Hip-Hop has lost it’s grind. I know, that’s a harsh way to begin an article — and an exaggeration — but in some facets, it’s true. In the 2016 “finesse” culture that plagues our generation, we’ve seen more and more rappers come into the game with a privileged mindset. “I don’t need blogs, blogs need me” and “labels are for idiots” are some of my favorite things that I’ve heard come out of these Soundcloud rappers’ mouths… or Twitter fingers. It wasn’t always this way though. At one point, rappers sacrificed everything for just a shot at the title, and I mean everything. Stories of artists letting go of their jobs, families and even their pride to pursue their dreams circle all throughout the industry. Looking to bring that grind back to Hip-Hop is New Jersey native D. Mckenzie.

While the internet has made for many overnight sensations, Mckenzie has been grinding it out for years. Releasing mixtape after mixtape of solid music and features such as his verse on Hanuman‘s “Never Forget” in which he caught my attention with the line, “Still pull hoes in the what’re those”, an ode to the social media sensation. After releasing two strong projects this year in The Night is Young and 2013-2015 — a collection of loosies between those years — Mckenzie is finally beginning to reap the fruits of his labor. We got a chance to chop it up with the wordsmith as he gears up for his next release.

RESPECT. Mag: Where are you from?

Mckenzie: Originally Trenton, New Jersey, but I’ve been residing in East Las Vegas, NV since April of 2009.

RESPECT.: What type of artist are you?

The type to do what I like and say what I feel. Also, I don’t think I could ever commit to one genre, style, or type of sound, because there’s just too much music to be made for it all to sound the same.

RESPECT.: What made you fall in love with music?

Being raised around it. Both OF my parents love music almost as much as they love me. They met in band in high school, so music has always been there for me, like a best friend or a brother. And that’s all music not just Hip-Hop.

RESPECT.: What made you fall in love with hip hop?

If it wasn’t the feeling I get when I freestyle some cold a*s bars over a dope beat, then it was definitely doing my BBoy thing on some classic break beats. It’s like the rhythm that Hip-Hop generates feeds my spirit, and I just dig in. That constant rhythm lives in me, everywhere I go. I just be ready to bust out on a beat, whether I’m spitting off the top or getting on the good foot.

RESPECT.: How has committing to making music full time changed things for you?

If anything, it’s definitely become a bit more of a challenge for me trying to give more attention to the business and management side of the music business, all while still maintaining my passion and drive for the actual music.

RESPECT.: Who are your inspirations?

Man there’s so many.. Jesus Christ, Michael Jackson, The Notorious BIG, 2pac, Buckshot, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, DMX, Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Wu-Tang, TFL, I could go on and on! When I moved to Vegas in ’09, I met my now fam, TFL which was HHP (Hip Hop Phanatix) then. They introduced me to FL studio and the process of producing beats, recording, mixing and mastering of music all on this one program. At the time I was really just a battle rapper, not actually recording any of my written music except maybe for fun. But once I got the hang of it, I was making beats, and recording all my own stuff by myself.

RESPECT.: Why’d you change your rap name?

Well it was originally a BBoy name that caught on way too quick and was damn near impossible to shake off. While some people could understand it was a nickname pertaining to the style or flavor I give off, the majority of people hearing it for the first time saw it as a bit homosexual or corny. So I had to drop that sh*t. Instead of trying to use another nickname, I chose to just run with my real name. It just had a ring to it and received the proper respect.

RESPECT.: What type of career are you looking to have?

Something legendary, a real game changing career.

RESPECT.: At what point while making music, did you realize, “I can make a real career out of this”?

When I saw how quickly you could climb up thru the internet. That’s when the switch turned on.

RESPECT.: If not rap, what would you be doing?

If not rap, I’d probably either be professional BBoy or choreographer. Maybe a director for movies and music videos.

RESPECT.: What’s your take on the current state of hip hop?

It’s trash heap. There’s way too many cookie cutter clones who don’t write their own sh*t and steal other emcees whole verses. Basically it’s a bunch of actors playing the rapper role. The few real ni*gas in the game don’t get played, or get love or credit for really being what they say.

RESPECT.: What is your take on the current state of Las Vegas hip hop?

It’s segregated as hell, and full of crabs in one big Vegas bucket. I listen to every local artist that I hear of to see what their music is hittin’ for, and I see what the streets is saying. It seems like everybody just wants to be the one to break the cities music or Hip-Hop scene into the mainstream. Dizzy Wright is making some huge moves for Vegas but we just don’t have enough artist on the radar like say, Atlanta does. But what people forget is there is enough limelight to go around. We all just need to stop judging each other like all of us aren’t trying to make our way out of the struggle, and support ourselves. Make some really good music to vibe to, no more of that trash heap that’s going around. We have at least 10 to 15 local artist that could definitely be superstars nationally or even worldwide, it’s that deep. But it’s hard to hear them or see them when there’s so many terrible music makers out here in the way, that just make music cause they can. It’s like Dizzy said, nig*as need to step ‘yo game up.

Stream 2013-2015 now and be sure to keep an eye on the New Jersey native.