You may be familiar with some South African artists like r&b/amapiano singer Tyla or former Odd Future rapper Earl Sweatshirt, but there’s so much more diverse talent coming out of this country and Double’D is an artist who speaks to that.
So let me walk you through who the emerging artist Double’D is. I know what your first thought was and no, his name is not an Ed, Edd n Eddy reference (trust me, I asked). Double’D actually stems from a childhood nickname that plays off of the first letters of his name. Dubba is known for blending hard-hitting rap with gritty rock elements. This unique sound can be heard on his newest mixtape, “we’re all a little weird and that’s okay”.
Dubba describes this project as “a bunch of feelings with no serious direction”. And you know what? I can respect that. Not every creative project has to have a theme or specific purpose. Putting out something without exact direction is also an aspect of creative expression. And let’s talk about the title. Personally, I think the world would be a much better place if everyone recognized that “we’re all a little weird and that’s okay”.
Double’D is also the founder of creative collective FiTHLY PiGs. With the help of some friends, he has managed to create an artistic community that’s appreciative of both rock and hip hop music. From this collective has emerged the infamous music event “FOR THE LOVE OF PUNK AND HIP-HOP”. This event spawned performances from bands and artists like Midnight Banshees, Decay, Ima Crystals, OFF THE SENSUS, and Sons of Solomon.
Sons of Solomon… now why does that name sound so familiar? Oh! Probably because this is the punk rock band Double’D also plays bass for. The relationship between the creatives started when Sons of Solomon performed at a FiTHLY PiGs show. They were in need of a bassist and Dubba took up the position. The musically inclined artist had no prior experience but was able to just pick up the bass and start playing. For Dubba, playing the bass comes easy because he produces trap music. And trap is all about the bass.
“The bass is the part [of a song] that makes you dance.”
Now how did Double’D come to be the multi-talented artist he is today? His creative journey began when he started dabbling in music recording. After a negative experience, he realized he couldn’t rely on other people to record his music for him. So with the help of his brother, Dubba set up an at-home studio which is now where all the magic happens.
Johannesburg, South Africa is where the punk artist calls home. He’s had an interest in the genres of music that are thriving in the region. This of course means mainstream ones like amapiano, but Dubba says there’s also a thriving hip-hop and underground scene, as well as an alt rock scene in the country. Double‘D draws inspirations from artists like Paris Texas, Kenny Mason, Tyler the Creator, and South Africa’s own blxckie & Filah Lah Lah. But who does Dubba himself hope to inspire with his music?
Dubba describes his audience as kids like himself. He makes music for the people who often feel out of place and those who don’t belong. This ideology really aligns with the entire “philosophy” of punk culture.
“At a punk rock show, we’re gonna tell you how it is”.
Double’D defines punk as non-discrimination and non-conformity. He shared the thought that when it all comes down to it, nobody out here really knows what they’re doing. As humans, we’re all just winging it. We have the freedom to do what we want and that includes not having to conform to society.
Now, let’s not forget that non-discrimination part. This artist explained why he felt the need to merge hip hop and punk. Even though he loves rap, Double’D feels that the music and culture still has many issues with toxic masculinity and homophobia. He stated that these are problems the punk scene has already dealt with. So because of this, he’s bridging the way between punk and trap/hip-hop. He also touched on the parallels that are already evident between the two genres and even described South African trap as punk all on its own.
Double’D is a super interesting creative who should definitely be on your radar. I’m interested to see where his career goes as he continues to develop as an artist. I always have respect for someone who speaks out about real life issues like misogyny, racism, and AI in music (ew). Take one listen to “max xp” from his mixtape “we’re all a little weird and that’s okay” and you’ll understand the sentiment. But don’t let me be the judge for you. Check out the mixtape below.
