Byline: Wyles Daniel
Hailing from the streets of Memphis, Tennessee, OG Boo Dirty is more than just another street rapper. By channeling his struggles into a legacy of lyricism, he has become an authentic storyteller and an impactful artist. His career spans 15 years, communicating flashy themes of street life alongside deep reflection. Inspired to express his life through music, OG Boo Dirty only continues to grow.
Drawn to a Life in Music
Memphis is a city known for music, and combining this environment with his upbringing, OG Boo Dirty was almost designed to live the life of a musician. Hoping not only to tell his story, but to create a better future for his family, OG Boo Dirty decided to pursue his rap career seriously with the release of his 2010 mixtape Almost Famous.
Music journalist and album reviewer Neil Z. Yeung called Almost Famous “a blast of booming Dirty South rap.” He continued, “Boo Dirty’s early tales revolved around the flashier aspects of street life; women, hustling, and his crew, set to big bass beats and addictive hooks similar to T.I. and 2 Chainz.”
Committed to Personal Growth
Starting as a Dirty South rapper, OG Boo Dirty was faced with the realities of street life, label transitions, and even the imprisonment of track collaborators. Despite these setbacks, he remained determined to grow as a musician. By 2011, OG Boo Dirty released The Story of a G to critical acclaim; incorporating deeper themes and a focus on the future, the mixtape distinguished him from similar artists.
The Impact of “Like My Daddy”
A key part of The Story of a G included “Like My Daddy,” a reworked track from Almost Famous. Now incorporating samples of a conversation with OG Boo Dirty’s young son, the track, which formerly spoke to life on the streets, became a raw, emotional reflection of the artist’s desire to build a better life for his family. Honest and vulnerable, his Like My Daddy Song caught Akon’s ear.
OG Boo Dirty’s Work Under Konvict Kartel
Soon after The Story of a G was released, OG Boo Dirty was signed to Akon’s Konvict Kartel label, under which he released his Born a Soldier, Die a Vet mixtape and his Street Certified mixtape. As OG Boo Dirty became a recognized figure in Memphis rap, he found opportunities to collaborate with major artists such as Future, 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka Flame, and others.
In 2016, OG Boo Dirty released his official debut LP, Billionaire Dreams, through Akon’s label. Balancing his original themes of street life, boasting, and prominent beats, the tracks in his LP also contained trap-heavy work with a thoughtful attitude toward hope. OG Boo Dirty’s most recent releases, “relapse” and “drop the lo,” continue to highlight his development as an artist and a new balance of grit and vulnerability.
Plans for the Future
Moving forward, OG Boo Dirty hopes to continue releasing music with themes of real struggle and personal growth, while expanding his brand to influence the next generation of Memphis rappers. Ultimately, he aspires to use his music to build a legacy focusing on family, community, and entrepreneurship.