Tipene is a prominent Hip-Hop artist from Hawkes Bay, NZ, recognised as one of Aotearoa’s leading bilingual artists. His music is deeply rooted in Te Ao Māori, delivering uplifting messages that resonate widely.

He first gained attention with his debut track "West Side Hori," which earned him an APRA Silver Scroll finalist nomination, and his remix featuring Sid Diamond and Sir T has amassed over 9 million streams. His debut album, “Tautoko”, showcased collaborations with notable artists like Prince Tui Teka, Scribe, and Chē-Fu, winning him the award for Best Māori Urban Artist in 2019.

Over 2 decades, Tipene has built an impressive career with over 15 million streams across three studio albums and multiple national tours. He has been a finalist for two APRA Silver Scrolls.

As an ambassador for Māori music since 2019, Tipene has received multiple nominations at the Māori Music Awards, including Best Māori Songwriter and Best Music Video. His landmark 2021 album, “Heritage Trail”, set new standards for bilingual Hip-Hop, while his 2022 project, “We No Muck Around”, won him another award for Best Māori Hip-Hop Album and saw significant streaming success.

Tipene recently performed at the Pacific Music Awards and the Māori Music Awards with a full band and is currently working on his fourth studio album, “Heritage Trail 2", set for release in late 2024.