Bad Taste - Side Quest Album Release w/ So And So, Kommi and Infordin

Please join BAD TASTE this summer as they embark on a journey throughout Aotearoa. The duo composed of turntablist ALPHABETHEAD and lyricist YOUNG GHO$T are touring in support of SIDE QUEST, their upcoming debut album on vinyl! The album is a fantastical romp on horseback through a richly detailed, vinyl sampled Hip Hop landscape...

While working on their ‘serious’ album ‘BAD TASTE III’, the pair found themselves constantly distracted by a myriad of other musical pathways drawing them away from their main quest. Ghost would brush aside Alphie’s pre-chosen beats, preferring to pluck records straight from the shelf and create on the spot, fully embracing spontaneity and playfulness. Many of the verses were penned as the instrumentals took shape: stream-of-consciousness raps punctuated with surprising twists and turns. Fueled by millet porridge, fireball whisky and nature walks, SIDE QUEST is a love letter to distraction, imagination and letting curiosity, rather than prescription, be the guide.

The duo's previous work has been described as psychedelic hip hop, inspired in equal parts by MF Doom and King Crimson. These two influences still shine bright as guiding lights on this album, but this time Monty Python and Roger Dean are added to the brew. SIDE QUEST is the closest the duo have come to a concept album; the intent being cohesion; an ebbing and flowing, crate-digging, time travelling rap adventure. Every track is a new chapter, and amongst all the lyrical action, time is still taken to survey the vistas, break bread and pour potions.

To celebrate the release of this record, they’re travelling up and down the country, linking up with friends new and old to perform in some of their favourite places. They’ll be joined for much of the ride by So&So, a deft lyrical rapper with roots on both Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Whanganui, as well as local heroes in each town they visit.

BAD TASTE are known for their energetic and theatrical live shows, with the combination of rapping and scratching forming a potent synergy. The pair has supported everyone from Odissee to Tamatha Paul, and they’ve performed at festivals such as Camp A Low Hum, Twisted Frequency, Welcome to Nowhere, Newtown Festival and Cuba Dupa.

These shows promise to be a delight to both the Hip Hop fan and the musically adventurous. BAD TASTE would love to see you! <3

SO&SO (Te Whakatōhea, Ngā Puhi, Ngāi Tūhoe) is a Wellington-based indigenous Hip Hop artist known for dynamic storytelling, genre-bending production, and authentic representation. A key figure in the city’s music scene since 2019, they have performed at major festivals including Tora Bombora, Twisted Frequency, Newtown Festival and Cuba Dupa. Beyond being a powerful lyricist and performer, So&So is also a band manager, event curator, producer, and independent recording artist.

Their latest release, “E Tu” is a powerful statement of Māori Hip Hop, created to uplift indigenous voices globally.