Election 2023 - On The Beat: The hip hop soundtrack to your week's political news

Given all the recent changes to Chris Hipkins’ cabinet, he could easily be singing along to Drake’s track Over which goes: “I know way too many people here right now, that I didn't know last year, who the f%^ are y'all?”

But Hipkins will also be agreeing with this Drake line from the same song: “This what I'm going to do 'til it's over, but it's far from over”, as he knows he can't let up till the final day of the campaign, when like Azealia Banks, he hopes he'll be saying, "I can be the answer"​ to all voters' problems.

And with just over two months to go, political parties are ramping up their offerings to voters, with many going into Top Gun’s Maverick-mode, as they make policies they probably can’t cash, due to the issues it would create with their potential coalition partners.

​Just as Sunday is Nas’ favourite day of the week, the government likes to use the Lord’s day to announce big policies. This week was no different, as they revealed an ambitious $45 billion plan for three new tunnels across Waitematā Harbour, which will take decades to complete. 

The project is a bit like a Cadbury Favourites box with lanes for almost every mode of travel including cycling, walking, cars and light rail, and I’m sure even Lil’ Nas’ horse from Old Town Road could find some space on it (the video is well-worth a watch). 

But rather than attacking the policy itself, National highlighted Labour’s inability to deliver on previous projects as a reason to question this plan, while the Greens criticised the number of roads announced, given that entrenches the use of cars during a climate crisis.​

For those out there who, as Nelly raps, have “got a bill in my mouth like I'm Hillary Rodham”, and want a new "grill" (it's slang for teeth) the Greens' latest policy announcement could have them smiling. They are promising to make the dental health system free for all and will pay for it through wealth taxes, which will also require the Labour Party to choose a new leader, given Hipkins has ruled out this happening under his leadership.

The ACT Party have a different take on what’s ailing the country right now, and much like Notorious B.I.G.’s Mo Money, Mo Problems​, they see Aotearoa’s issues all related to how much money is swilling around in our economy.

As Kelly Price sings on the track, “it's like the more money we come across, the more problems we see”, so to remedy this, ACT leader David Seymour says his party would aim to halve the more than 6000 staff at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) as well as halt Three Waters, fees-free tertiary study and Callaghan Innovation.

To aid New Zealand’s economic recovery, NZ First’s Winston Peters says his party will help prepare a bid to hold the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch - not too dissimilar to what Jay-Z did for Brooklyn by helping bring the NBA's Nets franchise back to his hometown. 

"It is an opportunity to showcase Christchurch and the South Island to the Commonwealth and the rest of the world," NZ First said in a statement.

But if the general election turns into presidential-style campaign, as has been the case for the last decade or so, National Party strategists will be concerned by Chris Luxon’s flagging numbers.

​Despite Luxon’s party topping most polls, his own ratings are less than rosy, and in fact, like Outkast raps, they’re starting to smell a bit off.

The Newshub-Reid Research poll​ found only 35 per cent of respondents trusted Luxon, down 1.9 points (with Hipkins at 51.5 per cent), and the same poll found only 15.9 per cent wanted Luxon as PM. This probably explains why Nicola Willis is frequently being used​ to front the attacks on Labour, as she is probably viewed as more adept at handling media questions and has a better handle of policy details.

So while “many, many, many, many men” may be wishing ill for Luxon, if he prevails in October, he could rightly claim to have started from the bottom of the preferred PM polls, given he was only at 2.5 per cent back in 2021​.

The political week's hip hop soundtrack

1. Drake - Over​

2. Nas - Brunch on Sundays feat. Blxst

​3. Lil Nas X - Old Town Road (Official Video) ft. Billy Ray Cyrus

4. Nelly - Grillz ft. Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp​

5.​ The Notorious B.I.G. - Mo Money Mo Problems​

6. Jay-Z - Empire State of Mind​​

7. Outkast - Roses

8. Drake - Started From The Bottom

9. Azealia Banks - 212

*Also check out this Spotify playlist​ I've created of all the songs mentioned so far in these ​On The Beat columns.

*Disclaimer: When not working as a journalist, Justin Latif has previously volunteered for a range of political parties as well as supporting Fa'anana Efeso Collins during his run for mayor.