The potential leader of a nurturing cultural movement, D.Black was already begun laying the bricks he must walk as an artist and man. While most rappers were concerned with videos that look like flicks and gaudy materialist items that bring forth chicks, Black became a humble student of the Rap game and has become the master of these studies through sheer diligence. There’s no questioning that D.Black has risen as one of the Northwest’s Hip Hop staples. As an artist he is easily recognized as not just a MC but also as a producer able to maneuver upon any track. Under the wisdom and guidance of elite pioneers like Vitamin D, Black and his label Sportin’ Life Records tote a sophisticated rhyme technique that many will find either a strong hit or miss. Some material may be too in depth and if you’re not ready you may simply find it too hard to swallow.

Fans have grown and given huge support, and local press has definitely caught on. No need to second guess what's written in stone, If you don’t believe the hype just Google the kid for yourself and scan over all of the rave reviews. D.Black and Sportn’ Life Records have partnered with the Bay Area-based MYX Music label, who released of D.Black’s sophomore project Ali’Yah earlier this month. The title is Hebrew meaning “to ascend.” The LP is being promoted as one fully loaded with superior production from heavy hitters like Jake One and Vitamin D, along with Seattle up and comers. HipHopDX goes to Seattle to discuss trends of culture with one of the city's leading voices and minds.

HipHopDX: Your parents were pioneers in Seattle’s first rap groups The Emerald Street Boys and The Emerald Street Girls, so you were raised in the Hip Hop game. Was it that exposure which led you to become an artist too, or did you start off in another direction and find your way back to Hip Hop as a profession?
D.Black: Not really. I wasn’t really exposed. I didn’t find out that they had did their thing until I had already started doing mine. I was doing Michael Jackson [imitations] in my diapers, so they always knew I was going to be some type of entertainer. Everybody knew, because I was always outspoken and just excited to be in front of as many people as I could. Every time the camera came out, I was always jumping in front of it. Their acts came to my attention around the age of 13, which was right around the time I finished recording my first record.

DX: Seattle isn’t exactly synonymous with Hip Hop, some might conclude that the Rap scene there doesn’t have the merit it takes to be recognized as a national force. In today’s Internet savvy world, is it even necessary to be able to present a strong movement from a region that’s not known as a music Mecca?
D.Black: We’re definitely known more for Rock. Our mix with Rap is more than about being mixed with 808 drums and synthesizers in the background. In general, people here, especially in the Hip Hop scene, expect to hear real music. If you’re going to sample, then you have to think on what’s the texture of the drums. You have to really take your time to make sure that those drums are actually matching the original sample. You have to be aware of your progression on a track. In the music, it all has to beam in, and I think that’s what’s so beautiful about music. Me myself, I’m not really concerned with Seattle or even D. Black being known as a national act and everybody knowing us for this or that. I mean I’m cool with Starbucks being out there, it’s really no problem. Most of us we do music because of the love and it’s doesn’t matter if there’s 10 people out in the end of the street or Billy on the other side of the country, as long as music is being heard and as long as it’s affecting people and touching them. Am I optimistic about it? Hmmm...yeah, probably so, I think that in the years to come, the rest of the world will hear more from the Seattle artist begin to break especially with the success of some recent groups. Seattle will be better known. 

DX: We’re always hearing that the game is constantly adapting, but what stereotypes of rappers and their music do you see never changing in the public’s minds?
D.Black: Well you have guys like Kanye West, who isn’t afraid to pull his jeans up and wear clothes that actually fit. He’s not afraid to express himself and discuss a topic without having to stab or kill someone before you even get to the chorus. You don’t really have to have music where 90 people die in the song to make good music. People should look to the underground. I’m a fan of groups Like Little Brother [click to read] and Pharoahe Monch and guys like that. I don’t think that the negative perception has to continuously be there. More so even with myself I was able to make many transitions not only spiritually but also into the music. I don’t think that people have to continue to look at Rap in any certain way. For the most part, Hip Hop in the mainstream is moving in a horrible direction. I would be lying if I said anything different. But as far as the guys who are a little more under the radar, I think it’s sort of going back to the way it use to be back in the day where artists are able to control more of what’s coming out. I think that as long as you don’t have a label telling you that you have to look like this, talk like that, dress this way then we can get back to the root of things then people will be able to be themselves and that will help to change the public perception.

