hear and feel like it belonged to them too.”
THE OEK, a name short for ‘Hongoeka,’ represents their Ngāti Toa Rangatira community, weaving their land, marae, history, and lived experiences into their lyrics and storytelling. Through their music and social media presence, the duo showcase everyday ‘Pā life,’ documenting their involvement in the community and the environment that shaped them.
Known for their gritty aesthetic and homegrown, self-produced music, THE OEK blends their culture with elements of boom-bap hip hop and dub reggae, creating a sound that is grounded in culture yet distinctly original.
Their latest single, Hongoeka Til I Die, begins with a sample of karanga, a Māori welcoming call that brings the listener into their world. Te Waimātao Ropata opens the track with the lyric, “Blessed ’cause I grew up on my marae,” before reflecting on an upbringing that will feel familiar to Māori and communities across Aotearoa, but is not often represented in New Zealand music.
Hongoeka Til I Die marks THE OEK’s fourth studio single release this year. Their strong social media rollout has also caught the attention of Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, who have shared their music online.
