24hourhiphop.com sits down with upcoming rapper D.Smith. D.Smith talks to us about his current projects he has out along with info on upcoming projects. We also get insight into his life growing up, his musical influences and his backround. We also get to check out D.Smith's new single "Going For The Gold". Check out what our Next In Line D.Smith has to say in the interview below and let us know what you think!

 
 
Introduce yourself to everyone that doesn’t already know who you are?
 
D.Smith: – What's going on world my name is D.Smith and I'm a 19 year old artist from Connecticut, Part of the production team Swagg Central Academy
 
•How did you come up with your Artist name? Tell us about it.
 
D.Smith: I decided on my birth name by my sophomore year in high school because i was going by "Mr. Smith" but wanted a more down to earth authentic rap name because I want people to focus more on my music than titles and images, and besides I don't need LL Cool J suing me anyways
 
• Where are you from, and what was it like growing up there?
 
D.Smith: I was born in Bridgeport and raised in Fairfield Connecticut. Growing up between the two cities made me more culturally rounded because I had friends and family in the hood but lived in the suburbs, so i was acquainted with being around different races and classes. Some of my closest friends lived in either mansions or the projects so that helped me musically by being able to connect and relate to a wide range of people
 
• Who were you raised by? Tell us your family situation. Got any brothers, sisters, or any siblings? Tell us about your childhood, 
and how it impacted your music?
 
D.Smith: I was raised by my mother and my older sister Carmen, i have two other sisters I talk to but didn't grow up with. Me and Carmen had different fathers and neither of them were in our lives so she was the one taking care of me when my mom was working. My mother had to sometimes  work 2-3 jobs to keep us in a good town and in good schools, which always inspired me to never give up on my goals no matter how difficult. Seeing her work ethic and growing up through Jamaican culture and values molded my way of thinking which in turn molded my way of writing lyrics.

Check out D.Smith – OG Bobby Johnson Freestyle (Music Video)

 
• What age did you start making music?
 
D.Smith: I began writing lyrics at age 10 and started recording in studios by 13, my first recording was a remix to the Run DMC song "My Adidas" and made "My Jordans" after all these years that song's still dope as hell to me
 
• What inspired you to pursue making music?
 
D.Smith: My passion for music, primarily old school hip hop and R&B, started when i was 7. My Uncle Dean had two turntables and a huge record collection he shared with my grandmother and i would be in his basement bumping classics all day, which made me wanna be a DJ at first. When I first decided at age 10 i wanted to be in the music industry i wasn't even thinking of being a rapper, just an executive. It wasn't until 8th grade when i met my boy Luke(King Spazz) that i started taking rap seriously and we decided then that we wanted to make a record label, called "I Get Money Records"(corny ass name lol but we were 13). Then a year later i connect back with my childhood friend Matt(MajikTouch) from years ago, I learned he became a rapper and an engineer and now 5 years later we're still making music and rocking shows together

Check out D.Smith – Lounge Room Intermission (Music Video)

 
 
• What artists/producers do you work with? Or rubbed shoulders with?
 
D.Smith: I've collaborated with various artists and producers around Connecticut but I mostly just work around my production team, Swagg Central Academy, which consists of myself, MajikTouch, King Spazz, and Javed Wilson(Cameraman)
 
 • What else you got coming out? New Album? or Mixtape/EP?
 
D.Smith: I just recently released my second solo mixtape titled "Long Way To Go" which is up for free download on Datpiff.com. I spent more time on this project than any other in my catalogue and it's pretty damn dope so i suggest  you go listen and download if you haven't already
 
• Tell us about your newest single "Going For The Gold", how did you come up with that, share us the story?
 
D.Smith: My latest single is "Going for the Gold" featuring King Spazz and I remember us having a crazy night the day before we made this song. We were throwing a big hotel party until a few drunk girls decided to jump a stripper that was talking shit in the hallway and before we knew it there was a whole mob in the lobby, and the video I recorded on my phone even made it to worldstar, there was ripped bras, weave and blood everywhere haha a funny ass night which in a way influenced the song. The message behind the song is that everybody is seeking and reaching towards something, whether the shallowest wishes or unfulfilled dreams, everybody is "Going for the Gold" in this world, it just depends what the individuals "gold" is.
 
 Any new travel plans, what you got going on?
 
D.Smith: As of now I'm just chillin in Connecticut and weighing out all my future business plans and endeavors, mainly focusing on promoting my latest mixtape and doing shows
 

Check out D.Smith – Long Way To Go (Mixtape)

 
• What is the biggest thing to happen in your career?
 
D.Smith: To be honest, more than any show or appearance I would have to say the biggest thing is the opportunity to be featured on this Next In Line segment and I would like to thank the 24hourhiphop staff for offering to do this article and exposing my talents, 
 
• Where can people find you? 
D.Smith: Soundcloud : OfficialD_Smith
 
 Datpiff : OfficialD_Smith
 
 Youtube: Swaggcentraltv
 
 Twitter : SmittyD_SCA
 
 Instagram : Smittythekid_SCA
 
 
Where do you see yourself going in 2014 and how do you plan to separate yourself from the other artist out today to get the recognition you feel you deserve?
 
D.Smith: As for my future this year and for years to come I plan to stay diligent on furthering myself as an artist and businessman. I plan to separate myself by simply continuing to express myself the best way possible, staying driven and focused and continuing to believe in myself, and I believe success will fall into place
 
• Any last words or shout outs?
 
D.Smith: Shouts out to the whole SCA Production family, everyone who aided towards the completion of my mixtapes and videos . 24hourhiphop for believing I'm Next In Line, and all my true fans & supporters, old and new.