7/10

There’s no sugarcoating or smoke and mirrors on 'Next Up: Aotearoa'. This is not a glossy label project or a playlist-friendly crowd-pleaser, it’s a pulse check on the underground scene in Aotearoa, and the results are electric. Spearheaded by Australia-based Kiwi producer Daz, this self-funded compilation is both a statement and a movement for the local scene.

From the gravel-throated cadence of Christchurch spitters to the polished grit coming out of Auckland, 'Next Up' thrives on its variety. The production throughout is razor-sharp as every beat hits hard and every vocal cuts clean. Daz, whose genre-spanning credentials range from house bangers to bass-heavy rap hybrids, proves himself a master of vibe curation here, building a runway to launch these riveting emerging talents.

Bhozy, for instance, delivers with the same off-kilter genius that made The Misguided Adventures of Winnie The Fuu a streaming anomaly. Then there’s the grime lineage of Stanza Blade and Joe the Freakshow on 'Spray', whose bars hit with the velocity and venom of their UK scene counterparts but carry the DNA of the South Pacific as they go.

But what makes 'Next Up' special is how it feels. There’s urgency in every verse, hunger in every hook. Whether the track leans into laid-back storytelling or raw, snarling bars, each moment feels like a shot in the arm for a scene that refuses to sit quiet. This is a living, breathing portrait of a cultural pocket too often overlooked. It’s Aotearoa hip-hop, stripped of industry polish, layered in community spirit, and delivered with a clarity that demands attention.