Dave East Pays Tribute to New York Rap Greats
No matter where Dave East is, he reps New York to the fullest. The Harlemite recently spoke about his hometown as part of Boost Mobile’s “We Are Where You At” campaign, where he explained why New York MCs are so unique.
“What sets a New York rapper apart from other rappers from other places is just being from New York,” he says. “We birthed a lot of styles, a lot of trends, a lot of ways people wear their clothes. It came straight from New York City.”
In the clip, the Def Jam/Mass Appeal spitter pays tribute to rappers from NY who’ve repped different boroughs, including Biggie, Jay Z, Big Pun, Dipset, A$AP Rocky, Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent, Wu-Tang Clan, and more. “There’s not one borough that hasn’t played their part,” he adds.
While he’s happy to talk about greats who’ve inspired him, just don’t ask if Dave is trying to “bring the city back.”
“I don’t think the city ever left, honestly,” he explains. “I feel like that’s so cliché. I have to push forward what I know, my culture, and what I came from. That’s the only way it’s gonna work.”
Part of that ideology comes from watching his mentor Nas rep QB so heavily. “If Nas was concerned about bringing New York, he wouldn’t have been able to let us know about Queensbridge the way he did,” he says. “With me, I’m gonna talk about Harlem and Queens, where I’ve been, the blocks I know, the things I’ve done. Me talking to one ghetto inspires every ghetto that’s listening.”
East also reps NY proudly on his latest mixtape, Kairi Chanel, which dropped back in September. Travel through all of the boroughs and take a history lesson with Dave.
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