Album: PNC – Rookie Card

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It may seem that New Zealand’s Hip Hop scene is at least temporarily derailed with the abrupt and unexpected closing of it’s leading record label Dawn Raid, home of Savage and the Decepticonz crew. However, pioneering hit-maker P Money plans on continuing to blaze the trail along with Dirty Records, and more specifically through the anticipated solo debut of promising up and comer PNC, who puts in his Rookie Card.

Following the excellent and emotional string-driven Only Child Style, the aptly titled Bomb! really sets the stage. To hear him at his braggadocios best check out The King. Meanwhile, PNC and guest Scribe get their grown man on as they talk about the struggle to pay the bills on Dead Pioneers. PNC bears his soul on the touching Miss You, featuring the vocals of Chong Nee on the chorus. Major props also have to go to P Money, NZ’s DJ Premier in my opinion, who delivers some first class sound-beds for PNC and the guest MC’s to vent their feelings.

More laidback fare such as Getaway and Just Roll are good enough, but are a little miscalculated in their execution. The main example of this is the Dirty South-aping Who Betta Than This which sounds a little at odds with the rest of the soulful boom-bap on display, however PNC is able to take it beyond above average status with his charisma.

What you are left with is a very classy and top quality sounding album. It sounds like it could be played all over the world, not just in NZ. The only hindrance that holds it back is it’s struggle to find it’s own identity at times. If you didn’t have prior knowledge of PNC hailing from New Zealand you may not know by listening to this album. Much like the majority of the other Urban music coming out of NZ it very much is influenced by the U.S. Hip Hop scene. But then again maybe by not pigeonholing themselves with a regional style and going for a more universally acceptable sound is what has put this and similar releases above others in the marketplace. Who knows? What I do know is that it’s well worth your time to give it a spin.

Available Through Dirty Records