Certified Fresh: Dee-1 – His Psalms & Aspirations

New Orleans can be described in many way, but in this case we’ll refer to the city as “flavorful.” It’s a place that’s defined by a rich culture; people, food, and, more particularly, music included. From its renowned big brass bands to bounce music to Hip-Hop, the Big Easy can provide an audible delight perfect for any scenario.

But the one thing the city sorely lacks is a voice for the common man. We’re talking someone who’s in tune with streets and speaks for those looking to conquer their adversities, but has a presence large enough to appeal to the masses. RCA Inspiration recently announced the signing of Dee-1, our latest Certified Fresh feature and a local artist who just might fill the bill.

Earlier this year, he debuted a project titled Psalms Of David, which ultimately made him worthy of a major label look. With all eyes on him, Dee debuted the project’s ambitious sequel, Psalms Of David II, that serves as the next listenable blessing. Well, that is until he the southern MC proves what he can do with a machine backing him (he has an unconventional plan).

Who: Dee-1 isn’t your run of the mill rapper, especially if you factor in those who rose to fame from the N.O. before him. He’s a graduate of Louisiana State University, which he attended on a full scholarship. Considering that, it’s no surprise that his conversational flows do more than display his wizardry with words. The message reads loud and clear.

Dee is a true New Orleans native, but he got his bearings straight in Baton Rouge. There, he worked as a middle school teacher by day, while chasing his dreams of becoming a noteworthy MC by night. The wordsmith eventually saw fit to quit his steady gig to work on music full time. What followed was a long, winding road of ups and downs that he vividly detailed in projects like I Hope They Hear Me Vol 1., I Hope They Hear Me Vol. 2, The Focus Tape, and more recently the Psalms Of David series.

Credentials: If paying dues were the only determining factor in inking a deal with a major label, Dee-1 would have been sing eons ago. Aside from the aforementioned projects, the MC has organically grown a healthy fan base without any gimmicks. He’s also earned the respect of peers and industry veterans alike. His real-life Rolodex includes the likes of Lupe Fiasco, who he’s currently on tour with, Macklemore, Mannie Fresh, Yaasin Bey, and more. And this was prior to becoming a marketable commodity.

Credit Dee’s early signs of success to what he’s coined “mission vision.” This plays into the rapper’s nickname, “One Man Army,” which proved to be prophetic since he championed the game independently for eight years before joining the RCA family.

Fun Fact: Dee-1 didn’t pick up the pen and pad until his sophomore year of college. No, really.

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Photo: YouTube, Dee-1

Hip-Hop Wired: What’s was the sound and direction of Psalms of David II? What influenced your decision not to work with more known artists on this project?

Dee-1: “I just got signed to RCA, so the first one – Psalms of David Vol. 1 – got me signed. I feel like I set the bar pretty high with the first one. I got a record deal. I’ve been grinding for eight years, and that one mixtape, that was the tipping point I’d say that got me signed. So the second one, this is one where a lot of people are curious to see what’s his first body of work going to sound like now that he’s signed. Some people get signed – they get a little check – and they just get comfortable. You can hear it in they music, like ‘Aww, they’re not as hungry no more.’ Man, I got signed and I’m hungrier than ever. That’s what you’re going to hear on this. That’s the sound.

I’m on tour with Lupe Fiasco right now; just got off tour a few months back with Macklemore. I got friends all throughout the industry, so I could have had all these star studded features on here if I wanted to go that route, but I was like ‘No.’ Coming out the gate, a lot more people going to be paying attention to this mixtape than ever before, so I wanted it to focus on myself and if anything, the people who’ve been paying dues with me in New Orleans for years.”

Hip-Hop Wired: Artists with your brand of rap often keep it independent. What made you make the major label move?

Dee-1: Cause I’m a major dude. I needed to be major. Straight up. My music, it would have a ceiling on it if I tried to stay independent. I signed with a major label, because they have a big enough machine to push the magnitude of the music I do man. I plan on making big stadium hits – you know, songs that are going to be all over the radio, and everywhere, and in movies. All that type of stuff, so a major label was the route. I did it eight years independently, so I know what that’s like.

Hip-Hop Wired: Accountability seems to be a running theme in your music. Is that the case? And if so, why?

Dee-1: I want accountability to be a theme that’s synonymous with the name Dee-1. I want people to hold me accountable for what I talk about, because I wouldn’t feel right rapping about the things I rap about if my lifestyle was a total 180; if my lifestyle was totally different from what I rap about. I want people to hold me accountable. I want the kids who listen to my music and the people that who look up to Dee-1 as a celebrity – where I come from and all across the world – I want people to understand that it’s not just music; It’s really a lifestyle that I live.

I want them to understand that it’s possible to really be a positive dude, an educated dude, be a cool dude, and not have to compromise any of that and you can still succeed and win big. We have never seen that where I come from. I have to emphasize that. In New Orleans, we have no examples of that when it comes to musicians. Zero. I’m glad I can be the one.

Hip-Hop Wired: We’re guessing that your major label debut is next. Is that the case?

Dee-1: No, not necessarily man. If you think about it, J. Cole put out a couple of mixtapes after he got signed, before his album came out. Kendrick put out a couple of projects – Wale. Everybody’s path is different, so I don’t want to compare it to anything that’s ever happened because my path to getting where I’m at now wasn’t the same as anybody. How many rappers other rappers didn’t start rapping ‘til they got to college? Got to college, took it serious, found out they were real good at it, but didn’t get a deal or didn’t have any backing, any label behind them, no manager or nothing? I graduated, had to be a middle school teacher – this all part of my story – taught middle school, quit from that to step out on faith and pursue their dream and two years later ended up with a major label record deal.

All of that is so far from the norm, that moving forward I don’t want to compare myself to what’s supposed to happen. Anytime I make a plan, something just comes through and rearranges it. My plan was to chill in New Orleans and record for the rest of the year; stack up music. Then Lupe Fiasco hit me up and asked me to come on tour. What, I’mma tell Lupe no? So, I’m doing that until the end of the year now. After Psalms Of David II, I don’t know. They just gotta stay tuned and see what comes next.

Certified Fresh: Dee-1 - His Psalms & Aspirations