Connecting the Dots: D-mac

I read something that said music is what feelings sound like. What was the first line or verse you heard that made you want to rhyme?

Great question, I started rapping so young that I cant say that it was something said. I've been rapping since I was 8. I can say that the Mase Feel So Good video is what made me goggly eyed as a youngster ha ha. I developed the passion to rhyme at such a young age its hard to say where it actually came from, but in 97 I can most definitely say I wanted to be fly like Mase.
 

Do you consider yourself to be a rapper, a lyricist, an artist, or a story teller and why? I typically leave that up for people to categorize, maybe I'm too modest?

But if I had to choose I'd say a little of them all. I pride myself on lyricism and storytelling though because not only is it a partially lost art in today's hip hop, its not an easy thing to do at a high level. Back in high school though I perfected the rapper craft metaphorically, and now that I'm older and understand the composition of music, I'm growing as an all around artist.

 

What sets apart this project (Dear Destiny) from your two previous Mixtapes?

My first mix tape (The First Impression) was about proving I could rap. Date With Destiny was the beginning of me saying something to people, because that's important to me. I don't wanna be the guy you listen to and when the CD is over you left with nothing. I made a song on my first mix tape called My Will and it touched so many people. People still talk about that song today, and once I saw the way it affected people I promised myself that I would never stop doing that. So with Dear Destiny, there are songs like Mind state and Make It Out where I'm talking about the things that people just like me from the inner city streets of wherever they are can relate and connect to. I did that a lot with Date With Destiny from top to bottom, so aside from the lyricism growth, I'd say what sets Dear Destiny apart from my previous work is the production. Feb9 did an incredible job. Incredible samples that I think will be an enjoyable listen to everyone who remembers these songs from the 90s.
 

What are you hoping to accomplish with this body of work and what significance does the whole Destiny theme serve?

With this project I hope to complete the establishment of my foundation. I'm still creating my foundation to build on, I'm in no search for some trendy club hit or chasing the perfect radio song. I'm just making music that I hope people can connect to right now. The Destiny theme serves a tremendous significance to me. It speaks life and belief. I believe I was born with the gift to tell the worlds story through my eyes. It is my Destiny to do so. So these Destiny themed projects is just me giving you bits and pieces of my walk fulfilling it.
 

We have similar taste in music, and I know that people think I'm odd for my music choices. With that being said, What is DMac listening to, whats inspiring and provoking you to take the route that you're taking musically?

I listen to a lot of different genres of music. I'm not as big on today's rap aside from a few artists. I listen to a lot of older albums like Nas and Jay Zs early work. I listen to a lot of storytellers like Taylor Swift, Tori Kelly, and Jhene Aiko and none of those are rappers. Right now I am listening to a lot of Partynextdoors stuff. As far as today's rap right now I'm listening to Nipsey Hussle and Childish Gambino's projects which are day and night and both dope.
 

I know that you reference Jay Z, T. I., and Jermaine Dupri a lot in your music. Strong influences, what do you take from their careers that you apply to yours?

For T.I, I take the fact that he didn't blow up initially and still overcame that adversity to become a household name. The other two are just masterminds to me, the absolute best at what they do. All three are successful and talented black intelligent men. Its important to be able to appealing to the streets you came from and still be able to hold a conversation with anyone in the world and that's what I admire about them.
 

I notice that your mixtapes don't  have a lot of features. Is that a preference or you focus more on production aspects?

I'm still trying to build my name as a rap artist so unless it makes total sense I don't see the point in featuring rappers just yet. As far as singers go, I have quite a few features, but I'm holding those in the vault for future projects. 

For the people that are familiar with your music, how are you wanting them to receive this tape?

I want them to look at my catalog as a book. Ideally I would like them to digest each project as a chapter. Dear Destiny, is that part of the book where it starts to get good and you start telling all your friends about it.
 

What are your favorite songs from the Destiny tapes? And why?

Date With Destiny favorites are without question Tunnel Vision, Smile, and Shit Real. I gave a piece of me on those records. Different parts of my life as well as stories of people that I'm very close to. Tunnel Vision is one of those songs you listen to when you wake up in the morning and get ready to go to the job you hate knowing that that isn't where your story ends. I also really really love Bounce Back because I think its some of my best picture painting. My Dear Destiny favorites would have to be Dream Girl because its such an honest record from not only me but the male perspective as a whole. I think I pretty much described the kinda girl that all men are looking for that we will never have, not to mention Tyra Bs vocals are flawless on the chorus.
 

Lastly, when will we begin to see DMac live? Any shows or appearances in the near future?!!

Everyone asks this all the time so Ill let it be known here. I've turned down a lot of shows in Miami for various reasons in the past. It was important to me keep my value at a certain stock, and not compromise my brand integrity for certain offers. This time around I made music that I can perform for all types of crowds. That was one of the biggest issues, my previous project lead singles were My Will, which was a slow tempo'd conscience record, and Opposites Attract which was a ladies record. The majority of the venues in Miami are strip club based. This time around I made sure I had the kind of song that I could actually perform in those types of environments with Talk My $hit. So my advice would be to join my mailing list on March 3rd so you can keep up with my schedule for 2014.
 

BONUS:  leave us with three important things that many people don't know about you.

1. I'm a hot tea flavor collector. I love to try new teas daily/weekly.
2. If I wasn't making music I'd probably be one of those town hopping tourist photographers. In my free time that's what I do a lot of.
3. I am in love with Tika Sumpter, I'd love to be her red box movie night boyfriend. 

Dear Destiny, Release date is 3/3/14 on imdmac.com and datpiff.
Follow Dmac on IG: @dmac2r, Twitter: @Imdmac and FB: Derrick D Mac Mckenzie