Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dephree. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Dephree thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

We were not getting much traction in the music biz. Me and my day 1 road dog started the brainstorm. What can we do? How about a publicity stunt? What if you climbed up on a bus in hollywood? What about a freeway sign in downtown LA? – The idea was born.

On June 28, 2018, dressed in only boxer briefs, armed with a megaphone, I scaled a sign for the 110 Freeway in downtown LA and made my stand. I danced, rapped, and chanted for up on that sign for three hours while evading the 50+ sheriffs, highway patrol, police officers and firefighters who were trying to remove me. Traffic came to a stand still. News vans piled up. Helicopters were flying overhead. I raged and shouted and yelled and danced. Eventually the authorities brought out two giant inflatable suicide jumper pads and placed them on the freeway. I wasted no time, I climbed to the edge of the sign turned around with my heels hanging over the edge and executed a perfect backflip onto the pad. I was swarmed and arrested, but the legend was sealed. It was a backflip to eternity. Sitting in jail waiting to get bailed out, I had no idea what was happening in the world and on the internet. A photographer from the AP captured the whole thing. They distributed the photo to every publication in the country.

It went viral. I was in Time, Newsweek, Washington Post, New York Times. Everything. Inside Edition came to my house. Jimmy Fallon talked about it on his show. MTV reached out to me. George Lopez invited me on his show. We went for it. Took that risk and shook the world.

Dephree, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was a troubled teenager. I was smart and athletically talented but I struggled with addiction and blew up any opportunity I had. Music was my outlet. I dropped out of school and moved to Los Angeles. I bounced jobs, places, friend groups but I stayed making music. God kept putting progressively better mentors in my life. I followed my heart and put the work in. The thing that sets me apart is that I’m unapologetically me. No one has my life, perspective or experiences, so no one can offer what I can as long as I prioritize authenticity. I don’t try to be something I’m not. People pick up on that and rock with me.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I spent a year working on a album. The sound engineer had it on his hard drive. I paid him in full for the mix and master. Terribly excited for this incredible album I spent a year of my life on, I waited. And waited. I called Greg, the engineer but I got no response. I went to his apartment and he moved out. He skipped town, stole my work, my money and a year of my life. I was heartbroken. I wanted to kill him. It ruined music for me. I was so angry.

I realized in order to survive I had to forgive him, Truly forgive him and I did. I was free again and felt inspired to make music. We forgive people not for them, but for us.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I used to be in the results game. I wanted to “make it”. I needed to “blow up”. I craved this unrealistic concept of success and it drove me crazy. I realized that if all my dreams came true I would still not be happy. It’s my job to be happy and useful to my family. I make music because I love it. It brings joy to the world. That’s my job is to do my part using my gifts for good. What happens as a result has nothing to do with me. This mentality brings me peace.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/Dephree
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dephreedog/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DephreeDog