There is no comparison. What happens when soul meets swag? You get Dee-1, “The One Man Army.”
His style is literally so diverse that he creates his own lane in hip hop. Born & raised in the heart of New Orleans, Dee-1 shared the same struggles as the legendary artists that put the 504 on the map, but he represents the city with a different viewpoint. He is the voice for anyone on a mission to win in the game of life by maximizing their potential and grinding with a purpose.
After graduating from Louisiana State University with a bachelor's degree in marketing, Dee-1 began teaching middle school by day to help fund his music projects. The strong bond he formed with his students inspired him to be a powerful leader, but it also made it hard for him to leave. As his buzz as an artist continued to grow, he finally decided that his passion for hip hop was too much to ignore and that being "Dee-1" gave him a much larger platform to be heard than being "Mr. Augustine." Sleepless nights being a full time teacher and part time rapper were now replaced by sleepless nights being a "full time dream chaser," as chronicled in his courageous song "The Announcement." It is impossible to box Dee-1 in because he is truly one of a kind. His subject matter is bold, creative, and unapologetic. With Dee-1, its more than just music. Its about a lifestyle, a frame of mind that empowers people to live with purpose and develop what he calls "mission vision." That's where Dee's nickname "The One Man Army" comes from. "Everyone has a mission, and everyone is their own One Man or One Woman Army. In 2010, Dee-1 founded his own entertainment company, OMAR Ent. Omar is short for One Man Army Rebel and the definition of the name Omar means flourishing, long lived, and gifted speaker. How appropriate...
Having already built a solid street buzz with his mixtape “I Hope They Hear Me! Vol. 1”, Dee-1 catapulted to the next level with the release of his critically acclaimed mixtape "I Hope They Hear Me! Vol.2" which is available on dee1music.com and DJBooth.net. The popular track from the mixtape “Jay, 50, and Weezy” won Best Hip-Hop Record (Unsigned/Independent) of the Year on DJBooth.net and has over 510,000 hits on YouTube.
From top to bottom, the mixtape is a musical masterpiece. It has features from well known artists such as Mannie Fresh, Murs, Mickey Factz, and the No Limit legend MAC. Dee-1 has been featured in the top Hip-Hop magazines in the world, The Source and XXL. Additionally several of Dee-1’s videos have been in heavy rotation on MTV Jams.
Most recently, Dee-1 has performed alongside nationally touring acts such as Lil Wayne, Lupe Fiasco, Drake, Trey Songz, Talib Kweli, Akon, The Roots, The Clipse, Curren$y, Musiq Soulchild, Fat Joe, Juvenile and more. Dee-1 performed on the 25 city “Grind N’ Hustle Tour” with Young Dro, Killer Mike, and Pac Div in April 2011. Dee-1 also became the first hip-hop artist ever to win the annual Louisiana State University “Battle of the Bands Contest.” The charismatic MC frequently mentors youth and is active on the lecture circuit. Dee-1 recognizes that his music resonates with almost anyone “first and foremost because its so authentic. That’s why people from the hood all the way to the classroom feel it.” His message extends well beyond the stereotype of the traditional rapper, because as he says,”real recognizes real.”
You haven't witnessed Dee-1's true star power until you have seen him live in concert. He has become known for giving jaw-dropping shows and electrifying audiences wherever he performs. As Dee-1 says, “It feels way better to win over an audience than to just brag on how good I am. I'd rather prove it to you.” All of this progress has left die-hard Dee-1 fans asking "What's next?" No one knows for sure, but as his fan base continues to grow throughout the nation, Dee-1 is poised to become Hip-Hop’s next great superstar.
However, ask Dee how he feels and he'll explain it in his classic words:
"and the battle continues..."