P-Money: the architect of the Aotearoa sound
Peter Wadams, known as P-Money, helped shape modern New Zealand hip-hop from the ground up. His path runs from student radio and turntablism to platinum records, global songwriting, and DJ software built for real performance.
95bFM and the True School foundation
P-Money's career starts in the 95bFM ecosystem in Auckland, where hip-hop culture had real room to breathe. He came through that world as a young volunteer connected to the True School Hip-Hop Show environment.
This gave him two early advantages: deep exposure to underground records and direct feedback from real listeners. That mix of taste and practicality became a core part of his production style.
Battle DJ era: proving technical skill
Between 1999 and 2001, P-Money won the ITF New Zealand title three years straight. In 2001 he also won the NZ DMC Finals and the ITF national finals, then went to London and placed third equal at the DMC World DJ Championships.
That podium finish was historic for New Zealand. It also shaped his long-term philosophy: raw technique matters, but so does musical recognition and crowd impact.
Producer breakthrough: Navigator and Big Things
His transition into production became clear through work on Che-Fu's Navigator period, where he delivered signature scratches and key production support.
In 2002, he co-founded Dirty Records and released Big Things. The album went double platinum and established him as a producer with both culture credibility and commercial reach.
Scribe partnership and national chart dominance
The P-Money and Scribe run became one of the defining partnerships in Aotearoa music. "Stand Up" reached number one and held for 12 non-consecutive weeks, while "Not Many" became a generational anthem.
That period drove major sales in New Zealand and Australia and earned top industry recognition for P-Money's songwriting and production.
International chapter: New York, Duck Down, global credits
P-Money's second album Magic City expanded his network internationally, including early work with Akon before global superstardom. He later moved to New York, signed with Duck Down, and produced across high-level US hip-hop circles.
His full production project with Buckshot, BackPack Travels, reached the Billboard Rap Albums chart, a key US milestone for a producer from New Zealand.
Reinvention and range: from hip-hop to crossover records
P-Money has repeatedly evolved without losing identity. "Everything" with Vince Harder became a number-one crossover record, while his work on Aaradhna's Treble and Reverb helped deliver one of New Zealand's most awarded albums of that era.
Across styles, the constant is the same: strong structure, clean execution, and records that connect.
Billion-stream moment: "Call On Me"
In 2016, P-Money co-wrote and produced "Call On Me" for Starley. The Ryan Riback remix became a global smash and surpassed one billion combined streams across major platforms.
For an artist-producer from Aotearoa, that milestone put him in rare global company.
What he's building now
After serving as Senior A&R at Sony Music New Zealand, P-Money moved deeper into product building with QuickLoops Pro, software designed for real vinyl-DJ performance workflows.
- Dual-deck loop control.
- DVS-compatible routing workflows.
- Fast loop capture and hot-cue style playback.
- MIDI mapping for pads and controllers.
Legacy and ongoing influence
P-Money's career is a blueprint for creative longevity: master your craft, own your systems, and keep adapting. From student radio to global hits to DJ software, he has stayed at the intersection of culture, technology, and execution.