Artist: D Smoke

Album: Black Habits

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Background:

Daniel Farris AKA D Smoke is a former high school Spanish teacher, now full time independent artist from Inglewood, California. D Smoke is the older brother of SiR who is signed to TDE and the younger brother of Davion Farris. To family and friends they’re referred to as ‘the Farris boys’. The whole family has a large musical background, at a young age the Farris boys were singing in their church choir while their mom was the minister of music and although they didn’t explicitly go to college for it, all the brothers made money writing music throughout high school and college. D Smoke also has some acting credits as a background actor in CSI. Their father would be incarcerated from around the time of his birth till he was 8 years old.

D Smoke went to college at UCLA and majored in Spanish literature. While at UCLA he would still continue to develop himself musically by using the old music rooms after class, playing the piano and writing. D Smoke and his brothers would start to get noticed while in studio sessions, Smoke and Davion were the writer and composers for the hit Jaheim – Never that came out in 2007 and would hit 76 on the Hot 100 and 1 on the RnB 100.

While in college the brothers along with their cousin Tiffany Gouché would start an Independent label named Woodwork Records out of Inglewood. They have a building with a recording studio inside, that they also sell merch and perform concerts out of. All the brothers are ‘signed’ to Woodwork Records with SiR also having the joint deal with Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA. You can find a now ‘archived’ Instagram account of their label, where they have pics of a young D Smoke and SiR. Along with that pictures of their mom with Michael Jackson and SiR with Stevie Wonder. Woodworks was a staple inside of Inglewood where artists would come through to make noise and connections in the city – In the 2010/2011 era the brothers were openers for a TDE (Black Hippy) concert at ‘Whisky a Go Go’ in Hollywood – DJ Battlecat would often come through to check out artists in the area and said that many A&R’s for record labels would come through to check local talent. Terrance Martin shot music videos inside of the studio. It was no doubt a place that artists would want to be. I already touched on the brothers having writing credits for certain artists. Along with Jaheim, they also wrote songs for Ginuwine and The Pussycat Dolls. The three brothers would create an album ‘Producer of the Year’ in 2006 – which I’ve been unable to find on the internet.

After graduating Smoke would then go on to be a teacher for close to a decade, teaching Spanish across different schools in Inglewood and Crenshaw, actually teaching at View Park High School which is right across the road from Nipsey Hussle’s Marathon Clothing store. As the way D Smoke describes himself – ‘Mr. Farris’ seemed like a pretty good teacher. He would play music in class to inspire kids to use Spanish as an outlet to express themselves and said that when kids needed to fight he would let them run a fade to get it out of their system and then make them get back to work.

D Smoke finally caught a ‘break’ in his music career when he was chosen to participate and WON the first season of Netflix’s Rhythm and Flow. The competition would match rappers against each other to see who was the best overall. The show was executive produced by John Legend and had Cardi B, T.I and Chance the Rapper as judges. Smoke put in an application to compete in the show and was selected, but was apprehensive at first. The winner of the show got $250k, but Smoke was worried that there may be hidden things in the contract like the winner being stuck in a record deal or some other nonsense. In terms of the actual competition, honestly it was unfair. You had a music veteran that had been making music for decades, up against a lot of new guys just trying to make any noise they could. Very few people were able to keep up with Smoke and he blew not only the competition away, but his music sounded better than some of the judges’ recent output.

Highlights of D Smoke participating in Rhythm and Flow

D Smoke – Last Supper performance – The thing that caused him to draw Kendrick comparisons so quickly.

Before the filming of the show D Smoke was consulting with his team about the best way to drop Black Habits, but since the show opportunity came they put that off to the side. After winning the show he released an EP titled ‘Inglewood High’ to give fans music, but allow for more developments and updates to Black Habits now that he had more connections. Inglewood High EP draws a lot of influence from To Pimp a Butterfly as Smoke is rapping over Jazz inspired beats touching on some heavy subject matter. ‘Honey Jack’ is a must listen from the project.

