Smoke DZA facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Smoke DZA
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Smoke DZA performing at The S... Club Tour in 2010
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sean Joseph Pompey |
| Born | February 8, 1984 Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | East Coast hip-hop |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
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Sean Joseph Pompey (born February 8, 1984) is an American rapper and songwriter known by his stage name, Smoke DZA. He is a well-known artist in the East Coast hip-hop scene.
Contents
Life and Music Career
How It All Started
Smoke DZA was born in Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City, and has lived there his whole life. His parents were from Guyana, and his father introduced him to music when he was young. He quickly fell in love with hip-hop and looked up to famous New York rappers like Jay-Z and The Notorious B.I.G..
To follow his dream of a music career, he left high school and started battle rapping. This is where two rappers compete by making up clever rhymes on the spot. He even battled against another Harlem rapper, J.R. Writer.
What's in a Name?
He chose the name "Smoke DZA" for two reasons. The "Smoke" part was inspired by the character Smokey, played by actor Chris Tucker in the movie Friday. The "DZA" part is an acronym that stands for "Dream Zone Achieve," which reflects his goals.
In 2002, he was discovered by Jonny Shipes from Cinematic Music Group. For a while, he worked as a ghostwriter, which means he wrote lyrics for other rappers, including the famous producer Hi-Tek. He was also part of a duo called Smoke & Numbers before starting his solo career in 2008.
Going Solo and Making Albums
After becoming a solo artist, Smoke DZA released many popular mixtapes and became a founding member of The S... Club. He has worked with major artists like Big K.R.I.T., Wiz Khalifa, and ASAP Rocky. His 2011 album won an award from High Times magazine for Hip Hop Album of the Year.
In June 2012, he released the album Rugby Thompson. It was produced entirely by Harry Fraud and featured many guest artists, including Action Bronson, Currensy, and Schoolboy Q.
On April 1, 2014, he released his third album, Dream.Zone.Achieve. The album had 21 songs and was split into three parts: "Dream," "Zone," and "Achieve." It featured famous rappers like Cam'ron, Joey Bada$$, and Wiz Khalifa.
On December 2, 2016, he teamed up with legendary producer Pete Rock to release the album Don't ... Rock. The album had guest appearances from stars like Rick Ross, Dave East, and Mac Miller.
More recently, he released his eighth album, Homegrown, on October 2, 2020. The album was a tribute to his home, New York City.
Musical Style
Smoke DZA's biggest musical influences are Jay-Z and The Notorious B.I.G.. When he was younger, he would practice by taking their songs and writing his own words to them. This helped him learn how to create rhymes. He said, "I used to re-write Biggie. It started with 'Mo Money, Mo Problems.' I would switch up the words, make it my own."
While some people think his music is only about one topic, he sees himself as a "lifestyle rapper." This means he writes songs about his real life, experiences, and interests. He also loves working with other artists, like Kendrick Lamar, because he feels it pushes him to be a better rapper.
Personal Life
Smoke DZA is a huge fan of professional wrestling. He even released a wrestling-themed mixtape called Ringside 2 in 2014. It featured WWE superstar Big E.
In 2016, he showed his interest in politics by supporting Bernie Sanders for president.
Discography
- His 2011 Album (2011)
- Rugby Thompson (2012)
- Dream. Zone. Achieve (2014)
- He Has Risen (2016)
- Don't ... Rock (with Pete Rock) (2016)
- Not for Sale (2018)
- A Closed Mouth Don't Get Fed (2020)
- Homegrown (2020)
- Full Court Press (with Girl Talk, Wiz Khalifa, and Big K.R.I.T.) (2022)
