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
Signature

David Lawrence Brewster Jr. (born June 3, 1988), who is known by his stage name Dave East, is an American rapper and actor. He started his music career in 2010. He became well-known in 2014 after releasing his eighth mixtape, Black Rose.

This mixtape got the attention of the famous New York rapper Nas. In 2014, Nas signed Dave East to his music label, Mass Appeal Records. Two years later, the label partnered with Def Jam Recordings.

In 2016, XXL magazine named Dave East as part of its yearly "Freshman Class," which highlights new and promising rappers. His tenth mixtape, Kairi Chanel, came out that same year and reached number 38 on the Billboard 200 music chart. His next mixtape, Paranoia: A True Story (2017), did even better, reaching number nine on the chart.

Dave East has also released two studio albums. His first album, Survival (2019), reached number 11 on the charts. His second album, Fortune Favors the Bold, was released in 2023.

Besides music, Dave East is also an actor. He started acting in 2017, appearing as himself in the TV shows Being Mary Jane and The Breaks. He also had a role in the Netflix movie Beats (2019). His biggest acting role is playing the rapper 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 in both East Harlem with his mother and in the Ravenswood neighborhood with his aunt. His family background is Bajan, Louisiana Creole, and Dominican.

Before he became a rapper, Dave East was a talented basketball player. He played both basketball and football at Springbrook High School in Maryland. He also played in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), a league for young athletes. There, he played with future NBA players like Ty Lawson and Greivis Vasquez. He also became good friends with NBA star Kevin Durant.

College Basketball Career

After high school, Dave East went to the University of Richmond on a basketball scholarship. He later transferred to Towson University to continue playing. However, he had some disagreements with the coaches at Towson, which led him to leave the university. After leaving college, he decided to focus on a new path.

College Statistics

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2006–07	Richmond	13	5	16.7	.365	.389	.583	1.7	.4	.7	.3	4.1
2007–08	Towson	Redshirt
2008–09	Towson	22	5	15.8	.306	.220	.657	1.7	.7	.5	.2	4.6
2009–10	Towson	10	4	16.3	.347	.300	.625	2.5	.2	.4	.2	4.8
Career		45	14	16.2	.330	.293	.636	1.9	.5	.5	.2	4.6

Music Career

2010–2013: Starting Out

In 2010, Dave East released his first mixtape, Change of Plans. This helped him get noticed in his local area. He continued to release more mixtapes, including Insomnia, American Greed, Don't Sleep, and No Regrets. These projects showed he was serious about his music career. In 2013, he released his sixth mixtape, Gemini.

2014–2016: Signing with Mass Appeal

In 2014, the legendary rapper Nas heard Dave East's music and was impressed. It turned out that East was already friends with Nas's younger brother, Jungle. Jungle introduced them, and soon after, East signed a record deal with Nas's label, Mass Appeal Records.

Under the new label, he released his seventh mixtape, Black Rose, which critics liked. In 2015, he released Hate Me Now. This mixtape featured famous artists like Nas, Pusha T, Jadakiss, and Styles P.

In 2016, he was named to the XXL Freshman Class. This is a special honor for up-and-coming rappers. That same year, he signed a deal with Def Jam Recordings and released the mixtape Kairi Chanel. It was a big success, reaching number 38 on the Billboard 200 chart.

2017–2018: Acting and More Music

In 2017, Dave East began his acting career. He appeared on the BET show Being Mary Jane. He also released an EP called Paranoia: A True Story, which was very popular and climbed to number nine on the Billboard 200. The EP featured artists like Chris Brown, Jeezy, and Wiz Khalifa.

He continued to release music, including his eleventh mixtape, Karma. At the end of 2018, he released another mixtape, Paranoia 2. He also released Karma 2, which reached number 41 on the Billboard 200. That year, he also worked with one of his favorite rappers, Styles P, on a project called Beloved.

2019–2021: First Album and Karma 3

Dave East's acting career grew in 2019. He appeared in the Netflix movie Beats. His most famous role came when he was cast to play Method Man in the Hulu series Wu-Tang: An American Saga.

On November 8, 2019, he released his first official studio album, Survival. It featured many guest artists, including Teyana Taylor, Rick Ross, Nas, and Lil Baby. To support the album, he went on his first world tour.

In 2020, he released Karma 3, the third mixtape in his Karma series. The album cover included images of rappers Nipsey Hussle and Pop Smoke, who had recently passed away. The mixtape was a success with critics and fans.

2021–Present: Recent Work

In 2021, Dave East teamed up with producer Harry Fraud to release a joint album called Hoffa. He also bought a store in his hometown and plans to open other businesses to support his community.

In 2023, he released his second studio album, Fortune Favors the Bold. He continues to work on new music, including a follow-up to his 2018 project with Styles P.

Musical Style

Dave East is known for his honest and vivid lyrics. He often tells stories about life on the streets in his music. His style is influenced by many great rappers, including Styles P, Jadakiss, Eminem, Cam'ron, Big Pun, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Raekwon, DMX, Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and The Diplomats.

Personal Life

During a difficult time in his life, Dave East spent some time in prison. While there, he converted to Islam. He has said that his faith brought discipline to his life that he didn't have before.

Dave East has two daughters, Kairi Chanel Brewster (born in 2016) and Kobi Chanai Brewster (born in 2020).

Discography

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

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Dave East para niños