Dee-1

Dee-1 is an American rapper, author, college professor, activist, and public speaker from New Orleans, Louisiana.

After graduating from LSU in 2008, he started teaching middle school math in Baton Rouge.

By the end of 2008, he had released three mixtapes: It's Only Tha Beginning, Still We Rise and I Am Who I Am.

Dee-1 has been featured in national media outlets such as CNN, Billboard, and the Washington Post.

He has also received attention from Louisiana newspapers and music magazines.

His first studio album, David & Goliath, was released April 13, 2009.

In August 2009, Dee-1 released a Saints-themed song with trumpet player and Rapper Ty Ochsen, titled "Bring Em to the Dome".

Additionally, Dee-1 performed alongside nationally touring acts such as Lil Wayne, Lupe Fiasco, Drake, Trey Songz, Akon, The Roots, Mýa, The Clipse, Musiq Soulchild, Fat Joe, Lil Boosie, Juvenile, Big K.R.I.T. and Big Boi.

Dee-1 initially gained attention in 2010 after the release of his single "Jay, 50, and Weezy," which garnered over 1 million views on YouTube.

After two years of teaching, he resigned before the 2010–2011 school year to focus on his music as a career.

In October 2010, he was named Artist of the Year at the NOLA Underground Hip Hop Awards.

Dee-1 majorly rose to hip-hop's spotlight after the release of his song and music video, "Jay, 50, & Weezy" in 2010.

The single received national attention and was praised for its narrative-driven storytelling and "sheer audacity that he displayed by calling out three of the game's biggest rappers, but mostly because of the song's strong message."

In the same year, Dee-1 released his fourth mixtape, I Hope They Hear Me Vol.1. The project received positive attention, and after his Vol 1.5 installation to the mixtape series, he released I Hope They Hear Me Vol. 2. With acclaimed tracks, such as "Jay, 50 & Weezy" occupying the 18-song track list, Dee-1's collaboration with Mannie Fresh made for another high-profile record from the project, "The One That Got Away".

The track was produced by Flight School Productions complete with a music video for the 2011 single.

In 2011, Dee-1 toured with Atlanta rappers Killer Mike and Young Dro, as well as the southern California-based rap group Pac Div.

Following that tour, between 2011 and 2013, he has also toured with artists such as Macklemore (opening for The Heist Tour), Murs (Ridin' All By Ourselves Tour), and Lecrae (Higher Learning Tour).

Dee-1 toured with Macklemore in 2012.

Dee-1's The Focus Tape helped sustain his career momentum next, released in 2012 and featured a handful of hip-hop's biggest names; "Work" featuring Lecrae, "The Man In My City" featuring Juvenile and Mannie Fresh, "The Very Best" featuring Yassin Bey and Mannie Fresh, and "Never Clockin Out (Remix)" featuring Killer Mike.

He released a series of conscious-rap driven singles such as "You Stupid Fool" and "Shut Up And Grind".

Dee-1 signed to RCA Inspiration in 2013 and went fully independent in 2019.

He has released 11 studio albums in his career thus far.

Dee-1 is the first rapper in Louisiana history to be an appointee of the governor.

He was appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards to the Louisiana Council for the Success of Black Men and Boys.

Dee-1 is a 2022-2023 Nasir Jones Hip Hop fellow at Harvard University.

He has designed and is teaching a course at Tufts University titled "The Intersection of Hip Hop and Social Change.

Dee-1 has received many accolades over the course of his career including the NAACP Power of Influence Award, 2023 Rap MVP of the Year from Rolling Out Magazine, 2023 Artist of the Year from Rapzilla, and 2022 Entertainer of the Year by the All Black National Convention.

He was an Emmy Award nominee for hosting "The Manhattan Project."

Dee-1 has multiple albums which have charted on the top 10 on Billboard.

Hailing from New Orleans East, he attended Audubon Montessori School (currently Audubon Charter School) through 8th grade.

He was a star basketball player at Ben Franklin High School as well as homecoming king his senior year.

He was raised Catholic.

He began rapping while in college.

He began publicly performing while attending LSU.

Dee-1 developed a close relationship with Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco while joining him on the Tetsuo Youth Tour of 2013 as well.

After signing with RCA Inspiration in 2013, he released his first EP, 3s Up, featuring six tracks and heralding Dee-1's three-piece motto: "Be Real. Be Righteous. Be Relevant.".

Dee-1's unique artistry brought him to BET's 2014 Hip Hop Awards along with O.T. Genasis, Lil Mama, Logic and Detroit Che.

"Against Us" was the first single from the EP, released in 2014.

The track delivered a powerful testament combating the ills of society and the Hollywood industry.

The EP peaked at No. 9 on Billboard 's Top Rap Albums in 2015.