Los Angeles, CA – Inglewood rap superstar D Smoke is giving flowers to one of his major musical influences ahead of the Recording Academy’s 63rd annual Grammy Awards show. Literally, my voice is tired today from all the yelling Iâve been doing.âI had to re-celebrate over and over again, because that project is such a collective body of work from the producers I collaborated with to the features,â Smoke added.The album features his brother SiR, Snoop Dogg, and more.Check out the rest of his conversation between D Smoke and Billboard here. Thatâs beautiful. He gained attention after winning the first season of the Netflix music competition show Rhythm & Flow in 2019. The rapper and school teacher is nominated for two Grammy Awards, one for best rap album for "Black Habits," and one for best new artist. Put me up on whatâs going on.â Some of it I hate, but some I would be surprised and say, âThatâs dope.â In that exchange, you learn how music effects people. You canât really reach nobody if youâre not concerned about who they are. I think all the things that happened in the past year are really sobering. I think people are requiring, at this moment more than ever, music that speaks to them at a deeper level. The 35-year-old rapper is nominated in both the Best New Artist and Best … and Chance the Rapper with his ability as a multi-instrumentalist and bilingual rapper who could easily switch from English to Spanish in his rhymes. D Smoke was a high school teacher for a decade in Southern California, but he never gave up on his dream of breaking through as a hip-hop artist, LOS ANGELES -- When D Smoke was teaching high schoolers in Southern California, the rapper still pursued his dreams of breaking through as a hip-hop artist while leaning on the encouraging phrase: âThereâs no expiration on realness.â. D Smoke is opening up about his journey to two GRAMMY nominations. Inglewood-raised emcee D Smoke is the latest nominee to take part in … But the goal was to distinguish myself. “I’m new to the world; I’m not new to me,” says first-time Grammy nominee D Smoke, who’s nominated for best new artist and best rap album. Itâs been a long road toward Grammy recognition for D Smoke, but the 35-year-old had other milestones along the way. D Smoke talks about the pressure of finding success outside "Rhythm + Flow," how being a teacher matured his lyrics and his thoughts on why Grammy voters nominated him and other 35-and-up rappers in the best rap album category. What are voters trying to say? Boshko Maric March 11, 2021 Leave a Comment on Freddie Gibbs and D Smoke Pre-Grammy Livestream Freddie Gibbs and D Smoke have just announced a live stream show together this Thursday, March 11th. The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 14. I took Spanish one, two and three at Inglewood High. Iâm still wild, but Iâm smart enough to go about my business a certain way. Last year, D Smoke rode the momentum from the show’s success, performing alongside boxer Deontay Wilder before a heavyweight championship bout and releasing his debut album Black Habits, which this year earned him a Grammy nomination for best rap album. The Recording Academy … The … D Smoke released his debut album Black Habits back near the top of 2020, now that we are in November, he is celebrating a nomination for Best Rap Album at the Grammys.The Cali native is now giving his first reactions after being nominated alongside heavyweights like Freddie Gibbs, Royce da 5â9, Jay Electronica, and Nas.âIâve trained myself to not look too far into things until they materialize,â Smoke said to Billboard. The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 14. Rapper D Smoke poses for a portrait in Los Angeles on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020. I look up to him so much, because heâs an elder in the game and still as relevant as ever. The rapper and school teacher is nominated for two Grammy Awards, one for best rap album for "Black Habits," and one for best new artist. D Smoke: Absolutely. Now, in a full circle moment, D Smoke, the winner of Rhythm + Flow’s first season, is up for two of the very same Grammys Chance won back in 2017: Best New Artist and Best Rap Album. AP: Did being a high school teacher help the maturity in your music? But everybody stops to listen to a voice of reason, the voice of experience and wisdom. The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 14. Yeah-yeah, yeah. Just a day after Chika’s Grammy-week Spotify Singles release found her covering Billie Eilish, Chika’s fellow Best New Artist nominee D Smoke … Thatâs when I told myself that I must be fluent in this. The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 14. (Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP) Itâs just going to be that