While it's easy to gravitate to places like New York and Los Angeles to find vibrant hip-hop scenes, overlooking other regions is a critical error. Even though New Orleans might be synonymous with Lil Wayne, Cash Money, and the Hot Boys, the Big Easy is also a hotbed for fresh artists. Dee-1 is one of them.
After entering the scene in 2009 with his debut album, David & Goliath, Dee-1 made a name for himself as a formidable lyricist. His punchy flow earned him placements on tours with the likes of Lil Wayne, Drake, Macklemore, Trey Songz, and the Roots to name a few. By becoming a staple in New Orleans’ hip-hop community, he has helped grow the city's cultural heritage and exuberance through his music.
Over the summer, Lil Wayne set up shop and threw the Lil Weezyana Fest. The high-octane festival certainly delivered, drawing crowds in the thousands. “Lil Wayne has worked hard to get to the top, and Lil Weezyana Fest showed how much power he has in New Orleans,” said Dee-1. “I hope the success of the festival inspires him to make sure his voice and power is used to breathe life into the city. A lot of his fans are following his lead."
Though Lil Weezyana Fest is long gone, there are some notable venues in New Orleans that serve as the permanent homes to the city’s rap scene.
We sat down with Dee-1 to get his list of the top five can't-miss hip-hop venues in New Orleans and why each one brings something special to the table.