4 Corners
4 Corners are MC's Koma (Charles Ngakoma Conner) and Hepaklypz (Hohepa Morgan), and DJ Omega B (Brett Wagner). They formed in 1998 from other Hamilton groups, including REAL (Omega B), Aziz (Koma) and Time Bandits (Omega B and Koma), and named themselves after the four elements of hip hop culture (MC-ing, DJ-ing, breaking, and bombing).
They released a single "On the Downlow" in late 2005, and in 2006 released the single "By My Side" and their first album "Foundations", the latter featuring collaborations from the likes of P-Money and Che Fu. Their videos, including "Get Back Down" (Feat. Tyra Hammond), "Now I Know" (Feat. Ladi6), "By My Side" (Feat. Maia Rata), and "On the Downlow", have received wide television airplay. The album was nominated for "Best Hip Hop/Urban album" at the 2007 Tui Awards. All their releases are on Disruptiv.
4 Corners have also featured on P-Moneys album Big Things, Koma and Hepaklypz have tracks on DJ Sir-Vere's Major Flavours 4 compilation, and Omega B on Major Flavours 6. They have toured nationwide with Nesian Mystic and Misfits of Science, played the Auckland Big Day Out festival in 2005 and 2007, and toured Australia several times. 4 Corners have even played in Laos, only the second foreign band to do so, performing in from of 10 000 in an open air concert. Underlining their importance to New Zealand hip-hop, the group even received a name check on Scribe's song "Stand Up" (New Zealand's largest selling single for 2003): "Yeah we taking over, tell "4 Corners" that we ain't holding back any longer".
At the 2006 Apra Silver Scroll awards 4 Corners performed a remix of the Patea Maori Club classic "Poi E" with P-Money and the Patea Maori Club. 4 Corners have since given repeat performances of the song at the 2007 Parehaka Music Festival and Big Day Out.
Releases[edit]
- On the Downlow single, 2005
- By My Side single, 2006
- Foundations album, 2006
Compilation Releases
- No foes appears on the 1999 compilation Southside Story
- The Whole Truth appears on the 2001 compilation Year Zero
- Style projects appears on the 2001 compilation Everywhere
- On the Downlow appears on the 2006 compilation Area 07
- Freestyle appears on the 2006 compilation Blazin 5
- Now I Know (feat. Ladi 6) appears on the 2008 compilation Reprezent
Releases with other Artists
- 3rd Eyesight by Dubious Brothers (Feat. 4 Corners and Te Ata) appears on the 2002 Dubious Bros album Trade Secrets
- The Xpedition by P-Money (Feat. 4 Corners) and Synchronize Thoughts (Feat. 4 Corners & Scribe) appears on the 2003 P-Money album Big Things
- Third eyesight by Dubious Bros (Feat. 4 Corners & Te Ata) appears on the 2002 compilation Raise the Level
- The whole truth by P-Money & 4 Corners appears on the 2002 compilation Raise the Level
- The Xpedition by P-Money (Feat. 4 Corners and Scribe) appears on the 2003 compilation Live and Direct Vol 3
- Never by Baitercell and Shumacher (Feat 4 Corners) appears on the 2005 Baitercell and Shumacher album The Wall of Bass Technique
- Real Wreck by Juse (Feat. 4 Corners) appears on the 2006 Juse album Global Casino
- Hypnotiq: Dmon remix by Tyna (feat. 4 Corners) appears on the 2006 Tyna album Unbreakable
- Natural Born Hustla by Cyserro (Feat. 4 Corners) appears on the 2007 Cyserro single Natural Born Hustla
- As I Fall by P-Money (Feat, 4 Corners) appears on the 2007 P-Money album Unreleased Joints and Remixes
- The Xpedition by P-Money (Feat. 4 Corners) and Natural Born Hustla by Cyserro (Feat. 4 Corners) appears on the 2008 compilation Reprezent
Promotional Releases
- Synchronize thoughts by P-Money (Feat. 4 Corners & Scribe) appears on the 2002 promo compilation NZ on Air Indie Hit Disc 17
- Synchronize thoughts by P-Money (Feat. 4 Corners & Scribe) appears on the 2003 promo compilation Heat Seekers (free with Rip it up magazine (no. 286, April/May 2002)
- The Xpedition by P-Money (Feat. 4 Corners) appears on the 2003 promo compilation Kiwi Hit Disc 58
- The Xpedition (Feat. 4 Corners and Scribe) appears on the 2003 promo compilation IMNZ (free with Median Strip, Issue 104, April/May 2003)
- Synchronized thoughts by P-Money (Feat. 4 Corners & Scribe) appears on the 2003 promo compilation The Tuis New Zealand Music Awards, 2003
- In the Game 4 Life appears on the 2004 promo CD NZ on Air Indie Hit Disc 29
- Downlow by 4 Corners appears on the 2005 promo compilation NZ on Air Indie Hit Disc 33
- Urban Māori by 4 Corners appears on the 2006 promo compilation NZ on Air Iwi Hit Disc 20
- By My Side by 4 Corners appears on the 2006 promo compilation Kiwi Hit Disc 82
- Get back down by 4 Corners appears on the 2006 promo compilation Kiwi Hit Disc 89
Published Articles[edit]
- Building Foundations, Waikato Tiimes, 20 July 2006, p19
- Hip hop journey takes local trio near and far by Jeff Neems, Waikato Times, 13 October 2007
