The UB Interview: Damez Talks New Album, Obstacles, Pop Smoke + More

Hailing from Atlanta, Damez is a rapper, singer, dancer, songwriter and a rising voice in hip-hop. Primarily rap/hip-hop and R&B, he showcases his talents and versatility through an eclectic catalog of self-penned songs and choreography-heavy visuals. From his childhood, he has been through an unfortunate series of events such as the divorce of his parents and the horrific murder of his brother at the tender age of 17.

Damez found refuge in music by independently recording music and performing at live shows. He has since released a number of projects and singles globally on iTunes, Amazon and streaming platforms since his debut EP arrived via SoundCloud in 2014.

Last month Damez released his new album “D Money.” The albums first single, “Big Mood” produced by LilJuMadeDaBeat (Megan Thee Stallion) is a track that everyone can enjoy. Full of metaphors and strategic word play, this track simply boosts your confidence while simultaneously forcing you to bob your head.

Aries from UB, spoke to Damez recently about the release of his new album “D Money,” his Atlanta roots, the death of Pop Smoke and how it resonates to him. He also speaks on the obstacles he faces, being apart of the LGBT community as a Hip Hop artist and much more!

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UrbanBridgez.com: Congratulations on the release of “D Money!” What process did you take when recording the new album?
Damez: Thank you so much. Being it’s my fourth project, I wanted people to see a different side, not so much different. But I wanted to elaborate more on a particular sound. I like to think of myself as a pretty versatile artist. I have songs that are all different elements of me. Like I have the turn up songs, ones that are about love and more R&B. This time I think I wanted to channel more of that trap, turn up side. I just wanted that project to be included in my discography, that represented that sound. And really give it to my fans, who want to see me turn up and talk my sh*t (laughs). So when they want me in that element, they can just go to that album and play it all the way through. So when it came down to writing, that was the state of mind I was on. I really wanted to showcase that confidence and it be less about feelings and emotions. More about getting to the money and being yourself.

UrbanBridgez.com: What do you want people to get out of this album, once they listen?
Damez: As far as me, I definitely want people to hear it and understand me more. As an artist and as a person. Like I somewhat said before, it kind of magnifies a particular side of me. That you’ve kind of heard, but I’ve never spent an entire project channeling in to it. So they get more of that side of me, like my east Atlanta roots. How I came up and just who I am all together. As far as the messages, I want people to hear it and feel confidence and in return feel good about themselves. Whether they want to get fly and go out, or be encouraged to hit the gym or to go get money. Just whatever they want, I want people to know it’s okay to just be yourself.

UrbanBridgez.com: How did you link up with producer LilJuMadeDaBeat for Big Mood?
Damez: He’s actually a friend of mine. We’ve been working together every since I did my first EP in 2014. He produced most of the songs on that. I have a relationship with him from my cousin, who’s out in Houston. So we’ve always kept a good relationship. We actually hadn’t worked together since my second project which came out in 2017. This project was a lot different than my last one Boy Meets World in 2018. It was a lot of R&B, I was more vulnerable. This time around I wanted to turn up and focus on another vibe. And that’s Lil Ju cause his beats is always perfect for that type of vibe. He did Big Mood and The Old Me for this project. That song came before Big Mood. I had went to Houston last April and linked up and we recorded The Old Me. I literally watched him make the beat in front of me at his house in 15 minutes. Then later on in the year I got the beat for Big Mood. It felt like a single, so I decided to put it out in December.

UrbanBridgez.com: Some of our favorites are “Forever,” “Bless Up” and “Juice.” What are some of your most personal tracks and why?
Damez: Oh nice, I like that. My favorite tracks definitely shift, from day to day (laughs). Just really depends on how I’m feeling. Because I feel like they’re all my babies. But I feel like Go Hard is so personal, like very vulnerable. Like it’s hard, but I feel like it’s honest. I’m also talking some real sh*t and very personal. As far as favorites right now, would be Go Hard, Heaven and Floss. Everybody seems to love Floss.

UrbanBridgez.com: Yeah that one is dope too. How did growing up in Atlanta, prepare you for a career in music?
Damez: It prepared me a lot. I mean growing up in Atlanta, music is all around you. I didn’t come from a musical family or anything. I mean my dad loved music and always played Vinyl records in the house. Outside of that, I kind of just got into music on my own. I grew up on artists like Outkast. Atlanta has always been prominent for music, every since I can remember. It has only evolved over time. I feel like this album has that Atlanta sound, that has inspired me over the years. It feels like that and it was one of the goals. I wanted to do something for the city.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s something that’s been the hardest challenge for you being black and LGBT and how did you overcome it, or have you?
Damez: I don’t know if I want to say the hardest, but I feel like you get discouraged a lot of the time. Because people at times don’t even give you a chance. When they hear or see LGBT, they don’t even bother with it. The truth is, I feel like I’m a lot better than a lot of these straight Hip Hop artists. As far as sexuality, it doesn’t have an impact on someones talent. Or effect their ability to make music. I feel like there is a space here for all of us. I don’t really look it at as hardships, but more like obstacles if you will. So that really is challenging I would say, just getting your music heard out there sometimes. Being your true self and putting that on the forefront. I feel like this album shows that yeah, I am apart of the LGBT community…but my album is just as hard if not harder than people who are not. That’s what I wanted to showcase, not just with myself but the music.

UrbanBridgez.com: You got the chance to open for one of our favorites recently Jennifer Holiday, how was that experience?
Damez: That was pretty dope. It was apart of the NAESM Leadership Conference that they do every year. Like a black expo conference they do every year in different cities. They reached out to me to perform. I performed twice and the second time was for the banquet. That’s when I got to open up for Jennifer Holiday. It was really a dope experience. Definitely a different type of crowd, as far as the age difference and demographic. But everyone was locked into the music and it really was a great experience. To open for someone so legendary, on top of being apart of something so meaningful was really dope.

Urbanbridgez.com: We recently loss Pop Smoke, to violence. Do you have anything you want to say regarding that?
Damez: No doubt, for people that are familiar with me and my brand. Those who know my story, are aware that I loss my brother to gun violence back in 2012. It’s always been a heavy topic for me and something I’ve always sprinkled in my music. I talk about it openly and have been an advocate for gun reform and trying to stop the violence. Specially among our own people. It’s so unfortunate that someone who wasn’t even able to drink legally yet, had his life just taken from him. It’s just really unfortunate because he really was just starting to take off. It sucks because it feels like when you reach a certain level of success, it’s dangerous. The more higher you climb the ladder, the more dangerous it becomes. Where you have to always look over your shoulder. I hope people see how it effects everybody and the violence just comes to an end. Rest in peace Pop Smoke.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s next for DAMEZ?
Damez: Working on a documentary for the album coming out really soon. I’m working on some more music, planning some shows coming up as well. More visuals, just trying to grow and evolve. Just trying to keep myself out there.

UrbanBridgez.com: Anything else you want to leave with your fans?
Damez: Make sure y’all go check out this new album, D Money it’s everywhere. Let me know what you think? Again, keep a look out for this documentary coming soon. Just thank you for the support. Always be you and don’t give a fu** what people think. Just live your life…and get to this money!