DABOYDAME

In The Business of Business, Not Feelings

By Lulu Moore

Artist Feature

〰️

Artist Feature 〰️

DaBoyDame is an Oakland, California music legend who embodies what it means to be forever grinding. Viewed as a renaissance figure in West Coast hip-hop, Dame entered the music industry as an intern at 106.1 KMEL radio station in the Bay. Fast forward ten years and he is now a widely respected DJ, producer, songwriter, and the head of A&R at Yo Gatti’s CMG label. After facilitating the music creation process for other people for so long, the world gets to directly cheer him on. 

On April 1st, DaBoyDame dropped “Feelings” featuring Rick Ross and EST Gee. The song is the first track on Dame’s highly anticipated sophomore album SALUTE TO THE REAL, PRAY FOR THE FAKE. “Feelings” incorporates a classic Bay area street beat with lyrics grounded in Dame’s undeniable hustle.

“It’s street but it’s fun. It’s street but it’s motivation. When I say street, I don’t mean subject matter,” said Dame. Street means “the beat might sound grimey, the beat might sound dark,” but ultimately it’s about motivating people. The song’s lyrics “you gotta hop up out ya feelings and get up in ya bag” expose that 24/7 grind mindset.  

Overall, DaBoyDame’s journey represents one of goodness. His story is about taking the longer route and doing things ‘the right way’. Success isn’t just about whether he can comfortably pay his bills, and take care of his family. Success is about accomplishing those goals with pride, standing up tall, and not having to owe anything or duck anyone throughout the process. 

He got his foot in the door, worked diligently, earned people’s trust, and built networks on a foundation of mutual respect. “I think it’s amazing to be part of early journeys,” said Dame, because you don’t know who people are going to become in a couple of years. “Hopefully, we all win at the end to where we can shake hands, and laugh.”

“Feeling” Cover Artwork / Click to Listen

His worldview is one that encourages love, dedication, loyalty, and a constant hunger for success. His family-oriented upbringing in Oakland plays a big role in how he navigates the music business. He describes Oakland as super-diverse, demanding, and fun. “We have a good time. We don’t really have social classes. Everybody is mixed into one place: from the richest to the middle, to the poorest, to the lawyers, to the nine-to-fivers. We all party in the same place so it makes for a good time.” 

Dame humbles himself when speaking about how he juggles his many roles and responsibilities. “As the head of A&R, I am dealing with finding new beats and talking to artists every day. Sometimes I just slip my own stuff in the process. It’s respected, and it doesn't look crazy for me to do so it’s not really hard. At the same time, I used notebooks and calendars all day to separate things that I have to do and the things that I want to do.”

Dame is not only dedicated to his craft but committed to seeing music’s progressive evolution. SALUTE TO THE REAL, PRAY FOR THE FAKE features artists like Blac Youngsta, Mozzy, and Ty Dolla $ign. But the song that Dame is most proud of is “Run For It” featuring Saweetie, Kash Doll, and Lady London –– three of the dopest women MCs in the game right now.  

The track “is a representation of where hip hop is headed, where women are the head of the game,” said Dame. He likes the song because it challenges the narrative that women don’t get along. “All of them are from different regions: the west coast, the mid-west, the east coast, and the south. We’re uniting the industry and those women are showing that unity,” on the track. 

Dame’s all-inclusive attitude toward life also translates into how he stays so dedicated to his music. By silencing the noise of everyday life, he finds ways to stay excited about all of his creative endeavors. “I believe in naps, I believe in massages. Those things make sure that I’m prepared to go into a 48hr run of music,” adds Dame. 

He is a creator who shows up for others, practices what he preaches, and respects the bonds of community. While he has yet to announce the official release date of his sophomore album, believe DaBoyDame is writing, creating, and collaborating on this summer’s next anthem and making music that will keep your body bumping to the beat of life.