Konflikt

Konflikt is more than just another Wellington bred emcee, he defies the boundaries of your ordinary cliché Hip-Hop artist and is out to speak for those who go unheard. Already acknowledged as the best to emerge from the Capital City in years, he's set to captivate the rest of the Country with his style consisting of intelligent lyrical content intertwined with a quick-witted tongue, covering subject matters that will have you engaged.

For Konflikt, music is a way to vent, express and covey what he sees and feels in an effective way to make it relatable to the audience. Inspired by nothing but true events, his music will always retain the painful truth about his personal life or events and situations that surround him. One of his many goals, is to pave the way for others to follow, ultimately establishing Wellington with a successful and passionate Hip-Hop community that is acknowledged and highly respected like-able to one of Auckland.

2012 saw the release of 'Level With Me', a 10-track LP available for free download from Konflikts SoundCloud page. His album 'The Rebuild' is set for release in 2013 through a joint venture with Archon and Shock Records and will feature singles "Come Home" which has had over 60,000 views on YouTube and current single "Keep It Moving" featuring Tyree. - Flava

Kiwi musician Konflikt admits to feeling a strong sense of pride when his latest single premiered on last night’s episode of The GC.
The Lower Hutt artist wrote the song ‘Heartbreak’ especially for his cousin Cole – the show’s personal trainer-turned-gym owner.
Cole’s financial battles have been laid bare on the show, as he builds his new gym in an old warehouse. He has nearly finished the gym, which he has named Heartbreak.
Konflikt, real name Jarad Westrupp, says the song was inspired by Cole’s struggle to get his Gold Coast gym off the ground.
“It’s about heartbreak in the way of pushing to your limits, you know, not being stopped but overcoming obstacles and pushing yourself to the point where you break.
“Whether it is with the gym, or writing music or everyday life, you just push yourself until you full-on break,” he says.
The 22-year-old rapper says hearing his song on the programme was a special moment for him and his cousin.
“I’m pretty happy, I’m pretty stoked. Cole’s hard work is paying off.” he says.
Konflikt is a rising star in the New Zealand music industry, performing at Rhythm and Vines in January and is currently putting the finishing touches on his latest solo album The Rebuild.

He says music has always been his passion and as soon as he left high school he made it his livelihood.
“It was either uni or music and I found that I loved doing music rather than be putting my heart into something I am not passionate about.”
Konflikt’s love of music has seen him write and record more than 200 songs, most of them collaborative productions with other musicians but he insists there’s “heaps of solo stuff”.
‘Heartbreak’ was performed with fellow musician Ray Tait.
Konflikt says he hasn’t visited Australia to catch up with Cole or see his new gym, but was invited to the opening - which he couldn’t attend because he was sorting out his busy tour schedule.
“We have a bunch of gigs coming up and I am just putting the finishing touches on my new solo album so I couldn’t go.”
His song is available to download from his SoundCloud page and even if the song makes it big, he says it will always remain free.
“The whole intention for this song was for Cole and for free so people can go download it for free.”
After his debut on national television last night, he is taking it easy.
“It’s all just cool and I am happy that it is on TV,” he says.


Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/Konflikt-stoked-with-premiere-on-The-GC/tabid/418/articleID/256190/Default.aspx#ixzz2IAwgdalu - Lloyd Burr

A tribute to Kiwi soldiers recently killed in Afghanistan has been released by Wellington rapper Konflikt.

Come Home was posted on YouTube on Sunday and has already clocked up more than 9000 views.

The video for the hip hop song with an emotional chorus depicts Kiwi soldiers at war in Afghanistan and footage of the bodies of the five soldiers killed in conflict in the last month returning to New Zealand.

Konflikt is the stage name for 22-year-old Lower Hutt computer student Jarad Westrupp.

He was amazed by the response the song had received.

Westrupp wrote Come Home several months ago after talking to friends who had served in Afghanistan.

"A lot of New Zealanders don't know what they do over there."

The song can be downloaded for free from soundcloud.com.

"Spreading strong messages and giving people a song they can deeply connect with is far more important than making sales," Pure Dopeness Entertainment label manager James Allpress said.

The song will be followed up with a six-track EP in the next month. - Sophie Speer