Big Dave

If you want change in your life it takes hard work.
It isn’t something that just falls in to your lap while you sit there day dreaming.
From high school dropout running the streets, to drug dealer and eventual prison inmate the life of Big Dave was headed in one direction – A fast road to nowhere.
As an ex inmate with a young family to support and little formal education the man’s options were limited but his heart and desire for change were not.
With little more than his bare hands and a freakish work ethic Dave decided to switch the direction of his life and he attacked the music business head on.
He decided it would be music that would turn his life around.
From humble beginnings at open mic nights and MC battles he would go on to support many of the artists he grew up listening to such as Ice Cube, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Xzibit and D12 to name just a few.
In the early days he gained knowledge from business studies, marketing courses and online articles.
This would lead to him founding his own label KP Records, signing with MGM Distribution and being mentored by one time Death Row Records President John Payne.
If shows were in short supply he simply staged his own events beginning with a small time launch party for his label attended by less than 100 people he evolved to stage the largest Hip Hop events his home city of Canberra had ever seen.
He released free music and videos, did dozens of media interviews, hosted a nationally broadcast radio show, blogged and built a home studio and office in his garage using materials from his local hardware and music stores.
With those bare hands he did whatever was necessary.
As I said change takes hard work and after nearly 7 years of hard work, passion and sacrifices the debut Big Dave album was released. It was aptly titled “Self Made”.
The album was a mixture of Dave’s raw street poetry and life tales fused with a unique blend of Hip Hop, House and Electro produced by Grantwho?. Mastered by Ministry Of Sound’s Sameer Sengupta it features a guest list of top shelf international artists including Snoop Dogg, Joell Ortiz, Kurupt, Necro, WC and Kyza along with Dave’s local KP Records label mates.
The two lead singles from Self Made featured on over 160 top 40 FM stations around Australia (and digitally on Novanation) leading to a rush of media appearances including:
RADIO – The Hot Hits Live From LA, The Dan And Maz Show, Take 40 Australia, The A List countdown and an international award winning 30 minute ABC special on his career to date.
PRINT/WEB – Syndicated feature interviews in all major Fairfax and News Limited papers, The Music Network and front page online features on news.com.au, MTV.com.au and dozens of music websites predominately in the US.
TV – Channel V, Rage, CouchTime and the MTV Most Wanted shortlist.
After building a big hometown presence and a dedicated following in the Aussie underground scene the music industry suddenly became aware of Big Dave’s presence on a national level.
As we look back on his journey so far the fairy-tale change of life for Dave seems complete.
In his story we can find proof that hard work pays off.
From being down but not quite out Big Dave has gone on to live up to the size of his name!
LIVE SETS From club nights to arena and festival shows Big Dave has shared a stage with some of Hip Hop finest including Ice Cube, Xzibit, Bone Thugs N Harmony, D12, Tech N9ne, Obie Trice, KRS ONE, Kurupt, Kool Keith, The Outlawz, De La Soul and more.
MUSIC RELEASES
The Original ft Snoop Dogg (single 2013)
Self Made (Debut solo album 2013)
The Good Life ft Kitty B (single 2012)
The 012 Mixtape (Mixtape 2012) Featuring various KP artists and guests.
The 011 Mixtape (Mixtape 2011) Featuring various KP artists and guests.
Loaded Dice (Free web LP/KP Records compilation production 2009) Featuring various KP artists and guests.
Raw Stories Chapter One (EP 2008)
MOVIE RELEASES
The Inner Circle Volume Two (2012) Also featuring Tech N9ne, D12, Obie Trice, KP Records artists and more.
The Inner Circle Volume One (2011) Also featuring Bone Thugs N Harmony, KP Records artists, John Payne and more.
These releases are available for free download at kokyprik.com now.
Follow Big Dave on Facebook – www.facebook.com/BigDaveofKP
Awards
Canberra Music Awards (MAMAS) – 2013 BEST ACT URBAN (RnB/HipHop/Rap)
MusicOz – 2013 commended finalist – URBAN CATEGORY
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/internet-voice-for-inmates/news-story/ba71de06af402ecbea629fbd52bf8acd