Callum "Rei" McDougall is a 23-year-old hip hop artist of Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Pākeha descent.
He's just released his second album, A Place To Stand and has followed that up today with the release of his first Te Reo Māori single for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, called E Kī.
E Kī is from his upcoming Te Reo Māori EP which is due to release later this year.
Scribe's Crusader album was the first New Zealand record Rei ever owned.
He caught Scribe on an episode of Campbell Live and, "I thought it was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen".
"It was a big inspiration to see that there was such a thriving hip hop community in New Zealand."
While he's translated the chorus of Not Many literally, Rei changed up the verses as is often done on hip hop covers to be more reflective of himself and his story.
"There's some general rap kind of stuff; talking myself up," he says. "But I also address other people's perception of me, being a light-skinned Māori speaker."
Rei studied Te Reo Māori throughout high school and later got his Bachelor of Arts with a major in te reo, saying it's a big part of who he is.
"It's probably the main reason why I identify so strongly with my taha Māori (Māori side). The language always grounds me and makes me feel at home, even though I am still not the most fluent," he says.
"I've got a lot more work to do. They should make Game of Thrones with a Māori dub, that would help me get my hours up!"
"Music is such a central part of any culture, and New Zealand and Māori culture is no different. Not many people know this, but the first ever hip hop record made in New Zealand was bilingual," says Rei, referring to the album E Tū by the Upper Hutt Posse.
"I think that's pretty dope, so it's cool to continue on that kaupapa. Having Māori language music is very important to continuing the language, as it keeps people exposed to it, and helps them identify more strongly with the language.
"Hip hop has always been a voice for minorities, a voice for change, which is why it is such a great medium to use te reo."
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