Today we’d like to introduce you to DazeKid .
Hi DazeKid, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story starts in Essex County. Born in Newark, NJ in December of ’89, I lived between Newark and East Orange up until 2005 when my family and I moved “Down the Hill” in East Orange on 4th Ave. & N. 22nd St. By that time I had been writing rhymes for about two years but I didn’t consider myself a rapper and nobody really knew about it. I only began writing to redirect my anger. Before then, I had major anger issues so it was a positive hobby. I joined an online rap forum called Rap Trap. That entire thing was fun but it came with a lot of criticism. I didn’t know anything about slick talk or being catchy. I was just writing however I felt. More poetry if you would. I learned how to structure verses and use similes and metaphors creatively from my Rap Trap interactions.
Summer ’05, I went to Egypt and met my guy Z33z who showed me FL Studio. My mind was kind of blown because it was the first time I’ve seen anyone make a beat. He let me navigate FL and I fell in love. I immediately downloaded FL studio and started experimenting when I got home. I figured out how to record myself and recorded my first mixtape in 2006. At that same time, my friends and I formed a group, recorded a bunch of freestyles in my living room, and would share them with friends at school and in the neighborhood. Most of my time was spent in my notebook writing rhymes between classwork, and recording songs when I got home. By 2009 I had 5 mixtapes recorded but I never released a project outside of burning discs for those who wanted and the occasional myspace post.
I released my first mixtape, Daze Chronicles Vol. 1 in 2012, started performing and getting to know the underground scene in Jersey. I got comfortable with being on stage and presenting my art in front of different people. I was often complimented on my comfort with the stage but I was usually anxious and nervous. I met a lot of great artists and made a lot of connections in a short amount of time. DCV2: Dnt Cmpare Me, my second release, came in November 2013. It got a great reaction and encouraged me to keep going. I did as many open mics and auditioned for as many showcases as I could.
Unfortunately, my mom passed in 2014 and I ended up moving to Knoxville, TN. I continued to network and perform at as many places as I could while navigating through the loss I just experienced. Later that year I released my third project, Chopped. In TN, I wrote about my journey from NJ to TN in a mixtape entitled My Great Escape, released in December 2016. After a few rough patches, I ended up moving to Kansas City, MO in 2017 to stay with my brother and his family. We began building a brand and a label named BlaqKing. After growing and considering adding women to the roster, we decided to change the name.
Now as FREELANE, we are a Kansas City-based collective of creative minds that write, perform, do videography, graphics, plus a load of other talents. We focus on allowing artists to have the full creative range to experiment and grow while working on his or her style/craft. In this, I’ve taken on many roles and began learning more about marketing, advertising, and other aspects of the business. As a FREELANE artist, I released a 2 song EP called 2:1 on my birthday in 2020.
These days I’ve been traveling and working on developing a different style while still finding ways to grow my audience and core. In 2015, I did a weekly campaign where I released a memory (an old, unreleased song) every week on Monday called #MemorialMondaze. I decided to bring the idea back but I changed it up. Starting in June, every #MemorialMondaze I’ve been releasing a visual to songs on past mixtapes. I’m recording new music and plan on releasing a project in the months to come. There are a few things that are past due, a lot I wanna share with the world and I’m looking forward to having fun while building this label/brand.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Smooth isn’t really a word I would use to describe this journey. It’s like walking along a dark winding road with a flashlight that works when it wants to. You’re trying to navigate through darkness, stay cautious of the dangers you can’t see, and keep from falling off random cliffs. The main struggle I can site would be self-doubt. It’s tough having faith and when you don’t always have the support you need, you doubt yourself. My main motivation was people older than me complaining about issues they could change but wouldn’t. I could see the lack of faith they would have in themselves and I always told myself I couldn’t become that. So no matter how tough things become, I make sure I remember to focus on the end goal.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I do a lot when I think about it. I wouldn’t say I specialize in any one thing but the main thing I do is write and record. I produce, engineer, do graphic design, clothing design, shoot photos and videos as well as a number of things on the business end. My passion lies with the lyrics and production. Always will. Oddly enough, I would say I’m known for the comb in my beard (lol). Most people double-take when they see me because how often do you see a guy walking around with a comb in his beard? It’s gotten me into places for free and everything. Musically, my second tape, DCV2: Dnt Cmpare Me, had the furthest reach. Don’t tell the other’s but it’s my favorite one so far. They all have a different vibe and purpose though, so they’re all great. Make sure you check them out!
What I think sets me apart from most is my self-awareness. I’ve never really had to fit in and I was never pressured to feel I had to follow trends. People tend to champion me on that. That’s something I’m proud of.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I had a wild imagination as a kid. It didn’t take much for me to entertain myself. I used to play with pennies like they were race cars. I was heavy into television. I loved cartoons and fictional things. I used to wake up early before school just to catch the early morning cartoons like Ninja Turtles and Sailor Moon. A lot of my friends didn’t live on my street and my sister is five years older than me so I played alone for the most part. I would zone out and go to different worlds when playing with my toys. I found comfort in my own thoughts and company early on. I can honestly say I was rarely bored as a kid. I was curious about a lot of stuff. My mom was a teacher so I always had educational activities to do. I had science kits, art books, math workbooks, flashcards, etc. I’ve always had the interest to learn more or figure out how things worked. I remember breaking a number of toys just to see what was inside. I enjoyed playing outside with friends as much as I enjoyed playing alone. We’d ride bikes, play sports or just run around through the neighborhood. I was a silly kid with a crazy amount of energy but I was shy and quiet around strangers. Going overseas to Egypt at 11 opened my mind up tremendously. Everything I experienced over there contributed greatly to everything I became in my teens and on. My level of compassion, understanding, and self-awareness grew. My perception of everything changed.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: dazekid.bandcamp.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dazekid/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yungdazekid/?ref=py_c
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DazeKid1908
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/yungdazekid
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/dazekid
- Other: https://www.datpiff.com/profile/DazeKid
Image Credits
FREELANE Photography
