Arguably the biggest innovator in hip-hop New Zealand has seen in two decades, David Dallas has sold out shows across New Zealand, Australia and the United States, released three chart-topping albums, opened for huge acts including Eminem’s Rapture Tour (NZ) and received a long list of accolades.
After signing to underground powerhouse Duck Down Music NYC in 2011, David Dallas released second album The Rose Tint in the US for free digitally, racking up more than 60,000 downloads worldwide and achieving A-rotates on MTV US for singles ‘Take A Picture’ and ‘Caught In a Daze’, before embarking on a huge tour throughout North America with hip-hop duo Aer.
Then came a spot at the notoriously hard-to-get-into SXSW Fader party, big ups from Kanye West and adds to MTV America and Australia, short listing for New Zealand’s highest song writing accolade, the Taite Prize, a Pacific Music Awards win for Best Pacific Male Artist, the release of his Buffalo Man EP and much more.
Not one to rest on laurels, the start of 2013 saw Dallas enter the studio with production whizz kids Fire & Ice. In four months, Dallas had twelve un-fuck-with-able finished tracks to put his name to on his critically acclaimed third studio album, Falling Into Place. The first single ‘Runnin’ achieved PLATINUM status in New Zealand and has been viewed a whopping 3.8 million times on YouTube. Following the release of the album, David Dallas supported Eminem on his first New Zealand show and toured with Run The Jewels across Australia and New Zealand.
It’s also that album that saw him take home two awards at the 2014 Music Awards, including Best Urban / Hip-Hop Album and Best Male Artist, and achieve platinum status for first single ‘Runnin’’ and gold status for second track ‘The Wire’.
Building up to the release of his next record, David Dallas hinted at a new direction and sound with the heavy social commentary of ‘Don’t Rate That’ – something solidified on the 2017 release of his new album Hood Country Club.
Carefully crafted and expertly executed, David Dallas doesn’t side step as he touches on everything from the political to the deeply personal. Dallas himself sees it as his best lyrical effort, with the final result both polished and poignant: “I put it all into this one. I don’t really feel like being build ups – I’ll just say this record took time because it needed to, I’m proud of it, and I’ll be happy when everyone gets to hear it.” – David Dallas.
Bringing in heavy hitters Styalz Fuego, Nic M, SmokeyGotBeatz and longtime collaborators Fire & Ice on production, Hood Country Club pulls from sonic influences as broad as UK 2-step and Trip-hop, to straight up samples over dusty drums.
With rave reviews rolling in and a massive Australian tour just around the corner, Hood Country Club seems set to add to Dallas Dallas’ impressive track record. An artist that continues to push the boundaries, it also cements him as one of the country’s biggest innovators in hip-hop.