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Album Background:

The albums cover art pictures a young D Smoke with his brothers (left to right Davion Farris, D Smoke and SiR) and parents dressed in their “Sunday casual”. At first glance it looks like a nice family picture, with happiness and love, but looking closer it shows them with their father outside the prison he was currently being incarcerated in. This picture was taken during a monthly visitation.

As mentioned in his background D Smoke has a lot of background with the Latino community (being from Inglewood) and speaking Spanish. About 15-20% of this album is in Spanish – Although I am not fluent in Spanish, from what I’ve heard from others the album really hits the mark when he is rapping in Spanish. Smoke isn’t just saying random stuff, he has a message and is fluently rhyming in Spanish.

D Smoke gets a lot of Kendrick Lamar comparisons. When rapping (and Kendrick isn’t experimenting with his voice) they sound similar, they’re both conscious rappers who touch on a lot of similar subject matter. After listening to this album on repeat, it kind of reminds me of Good Kid m.A.A.d City: Inglewood Edition – As the overall premise of the album is about D Smoke navigating his way through Inglewood, going from kid to teacher. Along with touching on demons that he and others in the city face.

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Track Breakdown

Morning Prayer:

The intro skit sets up the album by showing how much family, education, discipline and God means to the family. The three brothers repeat what their mother says, and then you hear a prayer from one of them – D Smoke never specifies what brother it is, but you know that this is how they all felt, they were all asking God for their father to come home.

Bullies:

Bullies is telling a story of the three brothers before their father came back from prison. The brothers were told not to fight anyone, but to also not allow anyone to put a hand on you or any of your brothers. D Smoke in an interview with Talib Kweli, fighting with each other was a normal occurrence, it’s something they did for fun. The brothers would go to Karate classes to learn a way of self defense. Many of the boys from school would fight each other not out of malice, but for sport. They wanted to see who the strongest on the block was. So if it came down to it and people were being bullies, they knew who could put a stop to it real quick.

The outro of the song has a beat and flow switch, a much more mellow and calm cadence. It is a modern day D Smoke saying that every time he needs to let loose and feel like he needs to beat someone’s ass, he will let the energy out in his music, opposed to trying to fight actual people – Showing his growth as a man.

No Commas:

No Commas tackles wealth inequality, gentrification and how D Smoke goal is to own the block – In interviews he references Nipsey approach a lot and how he respected Nipsey approach to financial independency and ownership. This comes out in verse 1 as he preaches ownership and being your own boss.

Verse 2 is where D Smoke starts talking about gentrification and ownership in Inglewood.

They buyin’ everything in my city lines

Property value rising, they gon’ gentrify

This ain’t rocket science, here, let me simplify

We think we owners, but we only renters, why?

The system ain’t broke, it’s designed to keep us declinin’

Until we reach the bottom line and can’t see the sky

Smoke starts off by talking about the gentrification of Inglewood. Despite Inglewood being a diverse place between Latino and Black people a lot of the ownership seen in recent years is from the Silicon Valley area buying apartments and raising rent. – Here is a good article on the gentrification Inglewood has seen in recent years and how there are potential opportunities for Inglewood natives to get good jobs in the area.

D Smoke poses the questions as to why Inglewood natives can’t be the owners, but contradicts himself in the next line. Saying the system ain’t broke, but designed to keep minorities declining. When it comes to economics it is class warfare on top of race issues; a majority of people are in poverty and this is causing deeper divides – America’s capitalism has been a huge failure.

Gasper Yanga:

The track Gaspar Yanga is about being a leader. Gaspar Yanga was an African known for being the leader of a maroon colony of slaves in the highlands near Veracruz, Mexico during the early period of Spanish colonial rule. He is known for successfully resisting a Spanish attack on the colony in 1609.

The song starts with Snoop Dogg telling D Smoke to represent Inglewood. Then comes in a drowned out vocals of Latino women harmonizing in Spanish. Sadly I can’t speak Spanish so I can’t understand what they’re saying, but that doesn’t matter because D Smoke’s first verse starts and he comes in bragging about the reputation he has built in his city.

