Home Brew
Gritty, jazz-drenched hip-hop that pairs sharp social satire with a hungover honesty. It is the sound of the Auckland streets at 3am, equal parts cynical and soulful.
Gritty, jazz-drenched hip-hop that pairs sharp social satire with a hungover honesty. It is the sound of the Auckland streets at 3am, equal parts cynical and soulful.
Home Brew sounds like a jazz club that has been converted into a dive bar. The music is built on a foundation of dusty, crackling samples and live-feeling instrumentation, particularly prominent upright bass and crisp, swinging drum patterns. It carries the warmth of analog equipment but the cold reality of the lyrics prevents it from ever feeling too cozy. There is a distinct 'Kiwi' identity to the sound, characterized by a laid-back but technically proficient delivery that feels like a conversation over a cheap beer.
What truly distinguishes them is the brutal, often hilarious honesty of Tom Scott's lyricism. He navigates the space between nihilistic partying and deep existential dread, using satire as a shield for genuine vulnerability. The production often feels sophisticated, utilizing jazz chords and soulful flourishes, which creates a striking contrast with the gritty subject matter of drug use, poverty, and the mundanity of New Zealand life. It is hip-hop that refuses to post for the camera.
Start with their self-titled 2012 double album. It is a sprawling masterpiece that perfectly encapsulates their dual nature: one side for the party and the other for the inevitable comedown. It remains the definitive statement of modern New Zealand hip-hop, balancing technical rap excellence with a raw, documentary-style look at life on the fringes of society.
Home Brew, also known as Home Brew Crew, is a New Zealand hip hop group. They released their self-titled debut full-length album in May 2012 to some critical acclaim. It hit number 1 on the New Zealand album charts in its first week, and is the first New Zealand hip hop album to top the charts since Scribe's album The Crusader in 2003. In 2010 Home Brew were shortlisted for the New Zealand Music Awards Critics Choice Prize. In 2012 they won Best Urban / Hip Hop Album at the New Zealand Music Awards and were nominated for four others, including Best Group and Album of the Year. One of their promotional videos, 'Police Stop Seven', has been criticised for condoning drunk-driving. In 2010 they also played at the Big Day Out. In 2012, Massive Magazine wrote:Their fun and often satirical take on hip-hop is no less pure or cultured because of that, and the well-rehearsed flows and crafted beats are the result of hours of hard work. This fact also makes them an impressive live outfit, and this reputation has seen them steadily become more in demand throughout New Zealand.In 2014, one of the band's performances at Lincoln University in Christchurch was shut down after one of its members allegedly punched an audience member in the face. In 2023, Home Brew released an 11th-anniversary re-issue of their self-titled debut on vinyl and CD. On 27 October 2023, Home Brew announced their sophomore album, Run It Back. It was subsequently released on 8 December 2023.
Shares boom bap, jazz fusion, conscious hip-hop (subgenres); sample based, analog warmth, lo fi (production style)
Shares boom bap, jazz fusion, conscious hip-hop (subgenres); sample based, analog warmth, lo fi (production style)
Shares boom bap, jazz fusion, conscious hip-hop (subgenres); sample based, analog warmth, lo fi (production style)
Shares sample based, lo fi, analog warmth (production style); boom bap, abstract hip-hop (subgenres)
Shares boom bap, jazz fusion, conscious hip-hop (subgenres); sample based, analog warmth, lo fi (production style)
Shares boom bap, abstract hip-hop, jazz fusion (subgenres); sample based, lo fi, analog warmth (production style)
Shares boom bap, conscious hip-hop, abstract hip-hop (subgenres); rap, deadpan, nasal (vocal style)
Shares boom bap, jazz fusion, conscious hip-hop (subgenres); sample based, analog warmth, lo fi (production style)
Shares boom bap, conscious hip-hop, jazz fusion (subgenres); sample based, analog warmth, lo fi (production style)
Shares jazz fusion, conscious hip-hop, abstract hip-hop, boom bap (signature)
Shares jazz-inflected boom bap, jazz fusion, conscious hip-hop, abstract hip-hop (detail)
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