David Dallas

Martyn Pepperell

28 Apr 2013

David Dallas is a rapper signed to Dirty Records, Dawn Raid Entertainment and the US label Duck Down Music. He divides his time between Auckland and New York City.

With a Samoan/New Zealand European ethnic background, the artist formerly known as Con Psy started rapping in the late nineties before forming hip-hop duo Frontline with producer and DJ Nick '41' Maclaren in 2001.

In 2003 Dallas featured on a remix of ‘Not Many’ by breakout New Zealand rapper Scribe.

Dallas started recording and performing under his given name in 2008. Since then he has worked closely with Auckland hip-hop producers Fire & Ice.

In 2009 he released his debut solo album Something Awesome, which debuted at No.22 on the New Zealand Album Chart and reached No.1 on the NZ iTunes album chart. The following year Something Awesome won the award for Best Urban/Hip-Hop album at the New Zealand Music Awards. It was also shortlisted for the 2010 Taite Music Prize.

Dallas' music caught the attention of several prominent US-based hip-hop bloggers in 2010.

Dallas' music caught the attention of several prominent US-based hip-hop bloggers in 2010, including Kanye West, who posted the video for his song 'Big Time' on his website. Soon afterwards Dallas signed to New York record label Duck Down Music.

Dallas released his second album The Rose Tint in 2011 as a free download. The album was downloaded over 50,000 times. Following a deluxe physical re-release in New Zealand, Australia and North America The Rose Tint debuted at No.3 on the NZ Album Chart. It also peaked at No.9 on the NZ iTunes Chart. The album was nominated for Album Of The Year and Best Urban/Hip-Hop Album at the 2011 New Zealand Music Awards. It was also shortlisted for the 2012 Taite Music Prize.

In 2011 Dallas recorded and performed 'So Close Now', the entrance theme music for American Samoan professional wrestling duo The USOs.

The following year he released The Buffalo Man EP, a collection of songs inspired by, sampled or interpolated from Jamiroquai as a free download.

Dallas has recorded and performed with the likes of Scribe, PNC, Freddie Gibbs, Buckshot, P-Money, Fire & Ice, Young Sid, Aaradhna, Pieter T, Niko, Devolo, Jordache, Mr Sicc, Che Fu, The Kid Daytona, Louie Knuxx and Tayyib Ali. He has also toured throughout New Zealand, Australia and America, headlining his own shows, supporting other acts and playing at festivals.

When Dallas performs live, he either works with a DJ and a hype-man or with his live band The Daylight Robbery.

In September and October 2012, Dallas went on a 24 date tour of America, opening up for Aer.

Dallas released his third album Falling Into Place in October 2013, with Lydia Jenkins in The New Zealand Herald awarding it 5/5.