Interview: Dee Rich Lyrically Representing the D.M.V.

The trifecta of Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia has brought forth some of the finest lyricists in the game and Dee Rich has been holding it down from the jump. His video for Come Correct with Black Sun has been topping our charts for a minute and we have the scoop.

Who are you?

I’m Dee Rich, one of the founding father’s of the D.M.V. Hip Hop Movement. I’ve been in the game with over twenty years of experience as a writer, lyricist and performer. I represent Ruff Rhyme Records, the “DMV’s No. 1 Independent Hip-Hop Label”. My current single is “Come Correct” (feat. Black Sun). The track was produced by Big Poppa Nard.

How did you get into making music?

I started out in 1987-1988. Growing up in Landover, Maryland and the Washington DC metropolitan area, an area that was only known for “Go Go” music which is a native art form of the Washington DC. My best friend since childhood Big Poppa Nard, my older brother Undre and I stumbled upon a Casio SK-1 sampling keyboard that my father who worked for DC Public Schools had brought home from work one day. My brother and Nard were naturals at learning the SK-1’s capabilities so they started making the beats. Then I decided I was going to be the one who spit rhymes like my Hip-Hop music idol, Rakim Allah (Eric B. & Rakim).

Over the next few years, my brother lost interest in doing music because computers became his joy. Poppa Nard and I kept going and eventually, hooking up with school mate Slimm Goines “The Scribe”, one of the best lyricists around, to form the one of the first Hip-Hop duos of the D.M.V. area named MAGNUM. Slimm and I were Gemini’s, born days apart, but with opposite personalities, the “Yin-Yang Effect”. We automatically knew that we were ahead of our time with our lyrics.

Hip Hop lyricists weren’t popular in our city back then so we were stepping out on faith. So we decided to make some noise in the area by doing talent shows and local showcases and eventually recorded a few street tapes. As my friend Jermaine Cole would say “From that day on, a new star was born”.

Vote for the COME CORRECT video and more DEE RICH music videos @ VTYO

What’s the inspiration behind the song and music video?

The inspiration behind the song and the music video, “Come Correct” was to let this rap era know that Hip-Hop is still alive and we are a force to be reckoned with. Not only that Hip-Hop music is a live in the D.M.V. and we’re about to show people this. I’ve been in this game since ’87 and have seen hundreds of rappers in my area come and go but I’m here still standing, and Nard is still out there. We have longevity. Big Poppa Nard is one of the pioneers of music production, management and artist development of D.M.V. music. I, myself, am evolving with the times and my lyrics still hold relevance today. I’ve been told by several major sources that no matter my age I’m still marketable and relevant.

What should fans look out for?

First, I would like to take this time to thank all of my fans from around the world and be on the lookout for “The Minority Report” mix-tape to be dropping before the end of the year on DatPiff.com, & the highly-anticipated “Mr. Richardson” project sometime during Spring 2015. Also, look out for “Judgement Day”, the official debut single by my comrades, Tha Boogeymen featuring yours truly, Dee Rich and the new The Hollywood Brown EP by Black Sun.

Anything else to share? How can fans get in touch?

Make sure you go download my single, “Come Correct” (feat. Black Sun) which is available EVERYWHERE right now. It’s on iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody, Spotify and all other major music online stores. Shout out to the entire Ruff Rhyme Records family, Tha Boogeymen and our affiliates; Black Sun, Slimm Goines, The Black Terror, Relentlezz Dre, Skinny Corleone, Multiple Man, Big Lyl (aka Montana/OMG of Section 8 Mob), Wise Tarantino of Vigilante Visionz for my video; 20 Bello, Hevewae and the D.M.V Guerillaz.

Fans can stay in touch with me on Twitter @Dee_Rich, on ReverbNation at http://reverbnation.com/deerichdmv, on MTV at http://www.mtv.com/artists/dee-rich and InstaGram @therealdeerich

Thank you VTYO.com!