Why Dee-1 is the ‘rolling out’ 2023 Christian rap MVP

The unashamed Christian has dropped quality music consistently and challenged hip-hop culture to evolve

What a year it has been for Dee-1.

The rapper, who is a devoted Christian, has dropped two albums, UNO and From the Hood to Harvard, this year. UNO had a traditional release with singles and conventional promotion and was available on all streaming platforms, while From the Hood to Harvard was released exclusively on his website, asking listeners to name their price while downloading it.


In the UNO album, he’s encouraging listeners to push through hard times and rooting for all underdogs. Stand-out tracks include “In My Bag, In My Bible,” “Born To Pay Bills,” “Step Into the Light” and a feature from legendary rapper The Game on “Shine On.” The Game said that was the first verse he didn’t cuss on in his 18-year career.

Beyond the music, the Louisiana native has been on a mission to call out the hip-hop culture to better promote positive lyrics and images to the Black community. Some of the rappers he’s called out this year include Meek Mill, Jim Jones, Lecrae, Sexyy Red, Benny The Butcher and Rick Ross.


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Even when figures like Butcher, Jones, Rick Ross and Joe Budden publicly responded to Dee-1 mocking his approach, he hasn’t changed his stance.

These are just a few of the reasons why Dee-1 is the rolling out 2023 Rap MVP of the Year.

Other notable nominees:

  • Lil Yachty
  • Veeze
  • Sexyy Red
  • Noname
  • Killer Mike

What is it like to be named the rolling out 2023 Rap MVP of the Year?

Bro, I was not expecting this, man. To God be all the glory, man.

This is amazing. I’m super shocked, bro, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

Rap MVP for 2023 by keeping God first, putting out the best music I could and not being afraid to challenge our culture to do better and to be more accountable for the direction that we’re going and growing in. Wow. I’m humbled.

What has your experience at Harvard been like?

Being at Harvard has challenged me to grow intellectually, emotionally and socially because I didn’t know anybody else here.

I’m in my apartment right now at Harvard, and when I first got here, I didn’t know anybody. So I went from being well-known and well-liked in my city to coming out here and I had to form a whole new circle, I had to challenge myself academically to make sure that I’m on par with the amazing brains that are out here at Harvard University.

This fellowship I’ve been doing has had me teaching classes on Harvard’s campus. I’m researching the role that hip-hop plays as a teaching tool in the Black community. Some people, when they face pressure, it brings the best out of them. Thus far, my fellowship has brought an album out of me, From the Hood to Harvard, I just released it. I didn’t put it on streaming yet. But my album From the Hood to Harvard is available via my website, Dee1music.com, and people can name their price for it. I did the name-your-price model, and people are paying up to $1,000 for my album, bro like this is documented.

Also, this is my children’s book. I wrote this here at Harvard, and it’s called David Found His Slingshot. It’s an anti-bullying, hip-hop children’s book.

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