season. Iâm using a fight metaphor. AP: You were in your 30s with a decade of teaching under your belt, so did you ever think you were past your prime to pursue a music career? (Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP) LOS ANGELES (AP) — When D Smoke was teaching high schoolers in Southern California, the rapper still pursued his dreams of breaking through as a hip … I knew there were lyricists on the show. Youâre not going to switch languages and Iâm left out. Heâs also up for best new artist against Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Ingrid Andress, Phoebe Bridgers, Chika, Noah Cyrus and Kaytranada. D Smoke, who won the 2019 Netflix hip-hop competition series Rhythm + Flow -- hosted by Cardi B, Chance the Rapper and T.I. âI figured if I didnât raise my expectations too much then thereâs no real disappointment to experience. DaBaby, Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, Megan Thee Stallion, Royce Da 5'9", D Smoke, Jay Electronica, Travis Scott, Jack Harlow, and more rappers are nominated for GRAMMY Awards this year. Who do you think wins the category? Los Angeles, CA – When the 2021 Grammy Awards nominations were revealed Tuesday (November 24), it was a moment D Smoke had been waiting to exhale. ...Iâm experienced but Iâm speaking from a place of when I was 17, acting up and wild. Of course, weâre going to listen to the kids, because we need to hear them out so they feel understood. D Smoke maintained that mindset as a motivator before he made a splash on Netflixâs music reality TV series âRhythm + Flowâ in 2019. AP: What was the strategy to ride the momentum after the show? I would ask, âWhat are you listen to? AP: Is your music influenced by other West Coast rappers like Tupac, Kendrick Lamar and Nipsey Hussle? D Smoke habló sobre la presión de encontrar el éxito fuera de Rhythm + Flow y por qué cree que el Grammy lo nominó a él y otros raperos a mejor álbum de rap People need incredible art. AP: In the best rap album category, each Grammy nominee is 35-years-old and up (Nas is the oldest at 47). Always getting better. AP: Was rapping in English and Spanish in front of Cardi B â who is also bilingual â- your strategy to win âRhythm + Flowâ? The nominees for Best Rap Album #GRAMMYs ð D Smoke – "Black Habits"ð Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist – "Alfredo"ð Jay Electronica – "A Written Testimony"ð Nas – "King's Disease"ð Royce da 5'9" – "The Allegory" pic.twitter.com/WwClXElFY4, Powered by Source Digital, Inc & The Northstar Group, Def Jam Recordings Releases a Statement on the Death of DMX, Sara Molina Confirms The Death of Tekashi 6ix9ine’s Former Body Guard, Lil Mama Shares She Has Yet to Reach Clarity With Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, Dancehall DJ Tommy Lee Sparta’s Illegal Gun Linked To Two Murders, Today In Hip Hop History: Dr. Dre Releases “Deep Cover” Single, Introduces Snoop Doggy Dogg 29 Years Ago, Snoop Dogg Set to Host ‘Even Higher Together’ Virtual Event on 4/20, Conway the Machine Releases “Blood Roses” and Announces New Album ‘La Maquina’, Polo G Releases New Single and Video for “RAPSTAR”, [WATCH] 2 Chainz Appears on MONOGRAM’s ‘(Too) High Tales’, Diddy Blasted For Alleged Hypocrisy In Open Letter To White Corporations. Spotify partnered with several of this year’s Best New Artist contenders for the Grammy Awards. The duo will be performing live at The Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, along with the Anderson Paak. -collaborating r&b group, The Free Nationals. D SMOKE: Yeah-yeah, yeah. D Smoke: I always tell people that thereâs no expiration on realness. D Smoke: It opens a … (Jan. 26) Video Transcript-Zorro, turn that music down. ...That was our goal to go ahead and transition from the Netflix star that people viewed me as to an artist. If you look at the trajectory of artists who come off shows, their biggest success is the show. D Smoke: I for sure borrow from them more than any other West Coast artist. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? AP: In the best rap album category, each Grammy nominee is 35-years-old and up (Nas is the oldest at 47). Rapper D Smoke opens up about his two GRAMMY nominations, including Best New Artist, and which of his peers inspires him most. The rapper and school teacher is nominated for two Grammy Awards, one for best rap album for "Black Habits," and one for best new artist. But in doing so, once the news came I was through the roof. D Smoke: We knew that we had a limited window of converting all of these Netflix fans into music fans and people who respect the craft and follow the journey outside of Netflix, because itâs far longer before than what people realize. