Right now, in the midst of the growing racial tension in the world, “believers” will agree there’s only one thing that can save this country, and this world: God. That’s a conversation not often had in 2016, as America has preferred to detour from that mindset as a whole. There were countless tweets stating “Prayer won’t help us in a time like this” following the Alton Sterling shooting this week. And although the Bible does state faith without works is dead, faith should most certainly be the foundation.
In flies Dee 1. His fearlessness and his embracing of the responsibility that comes with having such a huge voice is a breath of fresh air for Hip Hop. His new Slingshot David mixtape validates this in a major way.
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
One listen in, about to listen again.
Let’s keep it real. A lot of consumers are listening to rap music once, maybe half the time, then scrolling Twitter to see what the masses think, then irresponsibly tweeting their opinion of what they just kind of heard. It’s just the way it is, and it may not change anytime soon. When you digest something as full and satisfying as Dee 1’s newest effort, Slingshot David, you’re coming back for seconds. Getting past the intro and title track will be hard enough listening to the “out the mud” stories of Dee 1’s come up. Being able to consume any rap these days multiple times is a pleasant surprise, when you’re consuming something that you know is strengthening you by the listen, lagniappe.
Don’t be surprised if Dee 1 is on a new level soon.
Dee 1 has already navigated to amazing heights in a saturated rap game, with a style that’s certainly not status quo. Features from Lupe and Big Krit and an ESPN theme song, interviews on Sway, the list goes on. But, this thing can go even higher. Back to his fearlessness and willingness to embrace his responsibility, Dee 1 can eventually become the voice of a generation. Listen to Slingshot David, those stories within can inspire. If “Sallie Mae Back” doesn’t inspire you to grind post graduation, then you just want to be in debt. If “No Car Note” doesn’t make you proud of your hoopty, then you just aren’t grateful to get from point A to point B. There’s beauty in the struggle, and even though that’s J Cole‘s line, Dee 1 still embodies that mindset. Because of that mindset, Dee 1’s humility can take him to the top of the game, as people are still seeking real Hip Hop.
Be Real, Be Righteous, Be Relevant: Mission Vision.
Is Dee 1 real on Slingshot David? Oh yeah. He gives listeners his story, how he ended up where he is, why he remains the way he is, stories of the struggle, and how they built him up. Sometimes people take being real out of context, and mistake it for being gangster—not the same. Being real is being truthful, and spitting about your life, and Slingshot David is all about Dee 1’s life, and that makes for amazing rap music. How is Dee 1’s righteousness on Slingshot David? Perfect. From the title, and associating himself with David, one of the Bible’s best heroes, to the mouthfuls of Christ professions that he spits throughout, Dee 1 handles his responsibility on a high level. And, lastly is Dee 1 relevant on Slingshot David? Certainly. It’s a pleasant surprise to hear the direction of some of the songs, and how 2016 they are. A lot of times artists’ intentions are good with their message, but they don’t have the right sound to keep the listener engaged long enough to hear it, so their efforts fall by the waste side. Not on Slingshot David. There’s a desire to hear Dee 1’s raps, and to get to the next song, not just to fly through the tape, but to hear what he cooks up next. Mission Vision, everything intentional.