Review: David Dallas | Something Awesome

Dirty Management (2009)
By CHRIS FARAONE  |  September 9, 2009
3.0 3.0 Stars

0909_dallas_mian

In the 1990s, every rap album had mellow bangers buried in the tracklist. Some were for the ladies; others, like the Nas gem "Black Girl Lost," waxed didactic. All relieved the anxiety that hip-hop otherwise induces. David Dallas specializes in such message-laden breezy listening.

The great New Zealand rap hope cuts reclined boom-bap that reminds me more of L.L. Cool J than Eminem or Asher Roth, and without ever getting corny. Regardless of how naughty or nice the land down under the land down under may be, the last thing heads want are rugged Kiwi rhymes. Dallas delivers nothing but sweet panache, from the soul-kicked "Ain't None Left" to the anthemic "Like Me."

Since he has clear control of his mic device, it would be a bonus to hear him charge harder; to gauge by his performance at South by Southwest this year, the kid absolutely has adequate gusto. I can't predict whether Dallas — who plays the CMJ Music Marathon in NYC next month — will penetrate the American consciousness. But with the right money and marketing, he could easily become world hip-hop's white Fabolous.

Related: Review: The Roots of Hip-Hop, Review: Notorious, The other white beat, More more >
  Topics: CD Reviews , Entertainment, Hip-Hop and Rap, Music,  More more >
| More


Most Popular
ARTICLES BY CHRIS FARAONE
Share this entry with Delicious
  •   THE TRIALS OF NADIA NAFFE  |  March 04, 2013
    Young, attractive, ambitious, conservative, and black, Nadia Naffe should have been a right-wing operative’s dream.
  •   HIP-HOP TRIVIA GROWS UP  |  February 26, 2013
    In their fourth year of operation, the Hip-Hop Trivia squad is finally taking the night (somewhat) seriously.
  •   OCCUPY DENIED DAY IN COURT  |  February 22, 2013
    It took more than a year for Suffolk County prosecutors to come to their senses.
  •   CZARFACE SOARS ABOVE THE CLOUDS  |  February 11, 2013
    This week 7LES and Inspectah Deck drop Czarface , a full-length work of adventurous genius revolving around a metal-clad protagonist who feeds on destruction.
  •   THE BPD ADDS INSULT TO INJURY  |  February 05, 2013
    At times, this kind of decision makes you wonder whether the BPD is saving its best awards for officers who've been involved in the death of civilians.

 See all articles by: CHRIS FARAONE