Smoke DZA facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Smoke DZA
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Smoke DZA performing at Smoker'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, known as Smoke DZA, is an American rapper and songwriter. He was born on February 8, 1984.
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About Smoke DZA
Early Life and Starting Music (1984–2007)
Smoke DZA was born in Harlem, New York City, on February 8, 1984. His parents came from Guyana. He grew up loving hip hop music. He listened to famous New York rappers like Jay-Z and Notorious BIG.
Smoke DZA decided to focus on music. He started in battle rap, where rappers compete with rhymes. He even battled another Harlem rapper, J.R. Writer. He chose his stage name, Smoke DZA, from the character Smokey in the movie Friday. DZA stands for "Dream Zone Achieve."
In 2002, Jonny Shipes from Cinematic Music Group discovered him. Smoke DZA then wrote songs for other rappers, including Hi-Tek. He was part of a group called Smoke & Numbers until 2008. After that, he started his solo career.
Solo Career and Albums (2008–2016)
After going solo, Smoke DZA released many mixtapes. He worked with artists like Big K.R.I.T., Wiz Khalifa, and ASAP Rocky. He also helped start a group called the Smokers Club.
In 2012, he released his album Rugby Thompson. The album was produced by Harry Fraud. It featured many artists, including Action Bronson, Currensy, and Schoolboy Q.
On April 1, 2014, Smoke DZA released his third studio album, Dream.Zone.Achieve. This album had 21 songs. It was split into three parts: Dream, Zone, and Achieve. Each part had 7 songs. Famous artists like Cam'ron, Joey Bada$$, and Wiz Khalifa were featured on the album.
Smoke DZA is also a big fan of professional wrestling. On April 6, 2014, he released a mixtape called Ringside 2. This was the second part of his wrestling-themed series. It featured music by 183rd and appearances from wrestling personalities like Peter Rosenberg and Big E Langston.
On December 2, 2016, Smoke DZA teamed up with Pete Rock to release "Don't Smoke Rock." This album had 13 songs. It included guest artists such as Rick Ross, Dave East, and Mac Miller.
Recent Projects (2020)
Smoke DZA released his eighth album, Homegrown, on October 2, 2020. This was his fourth music project that year. Before Homegrown, he released A Closed Mouth Don't Get Fed, Ringside 8, and The Smokers Club Presents: Smoke DZA's Worldwide Smoke Session. Homegrown is a special tribute to his hometown, New York City.
Musical Style and Influences
Smoke DZA says that Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G. are his biggest influences. When he was younger, he would rewrite their songs. This helped him learn how to rhyme and create his own lyrics. He once said, "I used to re-write Biggie. It started with 'Mo Money, Mo Problems.' I would switch up the words, make it my own."
He also looks up to other Harlem rappers like Mase, Big L, and Dipset. Smoke DZA sees himself as a "lifestyle rapper." This means he doesn't want to be limited to just one type of rap music. He enjoys working with other artists like Dom Kennedy and Kendrick Lamar. He feels that collaborating helps him improve his own music.
Personal Life
Smoke DZA is a big fan of professional wrestling. In 2016, he supported Bernie Sanders during his presidential campaign.