Where your roots run?

Smoke, he talkin’ that shit, nigga, where you from? (Inglewood)

We can do somethin’

Bro keep talkin’ that shit, you just might move somethin’

Apply that pressure (Pressure)

This is common LA verbiage that every man in LA will be asked at some point. Everyone wants to know what block they’re representing. D Smoke never gives a set name and proudly says he’s from Inglewood. This hook is also a throw back to Smoke’s first appearance on the show. Snoop Dogg was a guest judge that episode and after his brilliant performance, Snoop Dogg then pressed him for where he’s from.

• Snoop: “D Smoke, where you from, homie?”
• D Smoke: “I’m from Inglewood.”
• Snoop: “Nah, where you from, homie?”
• D Smoke: “I’m from Inglewood.”

Instead of claiming a set, D Smoke answered by claiming Inglewood. Snoop knew the type of man Smoke was by not crumbling to pressure and maintaining his character. In context of the song Snoop is using pressure to mean knowledge, he wants Smoke to spread his knowledge to the kids of Inglewood.

The Second Verse is where he starts rapping about his reputation and influence in Inglewood.

Am I wrong for puttin’ us on? You would if you could

In my zone, they leave me alone, I’m good in the ‘Wood

These first two bars speak to the amount of respect that D Smoke has in Inglewood. Smoke doesn’t have to claim a gang as he has earned his reputation and respect by teaching the youth of the city, along with being able to help put artists on through Woodwork Records, providing a place to record and a place for entertainment..

I did my homework and my rudiments

I made my dome work and stayed true to all my hooligans

Now I travel where I want regardless of the destination

And if you don’t know your way, you just might need an invitation

The verse ends with Smoke saying that his influence goes beyond Inglewood and he can travel to any city and have respect. He speaks on this in interviews, as he has taught across different areas in LA. No matter where he teaches he understands how to garner respect from students and can help put them in situations to be successful. His influence isn’t only in his music, but also in his teachings.

Top of the Morning:

In his Big Boy interview D Smoke said that this song was created to make everyone take in the moment – All the success doesn’t matter if you don’t have a good support system and don’t take the time out of your success to focus on your love and relationships with friends and family. Despite all the bad things that have happened throughout Smokes childhood he wants people to know their was love in their household. People looking in from the outside may see a lot of sadness, heartbreak and struggle, but there was always love.

The song could also be a double entendre and Smoke could also be speaking to people outside of Inglewood, that look at Inglewood and look at all the bad things – Not realizing outside of the bad things there is an immense amount of love in the city.

Sunkissed Child:

The song features vocals from Jill Scott and some slightly jazzy production from DJ Battlecat. Smoke really pulled out the heavy hitters for this track about his parents. This song explores the relationship between Smokes mom and dad before the kids, during the addiction, and the start of their fathers incarceration’s. Smoke depicts his dad as pretty manipulative, something that would be touched on in other songs.

Still wrestlin’ with addiction, knew hubby ain’t said enough

He just handed her the pipe, looked at her and said, “A puff

Will take you places you can’t imagine or fathom”, a drug

Is such a terrible word

In his interview with Rob Markman for Genius, D Smoke said that the second verse very much a straight forward telling of his parents dealing with addiction

“So a lot of the second verse is just straight down the pipe, literal. You know what I’m saying? It’s literally how things happened. And me and your story is a little bit different in that you watched your parents transition from addicts out of that to sober people. But for me it was the moment right when my memories start, was when the addiction ended.”

Black Habits I:

Honestly, just go listen to D Smoke himself breakdown the song in a Genius video – D Smoke “Black Habits I” Official Lyrics & Meaning | Verified

The first thing you should notice about this song is the ‘ft. Jackie Gouche’ Who??? He put his mom on the vocals and boy does she deliver. Smoke says the original plan was the two of them to harmonize on the chorus together, but after hearing how well her voice sounded he cut his voice out and went with just her on the final cut, with him throwing in Adlibs.

