4Higher (Pest5)

“You got no business here, standing in the rear/ standing frigid there/ like a Frigidaire.” Having great lyrics, flow and delivery is fundamental to the art of rhyme, but so many forget the original role of the MC - to move the crowd. From high school hip-hop groups to hyping crowds at hardcore and jungle raves in the mid to late nineties, to running a hip-hop label and host MCing shows and tours. MC 4Higher has been there and back and learned from it all.



Having overseen all the releases on the Disruptiv Music label, hosted TV and radio shows, plus event managed and performed at all size events including Aotearoa Hip-hop Summits, he understands what does and doesn’t work as urban entertainment. With a career in music that has always focused on his label-mates, his own work has mostly been more introspective until recently.



Inspired by the decline in the popularity of hip-hop and the economic downturn, this colourful character has decided to start making music specifically for live performance and the dancefloor. People are bored with over-serious rappers scowling and pacing the stage to slow dark beats. Enter the influences of a kid that grew up in the 80’s, danced the night away at outdoor 90’s raves, and rode the NZ hip-hop rollercoaster til the wheels fell off. Stomping drums, energetic synths, welcomingly recognisable samples laced with accessible yet high-tech rhymes!



4Higher is also renowned as a graffiti artist under the alias Pest5, of world champion crew TMD. His unique gangster-romantic style of graff has made him in popular demand for his murals, logo designs, tattoo designs and canvas paintings, and has travelled around the world twice collaborating with the best.

www.disruptiv.com

www.tmdcrew.com

www.pest5.blogspot.com