DX: Today’s artist posses a slim understanding on the importance of artist development but you underwent mentorship under Seattle heavy hitter’s like Vitamin D, and then applied those lessons to mold and shape your artistry. How important is undergoing a diligent phase of development before just simply injecting oneself as a hip hop artist in this current market?
D.Black: You know what, it’s tough because I honestly feel for a lot of these younger artist these days. They’re not necessarily getting the mentorship they need. They see the life on TV and mimic what they see then everyone wonders why everyone keeps coming out sounding a like back to back. I think it’s key to have a guy like Vitamin D or Jake One [click to read]. That sort of the way it goes, in life you have to have someone to show you the ropes. For me, it was even better because I’m not only a rapper, I’m a producer, and I’m an engineer. So working with him taught me how to not just listen but to hear the music. It was interesting because I read the review you guys did for my album [Ali'yah] [click to read] where you said “I’m not a lyrical guru,” and you’re right that’s not my thing. When I write music I write it with the mix in mind, like I want it to sound like this I want it to sound a certain way like I want my voice to fit in between the kick and the snare or when I say this word I want it to have this impact. Those are the principles that I picked up from Vitamin D and that really helped me. I took it and nurtured it and became more of that type of artist, so to speak. Really, I’m an entertainer in my heart, I love being able to express self. As long as it’s a message getting out and it’s me 110%, then I feel good about it.  But I think the mentoring piece is major because without it can be disastrous something like that can be detrimental to your career. Everybody understands this in the real world. We need bosses and supervisors and pastors and rabbi’s we need people to guide us and show us the way to get you ready. The issue with some of the artist in music is some don’t have that and they’re just looking for someone to hang out with so they can just get on.

DX: So coming up you had a lot of things on your table trying to juggle school, football and music. Being a fan of the sport you know Michael Vick just came back to the league but it’s a lot of hate of there saying that he shouldn’t be given a second chance. As someone in the realm of entertainment too, can you speak on the relevance of being given a fresh start when reintroducing yourself out into the public?
D.Black: Yeah you know what, its funny that you say that. I think it’s horrible what they’re trying to do to Mike Vick. You know we can make mistakes, but give the guy a chance. What’s so funny to me and what I really take an issue with is that I love all things don’t get me wrong I love all animals. I think that animals are important, so nobody’s denying that, but I think what bothers me is that people are valuing the lives of animals over the life of a human being. Nobody is speaking out or saying anything about it, like it’s okay. Some people love their dogs more than people and they treat them like people. When you start to place a greater value on an animal than a person, I think we have real issues within society. Maybe it’s a race thing, I hate to use to race card but, some people are taking it that way and maybe it’s that.

As this relates to being an entertainer I had to reshape what people thought of me as well. That was due to after the making of my last record I would go in somewhere and sit down to talk with people just to chop it up and they would say something like “Hey, you’re really a nice guy,” and I’m like what else am I supposed to be? But it was because of how people view rappers like gangstas. I really had to wrestle with that because at the time I was doing youth ministry and everything else, so I was like man this is people’s perception of me? I had to sit down and reassess myself and I realized that I couldn’t keep coming to people covered in darkness and expecting for them to see the light. So at the same time, I have to work that much harder in order for me to stand in a different light and be seen different in people’s eyes. I wanted to be seen as a person who has changed and is changing. Now people can’t say the same things or write the same things they use to about me, there’s no doubt about it. That’s because I transformed my mindset and later on it transformed my actions.

DX: You’re known as a magnificent performer. It’s been said that what you bring to the table has a dominant impact on an audience. What special traits do you bring to the stage that makes your segment in the limelight so captivating?
D.Black: I think it’s the love for one, because loving it means everything. One of the biggest things I don’t like about tours is you get to the city is you don’t have a lot of time because you have to shower quick, get dressed and rush to perform, then come back sleep and rush off to do the same thing the next day. The thing about being on the stage whatever problem you might have had is just gone for me once I grab the mic. That’s my love it’s my high in a sense. Just being on stage in front of people, I love it. I’m a people person. I was talking to my father one day about it and he pointed out that the aura I have about me is that I’m able to connect with the people and draw a lot of people near me. It’s not only the love I have for the music but for the people as well. I watched a lot of Michael Jackson growing up, so you know I try to incorporate a lot of action within my stage show, I mean I don’t moon walk but I definitely try and work the entire stage. Plus I’m a big guy so you can’t miss me because I take up a good portion of the stage. I keep everybody pretty much active people usually expect a big guy to just be in one place but I move around a lot better than same of the smaller guys so maybe that’s it.

DX: You are the co-CEO of Sportn’ Life Records LLC.  What is your vision and focal point with this company? Not only that but do you feel any sense of responsibility as a young business owner during these economic hardships?
D. Black: I don’t know. I think the economy is killing the game.  I can’t lie, it’s definitely killing the game! I think through overall growth and maturity to help us see some things because at first everybody wants the big time record deal with all the perks but now with the economy, it’s helping us and other businesses to think more realistically and get your heads out of the clouds. You now have to start working more with what you’ve already got at hand. The resources where always there but some where trying to just skip them in order to jump somewhere else.

