User:Stokesdean/Big Dave (Australian rapper)

Big Dave (Born in 1979 Canberra) recieved a five year sentence for armed robbery and assault in what the Canberra times described as a drug turf war and prime local news described as a hollywood style home invasion.

Turning to hip hop inside the prison walls Big Dave met other emcees serving time and polished his skills in gaol yard cyphers and long nights in the cell with his pen and pad.

Upon release Big Dave entered in to rap battles finishing in the final sixteen in NSW at Scribblejam 2006 before recording a mixtape titled "Fly ya flag" with local and international talent. With no label or distribution the cd was released on September 30th 2006 and the 350 copies of of it were sold in two months stunning many haters. The magazine 3dworld/homebase Australia's biggest free dance/urban publication said in a September 2006 interview " Youve gotta hand it to Big Dave, from the gaol yard to the battle circuit hes fiercely independent".Taken from issue 826.

In late 2006 Big Dave formed the label Koky Prik Rekordz (Australian business number 36 654 758 562)and secured nationwide distribution for the labels first release the Big Dave solo album "Raw Stories" a look back at life over the past decade for Big Dave. Producing the album is Hip hop tv Australia CEO Fady Atalla http://www.myspace.com/hiphoptv. Also signed to the label is well known Canberra DJ Dereck Steele Aka Dj PafMack. Officially launching in January 2007 the label put on show to celebrate with artists such as The Tongue, Anecdote, Hyjak n Torcha, BIG DAVE and others performing. The classic Aussie rap battle between The Tongue and Anecdote also went down that night.

On top of the music Big Dave and Koky Prik Rekordz have also been involved in a number of community projects involving troubled youth and prison inmates two topics Big Dave is passionate about. In A Sunday Telegraph article from 29 April 2007 justice action a prison reform group praised Parsons initiative.

The album "Raw stories" is described as "raw street level rap" on the official Koky Prik Rekordz website.

Big Dave stories and interviews can be seen online at the official websites of 3d world/homebase magazine http://www.threedworld.com.au, http://www.ozhiphop.com, http://www.kokyprik.com, http://nurcharecords.com, the Sunday Telegraph, the Herald Sun, The Canberra Times and more.