The song itself is described in the chorus – A celebration of Black excellence.

Black magic, black excellence

Black habits, this black medicine, everything

Black Chucks, black tux, everything, everything

Black hug, black love, everything

I think that this song is where Smoke shows some of his best lyricism.

Every time they hear this, they gon’ say he made an anthem, life ain’t a panda

Shit ain’t black and white, it’s a canvas

Spike Lee your dreams and Bruce Lee your tantrums

Two-three that bullshit and go Michael Jordan, go Samson

Knock down the walls around me, strong and dark and so handsome

The song itself sums up the whole album. Black excellence, Black Family, Black love and (Black?) God.

Fly:

Fly was the first single for the album and was a good stepping stone into the actual album, as the whole premise of the song is ‘have we made it?’ I enjoy the concept of the song because the brothers really approached the industry as a team and although each of them are starting to make noise at slightly different times they don’t feel like they’re made it till all of them are successful.

D. Smoke really gets to show off his vocals on this track, singing on the Chorus showing that he isn’t the only brother that can sing an RnB hook. His voice sounds more polished and lacks the uniqueness of SiR’s voice, but Smoke is still able to make the catchiest hook of the album. Questioning if the brothers have finally made it in the industry.

Are we on, on, on, on, on, on, on, on, on, on?

I am going to speak on Davion Farris’s part as he is the one brother who doesn’t have any name recognition despite being as talented.

I remember when I didn’t have it all, huh (Have it all)

Puttin’ clothes on layaway at shopping malls, huh

Now I eat off publishing and tour dates, huh (Tour dates)

‘Cause I started grinding ’til the goods came, huh (‘Til the goods came)

…

Only need one woman when you got you a queen

And she got her own, don’t need no shoppin’ sprees (Need no shoppin’ sprees)

When we converse, we talk ’bout buyin’ properties, yeah (Yeah)

Go getters, yeah, we all winners, whole crew, huh

Gold diggers, what we said, know we gon’ do, huh

We be makin’ waves until we seasick, huh (‘Til we seasick)

Lookin’ ’round like, “Bro, can you believe it?” We really flyin

The lyrics are pretty straight forward, there isn’t much interpretation as Davion is singing his heart out about the rough beginning of his career and the struggles of trying to be noticed in the industry to now being able to enjoy the success that the brothers have had and get to build on top of while also reminiscing about their past and what it took to get to that point.

Lights On & Real Body:

Putting them together since they compliment each other very well.

Lights On is about how men will use strip clubs to battle their depression, loneliness and other demons. The opening verse has a man coming to the strip club after a long shift at work to blow off steam – Describing the women in front of him, almost to the point that he is objectifying her, but encouraging her to make the money she needs. SiR once again comes in and compliments Smokes voice very well, the two harmonize on the hook together.

I really recommend the music video for this as it features the amazing Issa Rae

Coming off of Lights On, Real Body has him taking a woman home from the strip club and the first verse has him describing her body and everything he wants to do with her.

Ari Lennox steals the show on this song – Coming in describing the woman’s body as a full course meal and to get rid of any fear, anxiety, sadness as making love with them will leave them fulfilled.

Thighs mimic strawberries

Ripe for the right picking

Rolls for your Thanksgiving

Full C, nappy, Hi-C drinking

Hit your stroke, boy, and go’n to me

Feel good to have no fear

Love it when you are near

Really, baby, fuck on me

Real Body ends with the two of them harmonizing about sex.

Like My Daddy:

Is a song dedicated to their dad, taking out any bad parts of their relationship to focus on the good things. Despite being absent for the first 8 years of Smoke’s life he’s still able to gain a lot of life experience from what his father went through – He thanks his father for everything he taught him, dressing up, dating women, and just overall being a man.

