Bronx-born and bred, Lord Divine isn’t coined as your average rapper. His journey to the mic actually began behind prison walls, where he found his voice, not just for himself, but for others who couldn’t read or write. Known among inmates as “The LetterMan,” he penned poems and letters that eventually evolved into rhymes, igniting a fire that would carry him from solitary thoughts to public stages.
“My story is a little different,” Lord Divine shares. “I was always a fan of hip hop, Biggie especially. But I started writing in prison. At first, it was just letters and poems. Then I realized my poetry was rhyming, and one of my homies in there taught me how to count bars. That’s when I really started making songs.”
The authenticity of his past bleeds through every bar he spits. His music features a gritty and cinematic feel rooted in the realities of street life. “I want people to feel like they’re in a movie when they hear me,” he explains. “I’m telling real stories.”
That raw storytelling comes through powerfully in his 2016 track “I’m Sorry,” a visual and lyrical piece that captures the emotional weight of survival and success. “It’s about blowing up and not being sorry for it,” he says. “If you’ve been through what I’ve been through, you’re not apologizing for making it out.”
Lord Divine isn’t shy about the dark side of the industry either. “There’s a lot of fake people out here, just trying to take your money,” he says. “They act like they can help you, but they really can’t. That’s been one of the biggest challenges, finding real ones.”
Despite the obstacles, his music is resonating. His breakout song, “Watcha Gon Do,” racked up over a million streams, thanks to its “rawness and gritty street feel.” It’s that unfiltered honesty that fans connect with and what sets him apart in a sea of imitators.
“My music gives you the pros and cons of life,” Lord Divine says. “I’m not going to be fake. Everything I rap about is real.”
While he hails from the Bronx and New York City, Lord Divine’s life has taken him across the country and through experiences that most only see on screen. Now, he’s using those stories to reach and help out the next generation. “Success to me is getting my message across to the world. Especially the youth,” he emphasizes.
As for what’s next? Lord Divine has his sights set on film. “After music, definitely movies,” he says. “That’s how I’ll keep sharing my story.” And in an industry that often values flash over substance, Lord Divine is proof that real still resonates.