Dyme-A-Duzin

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Cool, calm and collected takes on a whole new meaning when talking about Dyme-A-Duzin. I met the 24-year old musician on the ZeusWolf set and my first thought was, “Damn, this kid seems like the shit.” Equipped with a gold hoop earring, shades and dreads stuffed under a dad hat, he displayed an aura of, for lack of a better word, swag. But the true “coolness” of Donnovan Blocker isn’t skin deep; it extends into the depths of his intriguing personality and background.

Most kids’ rap backgrounds share similar qualities: Freestyling with friends at lunch time; writing hooks on your hands during class; dreaming of opportunity. And while Dyme’s come up certainly has connection to these routine beginnings, he came onto the scene in a truly unique manner. Giving ZeusWolf the exclusive scoop, Dyme discovered his musical inkling at 11 with two of his homies in a very unassuming Hip hop setting: Church. While trying to hide a smile, Dyme told us the three of them teamed up under the name “The Three Little Wise Men” and how it sparked his musical beginnings.

In his smooth speaking cadence, which reflects his smooth musical styling, he recounted for us what it meant to grow up in the Rap hub of the world: Brooklyn. The rapper/singer is extremely proud that he walks the same streets that paved the way for industry greats like Biggie and Jay. And while there’s undoubtedly an added pressure to put on for a borough that has put on for countless others, Dyme is more than up to the challenge; he’s poised to reciprocate the pride that Brooklyn has instilled in him. Brooklyn is his dreamcatcher.

He started collaborating in high school with some of today’s brightest Hip hop stars, including: Joey Bada$$, CJ Fly and the late Capital Steez (his friendship with Steez actually predates high school). A perfect manifestation of their work together is the song/video, “Swank Sinatra”. High school also provided the framework for his 2008 rookie mixtape, Shut Up N’ Listen, which garnered him initial buzz. But perhaps his most important teenage endeavor was forming the nine-man band, Phony Ppl.

Blending together Funk, Soul, Jazz and Hip hop, Phony Ppl is a dynamic group, riddled with talent. Although they retain classic musical structure and influence, they have a customized sound that emits an experimental vibe. Dyme has since departed from Phony Ppl to pursue his solo career, but he will never forget what the band provided for him: A space in time to grow as a musician and, more importantly, as a person. When the day comes when Dyme’s chiefin’ a blunt in the comfort of his Hamptons house, he’ll for sure remember Phony Ppl’s contribution to his stardom.

Another source of elevating collaboration is his work with famed producer, Plain Pat. The music executive aided Dyme on two of his tapes: Twin =X and Portraint of Donnovan. And this is one of Dyme’s coolest attributes—not the fact that he worked with Plain Pat, but the fact that he was so hyped to work with Plain Pat. When we asked him what it’s like to see a name of that caliber populate your DM, I think we both expected him to be casual given his calm demeanor, but with a twinkle in his eye he exclaimed, “Oh I bugged the fuck out!” He’s still a 24-year old kid who’s never afraid to show his gratitude for working with legends.

Dyme’s cool factor also radiates through his commitment to himself and vision. On track “Father’s Day” off of Portrait of Donnovan, he discusses the hardship of growing up in a Fatherless home, never fearing displaying his sensitive side. Signed at 19-years old to Warner Brothers, they nurtured his music vision. But when the former merged with Atlantic, they didn’t quite get Dyme’s game plan. However, Dyme never faltered despite their creative differences—he will continue to make music his way; he’s always true to himself.

As we anxiously await his next project Crown Fried—scheduled to drop Fall ’16—he recently released non-album cuts under 2 Piece Tape. If these are the tracks that didn’t make it, then Crown Fried must be loaded with greatness (a similar sentiment I shared with the 8^th grade basketball coach after I didn’t make the team). I know that this project will turn his music buzz into an industry roar. Despite his inevitable success, Dyme remains a humble and authentic individual. And to me, that’s truly cool.

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