An Interview with D21
D21 is an up-and-coming rapper from Seattle, known for his high-energy performances and heartfelt lyrics. D21 started his musical journey at the age of 15, writing rhymes to express his thoughts. He began recording seriously at 17, with his first release “Boyz in the LFP Hood” receiving positive vibes from listeners and igniting his passion for music. In this interview, we discuss everything they’ve been up to recently.
Hey, thanks for chatting with us. Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m D21. I’m an up-and-coming rapper from Seattle. I desire to be one of the greatest. I love having high energy and I use rap as an outlet to get my thoughts out to whoever wants to hear them to get myself going & hype everyone up.
Who or what inspired you to start making music? And, when did you start?
Jay-Z and Kanye West. Those 2 set the standard for artists like myself because of their creative vision & it sat well with me for a few days. That’s what got me into making music. I started when I was 15. I came home from school day and I wanted to get my thoughts on a piece of paper. I was writing rhymes and I wasn’t serious about recording my own music until I was 17. The first song I released was Boyz in the LFP Hood when I was 17. It was a cool song and everyone was vibing with it. That’s what made me want to do more music every single day and push myself to be the best I can possibly be.
What is your biggest challenge as an artist?
The consistency in which days I put my songs out. I’m trying to upload my music more consistently and I haven’t been able to do that because I have a busy schedule and I have a lot going on in my day-to-day life. That’s the biggest challenge for me is uploading my music more consistently on all streaming platforms.
What is your favorite project or single you have released?
Space Needle and Hatin. That’s the 2 best songs I have. I have a lot more that I love but those 2 are personally my favorites.
Who are your inspirations? What artists or bands are you listening to?
Travis Scott, Drake, Lil Uzi Vert, Ye, Future. Those are my biggest influences in creating my sound and they inspire me to push myself and go harder than ever. Ironically, I listen to those 5 guys to draw inspiration from their POV in their songs to help me incorporate them into mine.
What’s the process behind working on a song like?
I come up with ideas in my head to rap about and once I find those ideas, I rap the first thing that comes into my mind and I start the recording process. I start off recording the hook to make it catchy and edgy to have people relate to whatever they have going on in their lives. Then I knock out the verses and I usually freestyle through them and come up with a thing on the spot. And finally the adlibs. I hear a lot of rappers use adlibs in their songs which made me want to create my own. It usually takes about 15-30 minutes for me to finish a song.
Tell me about your upcoming music and what inspired you to create it!
I have a new song coming out on May 24th called Touchdown and it’ll be on all streaming platforms. I was watching SportsCenter Top 10 one day and they showed the best touchdown catches of all time. That inspired me to make the song and it touches on my swag I rock with and the drip I have on my body.
What are your plans for 2024?
Playing a lot of live shows and connecting with other artists in my city.
Have any shoutouts?
Yeah, shoutout to my videographer SirFranglo that’s my guy. He goes crazy with the edits and footage.
D21’s journey from a young rap enthusiast to an emerging artist in Seattle’s vibrant music scene is marked by passion, dedication, and a desire to connect with listeners. Influenced by some of the greatest names in hip-hop, he continues to push his creative boundaries while navigating the challenges of consistency and visibility. With new music on the horizon and plans for live performances in 2024, D21 is poised to make a significant impact in the industry. Keep an eye on this dynamic artist as he continues to rise and bring his high-energy performances to audiences everywhere.