DeJ Loaf : How A Detroit Rapper Caught The Holy Ghost @DeJLoaf

The operative mode of 2014 networked rap culture mimics medieval feudalism. Indulgent philosopher-kings—Drake, Wiz Khalifa, Kanye, etc—control vast tracts of internet territory, and grant titles and property to exceptionally productive peasants by remixing hot songs, or quoting lyrics on Instagram. The latter is all Drake had to do to flip the narrative of Detroit rapper DeJ Loaf’s song “Try Me” from “buzzing regional content” to some shit your cousin just posted, from “wtf” to “omg.” Drake’s empire claimed a few more acres of uncharted buzzland and DeJ acquired the emerald shield of knighthood. And the people did feast and rejoice in the mentions of the king.

One person who’s not bothered by this Machiavellian symbiosis of success and access is Dej Loaf herself. Over the phone she’s soft-spoken yet brimming with confidence: “My range is ridiculous, man. I know what the people want to hear, and I’ve got it all.” She perceives a divine element in her muse: when she’s on a roll with songwriting she calls it “catching the holy ghost.” Makes sense; in 2014 I wouldn’t put it past the Lord to browse Datpiff for new prophets.

Yesterday DeJ released videos for “Try Me” and the sultry, acidic “We Good.” The latter finds her grabbing her destiny by the horns and fucking it in the ass: she tells Interscope and Def Jam that “if they ain’t talking a couple mill, they can just forget it, fam.” DeJ might recline at your round table, but she’s eating off her own plate. In her words, “We good over here.”