D-Nice Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids D-Nice
D-Nice in 2005
Background information
Birth name	Derrick T. Jones
Born	(1970-06-19) June 19, 1970 (age 55) Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Origin	The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Disc jockey record producer rapper beatboxer photographer
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Roc Nation Jive Violator

Derrick T. Jones (born June 19, 1970), known as D-Nice, is an American DJ, music producer, and rapper. He started his career in the mid-1980s with the hip hop group Boogie Down Productions. D-Nice is also famous for creating "Club Quarantine," a popular online dance party that helped people connect during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early Life and Music Career
- Solo Albums and New Paths
Club Quarantine and Awards
- A Global Dance Party
- Recognition and Influence
Discography
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Music Career

Derrick T. Jones grew up in Harlem, New York City, and later moved to The Bronx. When he was 15, he met Scott La Rock and KRS-One. Together, they formed the hip hop group Boogie Down Productions in 1986.

In his early days with the group, D-Nice was known for his amazing beatboxing skills. People even called him "the Human TR-808" because he could make sounds like a TR-808 drum machine. He also helped produce the song "Self-Destruction" for the Stop the Violence Movement. This song was made to encourage peace and stop violence in communities.

Solo Albums and New Paths

After his success with Boogie Down Productions, D-Nice signed a solo record deal. He released his first album, Call Me D-Nice, in 1990. This album did well on the music charts. In 1991, he released his second album, To tha Rescue. For this album, he worked with other famous artists like Naughty by Nature and Too Short.

D-Nice later decided to explore other interests beyond just making music as a recording artist. He became a web developer in the late 1990s and even started his own creative company in 2000. He also became a talented photographer, taking pictures for album covers for artists like Carl Thomas and Pharoahe Monch.

Club Quarantine and Awards

In March 2020, when many people were staying home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, D-Nice started something special. He began hosting "Homeschool at Club Quarantine" on Instagram Live. These were live DJ dance parties from his home. He wanted to help people feel connected and lift their spirits during a difficult time.

A Global Dance Party

His online parties quickly became very popular. One Saturday night dance party lasted nine hours and had over 100,000 viewers! Many famous people joined in, including Rihanna, Lenny Kravitz, Janet Jackson, Michelle Obama, and Mark Zuckerberg. D-Nice encouraged everyone to "take care of one another and wash their hands." The next day, his stream had over 150,000 viewers at the same time.

Recognition and Influence

D-Nice's "Club Quarantine" brought joy and a sense of community to thousands around the world. For his efforts, he won the 2020 Webby Award for Artist of the Year. He also received the Shine a Light Award at the 2020 BET Awards.

In 2021, D-Nice was named Entertainer of the Year at the 52nd NAACP Image Awards. He also received the ASCAP Voice of the Culture Award for being a source of hope during the pandemic. His live DJ sets are still very popular online, and he has millions of followers on Instagram.

Discography

Album Information
Call Me D-Nice Released: July 24, 1990 Chart Positions: Reached #75 on the US Pop Albums chart and #12 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Singles: "Call Me D-Nice", "Crumbs on the Table", "Glory"
To tha Rescue Released: November 26, 1991 Chart Positions: Reached #137 on the US Pop Albums chart and #27 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Singles: "25 Ta Life", "Time to Flow", "To tha Rescue"