312 Day | SWIDT

Onehunga’s very own SWIDT come in hard with a 3-track EP. Named after the iconic 312 bus route from Onehunga to the Civic, the collective has released a trio of tunes that range from relaxing drink-up tunes to pure rap braggadocio bangers. The EP was released on December 3rd, further honouring the 312 motif, but only recently entered the Top 20 NZ Singles chart. Currently sitting at 19, ‘KELZ GARAGE (feat. Lomez Brown)’ is slowly becoming a sleeper hit on the charts and a must-have in your Māori and Pacific shed/hall party Spotify playlist alongside Heartbreak Anniversary. The ethos of KELZ GARAGE is capturing the vibe of chatting shit with your friends on a Friday night. The song becomes the highlight of the EP.

‘KELZ GARAGE’ is a change of pace in terms of the group’s sound, but it’s done gracefully. At the same time, the track ‘Survival’ is a return to the formula that crowned SWIDT the “Princes of New Zealand hip-hop”. The EP has an international polish. It is crisp and sharp, but when you hear it, it’s 100% gritty, aggressive, raw, and proudly South Auckland hip-hop. The EP pulls back the curtain on the character of the cultural capital of Tāmaki Makaurau, South Auckland.

8/10 vibez