Dave East facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dave East
Dave East in 2017
Background information
Birth name	David Lawrence Brewster Jr.
Born	(1988-06-03) June 3, 1988 (age 37) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop East Coast hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper songwriter actor
Years active	2007–present
Labels	From the Dirt Def Jam Mass Appeal

David Lawrence Brewster Jr. (born June 3, 1988), known as Dave East, is an American rapper.

Dave East started making music in 2010. He became well-known in 2014 with his mixtape Black Rose. This mixtape caught the eye of famous rapper Nas, who signed Dave East to his record label, Mass Appeal Records, in 2014. Later, Mass Appeal teamed up with Def Jam Recordings.

In 2016, Dave East was chosen for XXL magazine's "Freshman Class," which highlights new and exciting artists. His mixtape Kairi Chanel came out in September 2016 and reached number 38 on the Billboard 200 music chart. His next mixtape, Paranoia: A True Story (2017), climbed to number nine on the chart. His first studio album, Survival (2019), reached number 11.

Dave East also started acting in 2017. He appeared in TV shows like Being Mary Jane and The Breaks. He had a role in the Netflix movie Beats (2019). His biggest acting role so far is playing Method Man in the Hulu series Wu-Tang: An American Saga (2019).

Early Life and Basketball

David Lawrence Brewster Jr. was born in New York City. He grew up living between East Harlem and Ravenswood. His family background includes Bajan, Louisiana Creole, and Dominican roots.

He was a talented athlete in high school. He played both basketball and football at Springbrook High School in Maryland. He also played basketball in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). During this time, he played with future NBA stars like Ty Lawson and Greivis Vasquez. He also became good friends with Phoenix Suns player Kevin Durant.

College Basketball Journey

After high school, Dave East went to the University of Richmond. He later moved to Towson University to continue playing basketball. However, he had some disagreements with his coaches at Towson. This led him to leave the university.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out: 2010-2013

In 2010, Dave East released his first mixtape called Change of Plans. This helped him get some local attention. He then released several more mixtapes, showing his dedication to music. These included Insomnia, American Greed, Don't Sleep, and No Regrets. In April 2013, he released his sixth mixtape, Gemini.

Joining Mass Appeal and Kairi Chanel: 2014-2016

In 2014, Dave East's music caught the ear of famous New York rapper Nas. Nas wanted to get in touch with him. It turned out that Dave East was good friends with Nas's younger brother, Jungle. Jungle quickly introduced them. By mid-2014, Dave East signed with Nas's new record label, Mass Appeal Records.

In July 2014, he released his seventh mixtape, Black Rose, through the label. It was well-received by critics. In 2015, he released Hate Me Now. This mixtape featured well-known artists like Nas, Pusha T, Jadakiss, and Styles P.

In June 2016, XXL magazine named Dave East one of their annual "Freshman Class" artists. This group included other rising stars like G Herbo, 21 Savage, and Lil Uzi Vert. He performed in the Freshman Cypher, a freestyle rap session, with G Herbo. In August 2016, he released a joint project with rapper Kur called Born Broke, Die Rich.

In September 2016, he signed a deal with Def Jam Recordings. The very next day, he released his mixtape Kairi Chanel. This mixtape reached number 38 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It featured guest artists such as Fabolous, the Game, and 2 Chainz.

Acting Debut and Paranoia 2: 2017-2018

In January 2017, Dave East started his acting career. He appeared in BET's TV series Being Mary Jane. He also appeared in a Puma commercial and a music video for rapper Trina.

In August 2017, East released the EP (Extended Play) Paranoia: A True Story. It included popular songs like "Perfect" featuring Chris Brown. This EP reached number nine on the Billboard 200 chart. Later that year, he released his 11th mixtape, Karma. This was the start of his popular Karma mixtape series.

In 2018, Dave East released his 12th mixtape, Paranoia 2. He also started working with brands like Belaire Rose and New Era Cap. He appeared in a New Era commercial with MLB stars and producer Mike Will Made It. On July 27, 2018, he released his 13th mixtape, Karma 2. It featured artists like Lil Durk and Gunna. This mixtape reached number 41 on the Billboard 200. Later that year, he released his 15th mixtape, Beloved, with his friend Styles P.

Survival and Karma 3: 2019-2021

Dave East made his movie debut in the Netflix film Beats (2019). He played a supporting role as "Mister Ford." His breakthrough acting role was in the Hulu series Wu-Tang: An American Saga (2019). In this show, he plays the famous rapper Method Man.

In 2019, he released two songs, "Everyday" featuring Gunna and "Wanna Be a G" featuring Max B. These songs were teasers for his first album. On October 4, 2019, he released the single "Alone" featuring Jacquees.

His debut album, Survival, came out on November 8, 2019. It was released through Def Jam Recordings, Mass Appeal Records, and his own label, From the Dirt. The album featured many guest artists, including Teyana Taylor, Rick Ross, Nas, and Lil Baby. Dave East also went on his first world tour, called the Survival Tour, to support the album.

On March 8, 2020, Dave East announced he was working on the third mixtape in his Karma series. He said he had planned to work on a project with Nipsey Hussle before Nipsey's passing. The mixtape, Karma 3, was released on August 14, 2020, and received good reviews. A deluxe version with more songs came out later that year.

On July 30, 2021, Dave East and producer Harry Fraud released a joint album called Hoffa. That same year, he bought a building in his hometown and plans to open more businesses.

Future Music: 2022-2023

In a January 2022 interview, Dave East shared that he was working on many new projects. These included Beloved 2, a sequel to his 2018 album with Styles P. He also confirmed a follow-up to his album Survival. He has many other collaborations planned with different producers and artists. His second studio album, Fortune Favors the Bold, was released in 2023.

Music Style

Dave East is known for his strong lyrics and detailed stories about life in the city. He is inspired by many famous rappers. These include Styles P, Jadakiss, Eminem, Cam'ron, Big Pun, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Raekwon, DMX, Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and The Diplomats.

Personal Life

As a teenager, Dave East faced some challenges. During this time, he converted to Islam and became a Muslim. He has said that Islam brought a lot of discipline to his life that he didn't have before. He has two daughters, Kairi Chanel Brewster (born in 2016) and Kobi Chanai Brewster (born in 2020), with Milagrito "Millie" Colon.

Discography

• Survival (2019)
• Fortune Favors the Bold (2023)

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

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  A redshirt symbol, used in sports to indicate a player who does not compete for a season.

See also

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In Spanish: Dave East para niños