BETA Records - Your music matters!

Growing up amongst a hip hop scene, the strength of which is rarely found outside of the USA, Maitreya was schooled to the game by the pioneers of NZ hip hop. By 17 he was performing in NILSTATE, a live hip hop outfit that gained a cult-like following around his native city of Christchurch, NZ. In 96 Maitreya made the move to Auckland City, where a stronger hip hop scene was flourishing, within two years Maitreya was touring the country to sold-out venues as part of Dark Tower, a trio of ex-Christchurch emcees who took the nation by storm in the summer of 1999-2000. He then got a record deal as a solo artist, his first single was licensed to Australian Movie Blurred and numerous hit music compilations. The dream of making it to New York only grew stronger. He threw the dice, taking an offer to work as the freestyle emcee in Hong Kongs hottest hip hop club Dragon Eye, then flew on to NYC. Within months he was interning at Roc-a-Fella records as a member of the Street Team, gaining invaluable knowledge of the industry and streets of NYC. The result of three years soaking up the streets and sounds of New York City is ILLEGAL ALIEN, an exceptional album depicting the struggles and victories of a very unique lyricists journey within the birthplace of Hip Hop.