About Us
Hoops & Life is the brainchild of award-winning musician and keen baller, King Kapisi; and a natural fit for Youthtown to partner with the avid basketballer.
Since returning from a successful decade of international touring in 2015, Kapisi or Bill, and his business partner developed a variety of social change initiatives and events, serving 20,000+ people across Tāmaki Makaurau.
Elevated; putting the unity back into community was a one-day free event that delivered live t-shirt printing, free barber cuts, chess-playing, dunk competitions, 3-on-3 ball, IP Wrestling, face-painting, free sausage sizzle, free ice cream, street-dance battles, live performance, rap-battles, skate-comp, hand-craft activities, storytelling, and more.
Building on this success and recent livestream show, Hoops & Life, Hoops & Life 4on4 Ultimate League is a one-day event held in Henderson, Tāmaki Makaurau; it is the first national sports expo celebrating music, Hip Hop, gaming, street-dance and basketball culture.
This event brings together multiple communities from around Aotearoa, with an underlying foundation of promoting mental health and wellbeing.
Kaps works with a team of people made up of both supporters and sponsors as well as a core team of experienced event logistics managers and coordinators.
The business partners' initial event, a cross-border exhibition based in downtown Auckland for one-night called, Hip Hop Lives Here, was so highly anticipated, the entry line went around the venue building, with controlled entry-exit throughout the night, over 50% of the art pieces sold on the night and all artist merchandise sold out.
From art and community events to sports and music tour management, it is Kaps' passion for basketball and the joy the sport has brought him since a youngster that has him committed to this kaupapa. The range of activities are curated to attract a wide demographic; Kaps knows the key to reaching communities is variety of offering and keeping things interesting.
I figured, states the festival owner, I really believe, if you can see it, you can be it. So aside from the basketball community coming together to play competitively, we have dance, street-art, deejays, rappers, and gamers communities, and entrepreneurs, small businesses. It's really a no brainer.
