Introduction
David Keith Dallas is an award-winning hip hop artist from New Zealand.
Early career
David Dallas began his rapping career as a part of the duo Frontline, a producer and MC group along with producer Nick Maclaren. Frontline released their official debut album 'Borrowed Time', in October 2005. The album won the award for 'Best Urban Album' at the 2006 New Zealand Music Awards.
Career
His debut solo album, Something Awesome, was released on 31 August 2009. it reached #1 on New Zealand's iTunes chart. Something Awesome was awarded Best Urban/Hip Hop album at the 2010 New Zealand Music Awards on 7 October 2010 and was shortlisted for the inaugural Taite Music Prize in 2010.
His second studio album, The Rose Tint, was initially a free download via his website on 11 May 2011, it was downloaded more than 50,000 times. Due to demand a deluxe retail edition went on sale in October 2011 and became NZ's highest selling hip hop album for 2011. The Rose Tint was nominated for 3 New Zealand Music Awards and also shortlisted for the Taite Prize in 2012.
In September 2012, David released the "Buffalo Man" EP as a free download, with all songs inspired by, sampled or interpolated from Jamiroquai.
On October 2013, Dallas' third studio album Falling Into Place was released in New Zealand. It debuted at #2 in the New Zealand album chart. Its lead single "Runnin'" was certified platinum as of January 2014. Second single The Wire featuring Ruby Frost was certified Gold as of February 2014. Falling Into Place was up for 4 nominations at the 2014 New Zealand Music Awards. Dallas won Best Male Artist and Best Urban/Hip Hop Album at the 2014 New Zealand Music Awards.
Dallas wrote and performed the theme music for Samoan Wrestlers The Usos "So Close Now", which was released on iTunes by 31 October 2011 as part of the WWE Music Group.
Dallas' 2013 single "Runnin'" was used in the trailer for the video game Madden 25 and also features in the video game FIFA 14.
Dallas supported Eminem at his first New Zealand show in February 2014 at Western Springs' 'Rapture' event.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | |||
| 2009 | Something Awesome |
|
20 |
| 2011 | The Rose Tint |
|
3 |
| 2013 | Falling Into Place |
|
2 |
| 2017 | Hood Country Club |
|
10 |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
EPs
| Year | Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | |||
| 2008 | Something Now |
|
— |
| 2012 | Buffalo Man |
|
— |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | ||||
| 2008 | "Get Out the Way" | — | Non-album single | |
| "Get Out the Way (Remix)" | — | Non-album single | ||
| 2009 | "Big Time" | — | Something Awesome | |
| "Indulge Me" (feat. Devolo) | 34 | |||
| "I Get the Feelin" (feat. Niko) | — | |||
| 2011 | "Take a Picture" | — | The Rose Tint | |
| 2013 | "Don't Want The World" | — | Buffalo Man | |
| "Runnin'" | 7 |
|
Falling Into Place | |
| "The Wire" (feat. Ruby Frost) | 11 |
|
||
| 2015 | "Don't Rate That" | — | Hood Country Club | |
| 2017 | "Fit In" | 46 | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||
Awards
| Year | Nominee/work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | David Dallas — Something Awesome | Taite Music Prize | Nominated |
| David Dallas — Something Awesome | 2010 New Zealand Music Awards — Best Urban/Hip Hop Album | Won | |
| 2011 | David Dallas — The Rose Tint | 2011 New Zealand Music Awards — Album of the Year | Nominated |
| David Dallas — The Rose Tint | 2011 New Zealand Music Awards — Best Male Solo Artist | Nominated | |
| David Dallas — The Rose Tint | 2011 New Zealand Music Awards — Best Urban/Hip Hop Album | Nominated | |
| 2012 | David Dallas — The Rose Tint | Taite Music Prize | Nominated |
| David Dallas — The Rose Tint | 2012 Pacific Music Awards — Best Pacific Male Artist | Won | |
| David Dallas — The Rose Tint | 2012 Pacific Music Awards — Best Pacific Urban Artist | Nominated | |
| David Dallas — "Take A Picture" (D Dallas/A Iustini/J Iustini/T Rowlands/E Simons) | 2012 Pacific Music Awards — APRA Best Pacific Song | Nominated | |
| David Dallas — The Rose Tint | 2012 Pacific Music Awards — Best Pacific Music Album (Tui Award) | Nominated | |
| Special Problems — "Take a Picture" (David Dallas) | 2012 New Zealand Music Awards — Best Music Video | Nominated | |
| 2014 | David Dallas — Falling Into Place | Taite Music Prize | Nominated |
| David Dallas — Falling Into Place | 2014 New Zealand Music Awards — Best Urban/Hip Hop Album | Won | |
| David Dallas — Falling Into Place | 2014 New Zealand Music Awards — Best Male Artist | Won | |
| David Dallas — "Runnin" | 2014 New Zealand Music Awards — Single Of The Year | Nominated | |
| Tom Gould — "Runnin" (David Dallas) | 2014 New Zealand Music Awards — Best Music Video | Nominated |