I think as far as Sportn’ Life goes, we’ve been able to do that and remain active. The Internet is so crazy with some many things to be able to be involved with. I usually bring the artist up and let the do their thing letting them record and be my hype man for the shows. So now with that I see good things happening in the up coming years for Sportn’ Life Records.

DX: Now you’re also a very spiritual being, you’re a firm believer in the Messianic Hebrew roots of your religion and currently run your own ministry. How does your faith influence your music, do you feel that it enhances your message or restricts the topics you can touch on?
D. Black: It is Messianic Judaism, and it definitely influenced my whole entire being. And I think anybody can tell that if you watch old footage or listen to old music on of mine, you can clearly see the change in me. I think that what happened is because I had a change in mind, I had a change in heart and because I had a change in heart I had in words and after I ad a change in words, I had a change in actions. I think that’s the process of how it came about from the mind to the heart to word because as soon as we speak something we bring it into existence. The more and more I told myself this is where I’m at and this is where I want to be, it really shaped me.

I didn’t get too spiritual on the record because that’s’ not who I was talking too honestly I was talking to the community. When I say the community, I mean predominantly the African American community. I think we really need to step it up. I think all of us need to step it up. We are the filter to the neighborhoods and to the kids and nothing can enter without first passing through us so we are that filter. We got to cut it out and start getting smarter as artist and we’ve got to start being smarter about what we’re putting out there in our music. Sometimes it may take a person to say you know I may have said some thing in the past that produced a negative action but now I’m going to correct that.

DX: So your first album came out and was well accepted, be honest do you ever go back and revisit the first record. Can we find you driving around town still listening to “The Cause and Effect?”
D.Black: Do you want me to be completely honest right now? Like totally honest? Okay, put this for the record; you can quote me on this. For the record, D.Black does not even listen to Rap music at all, especially my old record! I listen to my new one a little of course, but that’s it. But me as a husband, as the head of my household, as a father, I can’t play music that I wouldn’t want my daughter to listen too. Even if that’s my whole record, which it is, I wouldn’t want her hearing all of the profanity and things of that nature so I don’t play it for her and I don’t play it for myself, 'cause I don’t want to be a hypocrite. I don’t want to be the guy telling my kid don’t do this don’t do that then me doing it behind their backs. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself doing that. Me and my wife as parents have said that we wont say, do, or watch anything that we don’t want our daughter saying, doing, or watching. That’s what we chose to do as parents, and I’m definitely practicing what I preach. So yeah I don’t even listen to any Rap music, I don’t even know the last time I heard some. I threw everything away I even cut my cable off - and believe I can afford it, but I just didn’t want to see all of the crap that people are putting out promoting sex and violence or promoting something contrary to what  I stand for. The hood mentality is only for those in the hood and for those outside of the hood its non applicable.

DX: How would you urge people to purchase your album, Ali'yah?
D. Black: People should go and buy and support the album because its somebody’s heart on a platter. When I say it's my heart, I mean it's my real heart. I’m not taking no money from it. I don’t want to take any money from it. D.Black sees no proceeds from Ali'yah - not from a show, not from an album sale, not from a t-shirt, nothing. It’s not paying me in any sort of way. My reason for putting out this album is because it’s something that I think has been missing from the game. For somebody to hear actual good music, that is saying something to somebody. I think that that’s important right now during these economic times and to a society as a whole. I think that it’s a perfect record! It’s uplifting, it’s inspirational, heart felt and relevant. 

DX: Right now swarms of people are on the Drake train. He’s being championed the “savior” of the Rap game. How does that title weigh on other young emcees, such as you, who are relatively new and still trying to make a name for yourself? Does that create more pressure because the bar is now so high?
D.Black: He can have it, I don’t really know that he set the bar that high. I mean I’m not a fan! I mean they were saying the same thing about Lil Wayne [click to read] and I don’t think he’s saying much of anything at all. I’m not too familiar with Drake. Honestly, I promise you I was calling the dude "Draino" up into last week 'cause I couldn’t even remember the kid's name. Everybody’s like, “Ahh he’s the hottest” or like “He’s the best thing since sliced bread.”  But I’m not able to jump on the bandwagon. Frankly, I haven’t heard enough from him. I’d be wrong to say anything 'cause I don’t know him, but I wouldn’t play him. It’s no pressure, no big deal, I’m not in competition with nobody. I mean Ali'yah can go to him, if you’re out here and not saying anything then step it up. I don’t mind being the guy off crying out from the wilderness that nobody really wants to go see because he had something too real to say to them. I wouldn’t purposely try to offend anybody but hey if that’s what the world is coming too that we’re resting it in the hands of guys like Lil Wayne to save us, then yeah, Hip Hop is really dead!