Dee-1
Dee-1 | |
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Dee-1 performing at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, 2014 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | David Augustine |
Born | April 10, 1989 |
Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana |
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Rapper |
Years active | 2008 – present |
Labels | Mission Vision Ent, RCA Inspiration |
Associated acts | Lecrae, Murs, Lupe Fiasco, Starlito |
Website | www.dee1music.com |
David Augustine Jr., better known by his stage name Dee-1, is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Early life
Hailing from New Orleans East, David Augustine attended Audubon Montessori School (currently Audubon Charter School) through 8th grade. He was a star basketball player at Ben Franklin High School[1] as well as homecoming king his senior year. Ben Franklin High School is the most academically rigorous public school in Louisiana.[2][3]
Early career
Augustine began rapping while in high school. He began publicly performing while attending LSU. 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,[4] Billboard Magazine,[5] and the Washington Post.[6] He has also received attention from Louisiana newspapers and music magazines.[7] After two years of teaching, he resigned before the 2010-2011 school year to focus on his music as a career.[7]
Music career
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 Shamarr Allen, titled "Bring Em to the Dome".[8] Additionally, Dee-1 has 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. In October 2010, he was named Artist of the Year at the NOLA Underground Hip Hop Awards.[9] The video for his song "Jay, 50, & Weezy" was released October 11, 2010. It received attention for its content and mention of Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, and Jay-Z. The video has also aired on MTV Jams and according to program director Tuma Basa has received a lot of positive feedback.[10]
His fourth mixtape, I Hope They Hear Me, was released on April 20, 2010. It received positive reviews.[11] He released a follow-up entitled I Hope They Hear Me Vol. 1.5 in December 2010. It combined several new songs with a collection of tracks from the original mixtape. Vol. 1.5 served as a prequel to his next mixtape, I Hope They Hear Me Vol. 2, which was released on March 1, 2011. Prior to its release, Dee-1 leaked a track online, available for free download, in early February titled "It's My Turn". The track has received positive criticism from various notable hip-hop websites, including XXL and 2dopeboyz.
In April 2011, Dee-1 toured with Atlanta rappers Killer Mike and Young Dro, as well as the southern California-based rap group Pac Div.[12] Following that tour, between 2011-2013, 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).
On October 29, 2013, Dee-1 announced his signing to RCA Inspiration.[13]
His debut release with the label, 3's Up, a six track EP, was released February 17, 2015.[14] The first single off the EP, "Against Us", was released on October 14, 2014.[15][16] His latest mixtape, "Separated at Birth" influenced by and using beats from hip hop artist Lil Wayne, was scheduled to be released on September 15, 2015, but will not be released publicly due to threats from Lil Wayne's Cash Money Records.[17]
Discography
Independent albums
- David & Goliath (2009)
EPs
- 3's Up (2015)
Mixtapes
- It's Only Tha Beginning (2004)
- Still We Rise (2006)
- I Am Who I Am (2008)
- I Hope They Hear Me (2010)
- I Hope They Hear Me Vol. 1.5 (2010)
- I Hope They Hear Me Vol. 2 (2011)
- The Focus Tape (2012)
- Psalms of David (2013)
- Psalms of David Vol.2 (2013)
- Free Lunch And Sallie Mae (2014)
- Slingshot David (The Mixtape) (2016)
Singles
- 2010: "Jay, 50 & Weezy"
- 2010: "One Man Army" produced by: Flight School Productions
- 2011: "It's My Turn"
- 2011: "Blue"
- 2011: "The One That Got Away" featuring Mannie Fresh produced by: Flight School Productions
- 2011: "I'm On It" featuring Shamarr Allen
- 2011: "Uncle Tom" produced by: Flight School Productions
- 2012: "SUAG" produced by: Flight School Productions
- 2012: "You Stupid Fool"
- 2012: "Work" featuring Lecrae
- 2013: "Dear Mr. Christian" by Derek Minor featuring Dee-1 & Lecrae
- 2014: "Against Us"
- 2015: "Can't Ban Tha Hopeman" produced by Greedy Money
- 2016: "Sallie Mae Back" produced by Justen Williams
- 2016: "Against Us (Remix)" featuring Big K.R.I.T. & Lupe Fiasco
Filmography
- Treme (2012)
- Maul Dogs (2015)
References
- ↑ Dennis, David (2012-03-01). "Dee-1: Good Clean Living". OffBeat Magazine. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
- ↑ Calefati, Jessica (2008-12-04). "The High School That Beat Katrina". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
- ↑ "Best High Schools: Gold Medal List". U.S. News & World Report. 2008-12-04. Archived from the original on 2008-12-10. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
- ↑ Rice, Sabriya (2009-02-20). "Hip-hop for the heart sends a culturally sensitive message - CNN.com". CNN.com. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
- ↑ Mitchell, Gail (2009-02-14). "Whitfield Is Tha' Hip Hop Doc". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
- ↑ Douglas-Gabriel, Danielle (2016-02-19). "Rapper Dee-1's Sallie Mae song might just be the anthem for a generation". Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
- 1 2 Wirt, John (2015-06-25). "Former Baker Middle School teacher Dee-1 turns to hip-hop 'as a form of expression'". theadvocate.com. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
- ↑ Thompson, Wright (2009-12-19). "Saints the soul of America's city". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
- ↑ "Nola Underground Hiphop Awards". Nolaundergroundhiphopawards.blogspot.com. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ↑ "Journey Sanders on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
- ↑ Dennis, David (2010-06-01). "Dee-1, I Hope They Hear Me (mixtape)". OffBeat Magazine. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
- ↑ Paine, Jake (2011-03-10). "Killer Mike & Young Dro Headline Grind N' Hustle Tour, With Pac Div, Dee-1". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
- ↑ Baker, Soren (2013-10-29). "Dee-1 Signs With RCA Inspiration". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
- ↑ "Instagram photo by Dee-1". Instagram. 2015-01-26. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
- ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/against-us-single/id925168049
- ↑ "Dee-1 Talks The 2014 BET Cypher, Ferguson, His EP "Catch Me If I Fall" & More (Video)". Home of Hip Hop Videos & Rap Music, News, Video, Mixtapes & more. 2014-10-04. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
- ↑ Baker, Soren (2015-09-15). "Dee-1 Says Lil Wayne-Inspired "Separated At Birth" Mixtape Is "Banned"; Label Comments". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2016-05-18.