Caddy Da Don, the 6-foot-2 rapper whose real name is David Rice, is one of the nicest guys in hip-hop. Rolling out had an opportunity to hang out with him and got a real taste of the environment, the music and the tremendous buzz and energy surrounding Caddy’s growing popularity. –christa e. jackson
How did you come up with your rap moniker, Caddy Da Don?
Caddy Da Don kind of came up from a joke between me and my grandfather, but Da Don came about from my female friends. They would be joking, calling me Da Don. It just all kind of came together because every summer I would try to get the next Caddy, and in Baltimore people relate a person to their vehicles, so it just kind of stuck.
How do you feel about carrying the city of Baltimore on your back, as far as hip-hop is concerned?
I feel like I gotta do it, like it should’ve been done. I have a strong team and a strong back. It’s really undeniable what we doing right now. This isn’t a movement to me, I’m bringing the whole city with me.
How do you feel about being compared to Rick Ross?
Right now Rick Ross is [at] the top of his game, known as one of the best, so I see it as a compliment. Once people get to know who I am as an artist … I think the comparison will go away.
What do you want the fans to take from your music?
Just the success story. I want people to take their time to listen to this music, so they can really understand what I have to say. I [don’t] glorify the things I’ve done, but I speak on it. The goal is to bring life back to reality, striving for better things. I want people to visualize the reality of my music, and what I’ve been through. I also want to open the door for other artists in Baltimor
