New Zealand’s iconic producer P-Money has recently teamed up with underground Rap legend Buckshot to release new album BackPack Travels, which is released via Dirty Records / Dawn Raid Records / Duck Down Music today June 24.

Rapper Buckshot is one third of the celebrated ’90s underground rap group Black Moon (with producer Evil Dee and fellow MC 5Ft), this release a 10-song project was entirely produced by P-Money and features hip hop legends Joey Bada$$, CJ Fly of Pro Era, Steele of Smif N Wessun, David Dallas, Raz Fresco, Chelsea Reject & T’Nah Apex.

P-Money’s incredible talents in the studio and behind the decks have made him a household name in NZ and with the release of BackPack Travels have made him an artist to watch internationally. In celebration of the album’s release we asked P-Money to give us a track by track run down on this impressive collaboration.

Crown – Intro

As the title says, this is the intro. Buck picked this one to set off the album and drops a number of gems inside his opening verse on the track.
[Equipment used: Native Instruments Maschine]

Just Begun ft. Raz Fresco

“Lets get it started…” On this one we establish the format that the album is gonna take. Heavy rhymes and solid beats. Raz Fresco is an ill MC from Canada. He added his flavour to the track nicely.
[Equipment used: AkaiMPC2000xl]

Flute ft. Joey Bada$$ and CJ Fly of Pro Era

This might be my favourite beat on the album. When I made it I wasn’t sure if anyone would rhyme on it, it was kinda just for me to listen to.
But when Buck heard it he was feeling it and then he got Joey and CJ to jump on the track with him. It turned out so great and the video is dope too. This track represents that dusty raw hip-hop sound that I love.
[Equipment used: Maschine]

Love Music?

Get your daily dose of metal, rock, indie, pop, and everything else in between.

Sweetest Thing ft. T’nah Apex

Buckshot takes you for a walk through the hood in BK on this one. The brilliant young lady T’nah Apex also makes a scene stealing appearance. She switches from singing to rhyming so effortlessly and with equal passion. We have a video coming for this track.
[Equipment used: Maschine]

Clear Light ft. Chelsea Reject

This is another of my favourite beats because of the way the synthesizer sample is chopped to sound like a siren ringing off throughout the track. Look out for Chelsea Reject’s verse on here. She’s dope.
[Equipment used: Maschine]

Red Alert

Shout out to Marley Marl. Music-wise I was making a homage to Marley and Biz Markie (“Make The Music With Your Mouth Biz”). Buckshot took it somewhere else with the lyrics and made this stand out as a great track.
[Equipment used: MPC5000]

We In Here ft. David Dallas

This is some straight ahead boom bap. A little piano chop and a classic drum break and away we go. Im really glad that Dave is on this one. It was his deal that helped us forge the relationship with Duck Down back in 2010.
[Equipment used: Maschine]

Killuminati

Fans will know that this track was also included on my Gratitude album. I think Buck was really tired of people talking about rappers and entertainers being part of the “illuminati” so he decided to rhyme about how ridiculous that concept is.

This one is Mark Ronson’s favourite track. He played it on his show on East Village Radio. Which coincidentally is situated only 5 blocks away from where the track was recorded.
[Equipment used: Roland MS-1 Sampler]

The Choice

Buck goes in on this one and reveals some cool facts about being inspired by EPMD’s Hit Squad and various other aspects from his the early days.

For some reason this mix is mad distorted I don’t know what happened there, haha!
[Equipment used: Maschine]

This Is My World ft. Steele of Smif N Wessun

So happy to have Steele on the album. It was Black Moon and Smif N Wessun that established Duck Down and the Boot Camp Clik legacy. For me being a fan of them both it still doesn’t register that I’ve got songs out with them now. I have to give thanks for that. Life is a trip. Shout out Buckshot, Dru Ha and NoHa. Duck Down.
[Equipment used: Maschine and Logic Pro]

Pick up a copy of Backpack Travels via iTunes.