I’m D’Meitz, your average Marine, rapper, poet, student of life, gangster of love.  I started out doing battles and spoken word shows throughout Cleveland, Detroit, and New York which transitioned into making my own music.  Really got into writing raps a few years ago, put out some songs on the internet, jacking other peoples beats in the toddler days of MySpace.  My most popular song was me rapping over James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful” back when that was fresh.  Around 20 years old I lost control of myself.  My emotions/actions were completely dictated by escapism.  Moving from Ohio to Jersey/NYC and back I found myself arrested when visiting some friends at a college campus.  I ended up in jail - one of the best things to ever happen to me.  Was a real wake-up call.  To avoid a record and because I agreed with the war and wasn’t in college and for family honor and to better myself I enlisted in the Marine Corps.  Since then I’ve traveled a lot and have grown by being thrown into different situations.  Life’s what ya make of it, nah mean?

Where you from?

I’m from Lyndhurst, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.  However, I currently live in VA and have lived in Missouri, Maryland, New Jersey, and Japan.

Most definitely, over the past couple years I’ve been to Japan, Iraq, Cambodia, Philippines, and Thailand.  I actually recorded my debut album “Chivalry, Solemnity, and other bad ideas.” (now available on iTunes and other online retailers) and the songs for “To Those with Wings” while living in Okinawa, Japan.  The Okinawan culture I was exposed to is a big influence on the albums and subsequent work.  My producer’s out in Japan still - his name’s Furious and he’s definitely my go-to guy for instrumentals.  Thanks to the blessings of my travels, I’ve been able to get in rotation on a few radio stations in the Philippines and Okinawa.

Whos your influences?

Bob Dylan, Biggie Smalls, Jay-Z, Kila Cam, Nas, Big L, Tribe, Rakim, Special Ed, Erykah Badu, Musiq Soulchild, Eisley, Bloc Party, Alkaline Trio, T.I., UGK, and a lot more.  Too many to list, I pull in from as many genuine sources as I can.

D’Meitz most definitely, ha.  Other than myself, right now I’m listening to Bob Dylan - “Only a Pawn in their Game”, Biggie - “Respect”, Nas - “N.Y. State of Mind”, T.I. - “Still Ain’t Forgave Myself”, Smoke Screen - “Common Ground”, and mad more, but those are some of my favorite songs right now.

I don’t speak for everyone.  A lot of the stuff I touch on are direct from the lives of Veterans.  Even though the stuff I talk about isn’t a general experience, the emotions attached to them are things a lot of people can relate to - feeling cheated, ignored, misunderstood, repressed, confused, and much more.  Although not drug/fantasy driven the lifestyles we lead can be very addictive.  Its hard to give up the adrenaline rush and feeling that you’re making a difference that can come with being deployed.

Most definitely yo.  Rap is my life.  Its everything that’s a part of me and I only want to be a part of it. Hip Hop is my soul, yo.  Its more than therapy, its communication with my spirit.  N’ah mean?  You have to be personal because that’s what makes Hip Hop the best - you can be direct.  You don’t have to hide what you feel, what you think, or who you are because you have so many bars to make your statements.  If you’re not being honest then you’re not really making music/art you’re just creating a product - which is fine but then you’re not an artist, you’re an employee.

Furious, Kayo, and Chard who all appear on the album.  Popular, Nettles, Lee, J’Good, Jon Lloyd, Mookie, 172 fam, Mooke and Street Chemist (Smoke Screen), Young Supe, Tut, Suave Goddi, Ron and Terry, Block, Chanee, my whole family.  Cleveland, Morristown, the whole DMV, and all my brothers and sisters who made the sacrifice.  GOD BLESS!