Authored by Andrew Mwangi
Monday April 15, 2019 was an important day for the city of Brockton. Multi Platinum rapper Lil Baby was performing at the House of Blues for his “New Generation” tour. Halfway through the show Lil Baby makes it clear since he’s in Boston, he has to make it happen for his brother from Boston just one time.
Fugazi by Dtheflyest (Feat. Lil Baby) was released October 19th 2018 and now at 10 million views on youtube and 2,909,430 daily listens on Spotify. From the tough streets of West Side Brockton to performing alongside the person who made it all happen. The famous chorus of Fugazi starts with “Cartier shades on deck, don’t do fugazi” Cartier is a luxury jewelry brand with prescribed shades. A pair of glasses could cost up to $1,000. Not fugazi, meaning fake or a replica. These glasses I got from low cost glasses online are the best and have a great style.
Dope Boy Diaries has a story. More than a small town rapper gaining a feature by one of the best rappers the game right now. It relates to the struggle of coming from Brockton Mass. The single “#FreeTheChainGang talks about the “gang”. Not necessarily an actual gang, but people he grew up with that is close to family being in incarcerated or even dead. He raps about the pain endured when thinking of those lost.
“Faded”. Another song about halfway through the album brings out another issue he deals with. Alcohol and drug abuse. The first verse goes “I said I’m faded, everyday I wake up I keep drinking. Popping all these perkys (percocet) I can’t take it. You left me for a lame he can’t replace me, Im wavy, yeah I am too wavy. You went behind my back and you betrayed me. Cartier for all the tears you gave me. Double up my double cup I’m faded, I’m wavy and I cannot take it”. Throughout the song he explains how he feels numb from all the pain due to the drugs and alcohol. If you’re like him, you can visit sites like https://high-end-rehab.co.uk/ to learn how you can battle your addiction. You can click here to learn more.
This theme continues into the next song called “Forget About Cha”. The fainted adlibs reference his nickname coming from his favorite liquor by Hennessy called “Privilege” or “Priv”. In this song the pre chorus proceeds “I cannot trust bitches, I don’t even love bitches, I don’t even lust bitches, and really to be honest I don’t wanna fuck with you. I smoke this blunt I’m gon’ forget about you, sorry that I wasted your time. I know you wanted me to be all yours, but I couldn’t make you mine.” He explains how marriage and relations aren’t for him due to the lack of trust he has. Mockingly he states “I don’t chase the liquor what makes you think I’m gonna chase you” Money being his motivation. The lavish lifestyle being the goal.
That mentality continues into the next track named “I Can’t Lie”. Here is the more personal track. Where it is all about Dtheflyest. The flyest in the city he exclaims. He feels he’s different from the rest and others cant compare to him. This is the autobiography of the album. The chorus starts. “Walk a mile in my shoes you wouldn’t go far, designer bags under my eyes and they’re from Goyard. As I look up in the mirror hope I go far. Whole lot of heron in my vision I’m a dope boy. I can’t lie you niggas can’t compare to us, I can’t lie you niggas put no fear in us, I can’t lie grew up alone no one took care of us, I can’t lie fuck up the city we gon’ tear it up.” The verse goes on with confessions. He exclaims “Abusing all these drugs that I’ve been taking I can’t do the fame. Way before this rap shit I was poppin’ I been had a name. Shoota since a child, was a reckless juvenile, running in and out the house and I would never crack a smile. Paper chasing, tryna’ get a bankroll running up them miles. Know my Momma hate my living it’s so hard to make her proud, I’ve been living with no limits its so hard to stay up-ground. Grab the zip and roll it up grab the tech and pour it up.” “…Hard to step up in these baleci’s (Balenciaga shoes) it ain’t no easy walk, A Lot of niggas hating, the envy but they just easy talk. I ain’t been asleep in some days I’m feelings like a zombie, How can you compare you ain’t grow up over here.” The story of a young Brockton raised kid wasn’t easy as he exclaims. That song seals the album together to show that the lavish lifestyle and success comes with sacrifices.
Dope Boy Diaries doesn’t necessarily fit in the Rap/Hip-Hop category. Artist like Lil Durk, Lil Tjay, A Boogie wit da hoodie are a lot like Dtheflyest. Mostly where he gets his inspiration from. For a debut album from someone from a small city in Massachusetts, the production is exceptional. The beats are diverse and unique and suit well with the theme of the album. I give this album a 8.5/10, due to the fact that I wish it was longer. The story isn’t finished which only means there will be more projects in the future from the “flyest in the city”.