They say if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. Well, rapper David Dallas has already made his mark overseas in his native New Zealand. Now the half-Samoan MC has inked a P&D and marketing deal with Duck Down Music and looks to conquer hip-hop’s birthplace.

“Most of the artists that I look up to and like come from America,” says Dallas, whose 2009 album Something Awesome reached No. 1 on New Zealand’s iTunes chart. “I want to do stuff that’s to the level of American artists, but I don’t want to lose my identity and I don’t think I do.”

The unique deal that Dallas signed with Duck Down is in conjunction with Dawn Raid Entertainment LLC and Dirty Management. David has been signed to Dirty Records/Management since 2005. Dawn Raid and Dirty Management are two iconic international Hip-Hop labels based in Auckland, New Zealand. The prolific labels have released Gold and Platinum selling records for over 15 years in the Asia/pacific territory with marquee artists Savage, Scribe, P-Money and Deceptikonz. Collectively the labels have sold over 3 Million records worldwide across 50 releases.

After the single “Swing,” by Samoan rapper Savage broke the Billboard 100 in 2008 and was subsequently certified 2xs platinum by the RIAA in 2009, Dawn Raid Entertainment and Dirty Management set their sights on establishing their brand of international Hip-Hop in North America. David Dallas is the first priority act under the new P&D and Marketing deal with Duck Down Music.

Duck Down Music is an independent Hip-Hop label and Music Marketing Company based in New York City, which just celebrated its 15-year anniversary. The label is home to authentic Hip Hop Acts such as 9th Wonder & Buckshot, Pharoahe Monch, Pete Rock & Smif-N-Wessun, Sean Price and Skyzoo to name a few. As a brand Duck Down has released over 35 albums and sold over 3 million records collectively.

Ultimately the alliance allows David Dallas to tap into resources that weren’t available to him in his native country, while at the same time continuing to capitalize off of his already growing buzz outside of the U.S. “Because I’m in New Zealand the music never gets exposed on a major level and that sucks,” says the MC. “We said, ‘Shit we need to try to get over here and do something’.”

Now with Duck Down in the fold, David Dallas plans to release a free Internet-only album, The Rose Tint early next year. After that? “Just blow up and be a millionaire basically,” Dallas says jokingly.

Now that’s the American dream.

For more information on David Dallas visit: http://www.daviddallas.co.nz/

Watch the video for David Dallas's successful song "Big Time"