Dyme-A-Duzin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dyme-A-Duzin
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| Birth name | Donnovan Malik Blocker |
| Born | May 13, 1992 Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Independent. Atlantic (former) |
| Associated acts |
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Donnovan Malik Blocker, better known by his stage name Dyme-A-Duzin, is an American rapper, singer, and actor from Brooklyn, New York. He first became known as a member of the band Phony Ppl. With the band, he performed with famous artists like Erykah Badu and The Roots.
As a solo artist, Dyme-A-Duzin has worked with many popular musicians, including Fabolous and Joey Bada$$. His song "New Brooklyn" was named one of the 50 Best Rap Songs of 2013 by Spin magazine. He has also appeared in TV shows and written jingles for commercials.
Contents
Musical Journey
Early Life and First Songs
Dyme-A-Duzin was born on May 13, 1992, in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. He loved music from a young age and wrote his first song when he was only 11. By age 14, he was already making his own music videos. He was inspired by famous rappers like 50 Cent, Eminem, and Jay-Z.
Between 2008 and 2011, he released his first three mixtapes online. These early projects showed his talent and helped him build a following.
Working with Phony Ppl and Going Solo
In 2012, Dyme-A-Duzin was part of the band Phony Ppl. They released an album called Phonyland that was praised by critics for its unique mix of jazz, hip-hop, and R&B.
That same year, Dyme-A-Duzin signed a record deal with Warner Bros. Records. In 2013, he released his own mixtape, A Portrait of Donnovan, which featured other artists from the Brooklyn music scene. He also became a brand ambassador for the sneaker company Puma and went on a 10-country tour across Europe.
Mixtapes and Hit Singles
In 2014, Dyme-A-Duzin released his fifth mixtape, Hip Hope. It included collaborations with artists like Casey Veggies and Kehlani. After leaving his record label in 2015, he released the song "That Chicken," which became one of his most popular tracks. The song and its music video were featured on major media outlets like The Fader and BET JAMS.
The success of "That Chicken" led to a remix in 2016 with famous Brooklyn rapper Fabolous. The remix became a big hit, getting lots of attention on the radio and online. Fabolous even invited Dyme-A-Duzin to perform with him at the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival.
Albums and Acting Career
In 2017, Dyme-A-Duzin released an EP called Ghetto Olympics. He also wrote a jingle for a Domino's commercial. He released his first full album, Crown Fried, in 2018.
Dyme-A-Duzin also began acting. In 2019, he appeared in an episode of the TV series Wu-Tang: An American Saga. He continued to release music, including the projects TRAINING. in 2021 and Ghetto Olympics 2 in 2021.
Recent Music and Projects
In 2022, Dyme-A-Duzin released TRAINING 2. and wrote another jingle for a Domino's commercial. He continued to release new music, leading up to his 2024 album, Ghetto Olympics 3.
In 2025, he released an EP titled Solely Yours. This project featured new songs and showed his continued growth as an artist.
Discography
Extended plays
- Nothing Special (with Phony Ppl) (2012)
- Ghetto Olympics (2017)
- Solely Yours (2025)
Albums
- Crown Fried (2018)
- Ghetto Olympics 2 (2021)
- Ghetto Olympics 3 (2024)
Mixtapes
- Shut Up 'n' Listen (2008)
- The Orientation (2010)
- 20=X (2011)
- Phonyland (with Phony Ppl) (2012)
- A Portrait of Donnovan (2013)
- Hip Hope (2014)
- 2 Piece Tape (2016)
- TRAINING. (2021)
- TRAINING 2. (2022)
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Track 4" | 2009 | Capital Steez, Jakk the Rhymer, Elbee Thrie | The Yellow Tape |
| "You" | 2012 | 9th Wonder, Buckshot | The Solution |
| "New Brooklyn" (Remix) | 2013 | Peter Rosenberg, Flatbush Zombies, The Underachievers | The New York Renaissance |
| "4get About It" | Peter Rosenberg |