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. With the Grammy Awards right around the corner, D Smoke is prepping for one of the biggest moments of his career. … What are voters trying to say? He won the competition, impressing judges Cardi B, T.I. Rapper and schoolteacher D Smoke is nominated for two Grammy Awards -- one for best rap album for "Black Habits," and one for best new artist. Last year, D Smoke rode the momentum from the show's success, performing alongside boxer Deontay Wilder before a heavyweight championship bout and releasing his debut album âBlack Habits,â which this year earned him a Grammy nomination for best rap album. Daniel Anthony Farris (born October 17, 1985), known professionally as D Smoke, is an American rapper and songwriter from Inglewood, California. I knew they could rap their (explicit) off. The following year, he independently released his debut album Black Habits, which earned him nominations for Best Rap Album and Best New Artist at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. It didnât matter if I got a (Grammy nom) when I was 40. We need them to be at the forefront. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, D Smoke talked about the pressure of finding success outside âRhythm + Flow,â how being a teacher matured his lyrics and his thoughts on why Grammy voters nominated him and other 35-and-up rappers in the best rap album category. Heâs a UCLA graduate who taught Spanish and musical theory at Inglewood High School. Thatâs the dude who can speak Spanish.â They were going to remember me from that one performance. Rapper D Smoke poses for a portrait in Los Angeles on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020. Last year, D Smoke rode the momentum from the show’s success, performing alongside boxer Deontay Wilder before a heavyweight championship bout and releasing his debut album Black Habits, which this year earned him a Grammy nomination for best rap album. D Smoke: I went to a middle school that was predominantly Latino and all my friends spoke it. D Smoke Portrait Session Rapper D Smoke poses for a portrait in Los Angeles on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020. November 27, 2020 D Smoke released his debut album Black Habits back near the top of 2020, now that we are in November, he is celebrating a nomination for Best Rap Album at the Grammys. The rapper and school teacher is nominated for two Grammy Awards, one for best rap album for "Black Habits," and one for best new artist. “Top of the Morning,” D Smoke’s empowering musical manifesto, is just one of the critically-acclaimed tracks on his Grammy-nominated debut album, Black Habits. Thatâs how you approach a fight with strategy because just being tough or trying to outdo somebody will get you hurt. While everybody was doing it to get a grade, I was already like, âIâm learning this.â Then finally, when I went to UCLA, I just kept going. The 63rd Annual Grammy … The rapper and school teacher is nominated for two Grammy Awards, one for best rap album for "Black Habits," and one for best new artist. Of course, I must mention Snoop (Dogg). D Smoke: It opens a conversation of what our culture needs and wants. D Smoke: We need mature voices in rap. There was pressure to show that. Rapper D Smoke poses for a portrait in Los Angeles on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020. (Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP) He’s also up for best new artist against Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Ingrid Andress, Phoebe Bridgers, Chika, Noah Cyrus and Kaytranada. D Smoke: Everything I did on the show was strategic. JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer, Rapper D Smoke poses for a portrait in Los Angeles on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020. Thatâs another example of these experienced voices still being present in the culture. He's also penned songs for The Pussycat Dolls, Ginuwine, Joe and Jaheim, some of which he co-wrote with his brother, R&B singer SiR, who is signed to Kendrick Lamar's Top Dawg Entertainment. (Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP). By going into the later rounds, they would be like, âThere he goes. The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 14. The rapper details his journey to … Anytime you spend pursuing whatever level of success and see yourself achieving, itâs time to get better. I was a teacher who got to know my students. D Smoke, the winner of "Rhythm + Flow", earned two GRAMMY nominations for Best New Artist and Best Rap Album. I knew that was going to be memorable. I knew they were going to remember that until the end. D Smoke told Billboard he remained humble until he could happily scream in reaction to seeing his album Black Habits and his name in the Best Rap Album and Best New Artist categories. Itâs an exchange.