WARNING: This interview may cause free thinking… continue at your own risk.
Dee-1’s mission? Positivity to the masses. Entertainment doesn’t have to be about materialistic ideals, spreading hate, or void of uplifting messages to be popular. And he’s right. Having been featured multiple times on MTV Jams, Dee-1 is getting notice. A voice of reason, he’s calling the BS out where he sees it, and it’s catching on. Not trying to keep people from liking other artists, Dee-1 seeks to provide an alternative to what those artists stand for. Thus making us, the masses, aware of the implications of those negative messages on the perceived quality of our lives, and offering an alternative to even the playing field. Ultimately, he’s all about bringing the collective energy up.
The Louisiana native, who rocks an accent that according to his mentor Murs (of Living Legends) is pretty damn cute, a most accurate description. A graduate of Louisiana State University and now ex junior high math teacher, rapping was just a hobby, a fun side thought, but when he realized his voice had the power to motivate, inspire and uplift people he thought this was something he should take more serious… and with it grew an avenue for spreading his message. The manifestation of his current tour and exposure resonates as coming from a place of a pure love and good will… that everyone can be happy with what they have, instead of focusing on what they don’t… and that we can in fact enjoy building each other up more than we do when tearing each other down. I was most fortunate to speak with Dee-1, and encourage you to take a listen to what he has to say… and spread the love.
Dee-1: This last year, 2011, I broke onto the national scene. This is my third official tour around the country in the last 12 months. I had a real stand out mix tape, that I actually have out right now called, I Hope They Hear Me Vol.2, when I put that mix tape out along with some singles “Jay, 50, and Weezy“, “The One That Got Away“, ft. Mannie Fresh, and “One Man Army“, the songs really started taking off. MTV Jams picked up four of my music videos and kept them in rotation. So a lot of good stuff’s been happening.
Yea you got that positivity out there, and then to have it come back to you…
Dee-1: That’s the beautiful part. I got nominated for XXL top ten freshmen of 2012. I’m excited to be doing this with music that is authentic, without having to conform my beliefs or morals.
Now you’re here, touring with Murs. Do you ever just pinch yourself?
Dee-1: I don’t even pinch myself, I just smile… I just smile randomly, you know? <<big smiles>> We collaborated on Riding By Myself, and he reached out to me to say he was a fan of what I was doing. It’s such an honor to meet someone who’s so accomplished like Murs, but still has such a genuine, real authentic personality. He has definitely taken me under his wing, so I would consider myself one of his protégés. To see his demeanor, and how he handles himself, and is so independent minded about how he manages his business. You know, it’s definitely inspiring.
That’s great to have someone to look up to like that. Someone who’s been through it and learned a lot. Who’s been through the fire of going up…
Dee-1: Exactly. I mean, this man has his own music festival! You know?! He’s paid his dues. I think that Murs is a huge asset to me, a huge blessing to me. Someone I can look up to. I always ask him for advice, he’s like my big brother...
That is huge to have that support. Especially when putting yourself out there, tying to get your message across.
Dee-1: I feel like I have a point to prove. Just because there a lot of people who want oppose you when you come in the game and you want to stand for something positive or something real. A lot of people want to say you can only get so big and there’s a ceiling on how much you can accomplish. And I really have a chip on my shoulder, in a good way, that inspires me to just say, “You know what?! I’m gonna get out here and I’m gonna make history. I’m gonna make all these new fans and I’m gonna make all these people believe in my movement!” Cuz what I represent is a whole wave of positive energy. It’s more than me just being a new rapper from the south.
Yea, kinda like Del the Funky Homosapien, who was a huge influence on me… who has a way of cracking open your typical pattern of thought, to have that positive that is real. You don’t have to be about negativity, or cutting or materialistic to be popular. As a fan enjoying the message, it doesn’t take you anywhere.
Dee-1: Right. And I made that decision. I don’t have to be rapping. If I wanted to, I could still be at home teaching school or I could be doing something else in my life. So, if I’m gonna choose to rap and make this my career, let me stand for something that’s real and let me deal with some substance that can actually inspire people. I don’t want to be one of those rappers who sold a million records but you didn’t change any lives… or you didn’t put any positive energy out there, you know? So that’s where I’m at with it. So it’s all good!
That’s awesome!
<<high fives>>
Dee-1: Yeah! yeah! …I get good vibes from you, definitely.
That’s what I’m all about too. You’ve got to be true to yourself, and it’s all about positivity. People will try to put a damper on you, their energy is negative, it sucks the life out of you. I think if people could get in the cycle of positivity, versus the cycle of negativity…
Dee-1: That’s it <<nodding>>
You know… we’d be spiraling up versus spiraling down.
Dee-1: Just what you said… I need to steal that!
You can totally steal that! <<laughs>>
Dee-1: That is so perfect. That’s what it is. It’s just a cycle, and I’m feeling good hanging around under the tutelage of Murs and the type of energy he has. All that stuff just helps you be in that right cycle, you know what I’m sayin… that cycle of positivity. Like what you said, spiraling up versus spiraling down. That’s totally what it is. Cuz unfortunately I feel that the younger generation, the 80’s babies and the 90’s babies, we have this rap on us that we’re spiraling down as a whole. We need certain agents of change, who don’t mind being leaders to help to try and turn the tide. And I know I have the ear of the youth, of the adolescents and the young impressionable teens, so the people who listen to the Lil Wayne’s… I also want them to know that people like me and Murs provide some balance. So don’t feel like you can only listen to that. We’re trying to teach people to think for themselves.
Yea, and you’re not hating on Lil Wayne, just saying that people can enjoy that for the entertainment it is, but you want to be more than entertainment, you want to inspire.
Dee-1: So yea, that’s where we’re at. <<smiles>>
I love it when people get together and it’s all about positive message and you just see everyone light up.
Dee-1: Yep, exactly.
…that’s the great thing about getting together like that. I feel people used to focus on getting that through a church, but there’s somewhat of a stigma against organized religion… but I don’t feel that you have to be in a church to get that. You can get it anywhere. That message is helping people out, which is part of what religion does, but people are kind of burnt on religion, so it’s finding another way to get that.
Dee-1: Right, and I know where some people go wrong when it comes to religion. They start putting too much faith in the leaders of the church, like the pastors and the figureheads as opposed to God. They’re just middlemen, like a liaison between us and whoever it is that we worship. Anything that man puts his hands on or touches is obviously going to be tainted, because we’re all humans. None of us are pure. We all have flaws about us. It’s all about teaching people the equipment to think maturely and to think with a mindset to where you can make responsible choices about what you believe in, and what you don’t believe in, but stuff that you can feel validated and justified behind why you chose it. I hate how so many people make important choices based on what their favorite rapper believes in, you know? I see that in New Orleans all the time. We didn’t have gangs in New Orleans until Lil Wayne started saying he’s a Blood. All of a sudden, these little young impressionable teens, who don’t know any better, their hero who they look up to, they’re like, “were not sure what we claim, but he’s a Blood now so were gonna start being Bloods down here.” Now you got a bunch of “Bloods” in New Orleans. You know? By me knowing that, it makes me say, “You know what?! Let me use the platform in a way to balance it out.” And not even necessarily to tell people what to do with themselves, or with their lives but just letting them know that you can feel good. You don’t have to feel lame, or corny, or weak about doing the right thing. Doing right is right. Doing wrong is wrong. The line has been kind of blurred, unfortunately.
Check out more on Dee-1 here on his website or his Facebook page… and don’t forget to share the love.