The outro switches to Smoke singing from his fathers perspective and how he is proud to be their father – It then transitions into their father apologizing for being absent from their life and being locked up, thanking his wife for staying loyal and waiting for him to get out of prison, apologizing for everything he has put her through and thanking her for allowing him to stay home while she perused her career in music. The last thing he say’s is what speaks to what kind of person their father is.

But that was the thing, I— I needed to fulfill that promise

That I wouldn’t abandon my sons like I got abandoned

Closer to God:

This song was produced by D Smoke and that is evident as he loves playing the piano in his instrumentals. SiR’s vocals are what makes this track come alive for me. The Chorus has SiR questioning the reason for getting high.

I don’t know why I get high

Maybe I’m tryna get closer to God

Got broken wings but I’m still fly

Baby, I’m tryna get closer, closer to God

Why is it so common and is it used as a form of self medication to get rid of any anxiety about life around them? The first verse D Smoke reflecting on his time in church going from child to an adult. The song cuts to Smoke going to church and being told that if you are a believer in god that you will give up smoking weed, as someone who believes in God wouldn’t need to smoke.

The second verse is about addiction and the demons that people face. It starts with Smoke taking inspiration on Kanye’s song ‘Addiction’ on Late Registration

What’s your addiction? (Yeah) Is it money?

Is it girls? Is it trees? I can’t admit it (Yeah)

I need God to keep workin’ on me

Later on in the verse Smoke would continue the theme

Some drank (Some drank), some smoke (Some smoke)

Some judge other people, some don’t (Some don’t)

…

You don’t need pills to elevate

Just remember to stay strong and pray for better days

I’m high

This verse ends has Smoke speaking as a preacher, talking someone through their addiction. Going into the last verse Smoke raps about how he feels while battling his demons, that there is always a storm following him and he doesn’t know how to beat it. The song ending with Smoke preaching that God is what is used to lift his spirits out of a dark place. Smoke believes that people should use God to battle through their demons he has described throughout the album. Drugs, sex, gang affiliation can be battled through and you will be able to find peace by getting closer to your God.

Black Habits II:

In comparison to the first Black Habits on this album, this song is about knowing your worth as a black man.

Verse 3 is probably the most culturally relavent verse of the album, reminding people of what black men with a voice may lose if they decide to protest. There will always be a white man trying to tell them how to act and put them in ‘their place’.

Uh, run this ball a hundred yards

When I say ain’t no fun involved

I ain’t bring you to this team to be Dr. King

Take a knee and on me, you won’t run at all

At the press conference, you better high step and smile

I expect you to be grateful

And the next time you don’t wanna answer a question

You better figure out somethin’ to say, fool

‘Cause who you think paid for that suit you wearin’?

Or that new McLaren?

Or the car that your grandma drive?

Ain’t you used to sharin’?

You could go back to not havin’ a dime

Pullin’ up at the club and get in back of the line

Couldn’t tell you enough how easy to be replaced

You should face the facts, another you in no time, it’s showtime

The end of the song (and album) is a reminder that pop culture follows black culture.

Their great is the black average

Imitatin’ all our black talents

We got black habits

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Conclusion:

This is a good introduction and debut by D Smoke. It showed that he is capable of turning this from hobby to full career and that the talent he showed on that show wasn’t a fluke. Throughout the album he has impressive story telling about his time growing up in Inglewood, his parents, his come up into being a teacher and his thought process as an adult. There is good lyricism sprinkled in there in both English and Spanish. Each song has it’s own flow, which make each song unique. The RnB cuts are really well done and do nothing but elevate the album (thank you SiR and Ari).

Some of the production choices are all over the place and the album tends to jump from topic to topic without any type of structure which makes it hard to follow along on a first listen. I think a few songs could’ve been cut to make it flow better as he’s not really saying much in the songs.

Can’t wait to see what D Smoke does next – Hopefully a joint album with SiR

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Favorite Interviews:

• BigBoy’s Neighborhood: D Smoke on Winning ‘Rhythm + Flow’, Working w/ T.I. & Chance The Rapper & His Plans
• BigBoy’s Neighborhood: D Smoke on ‘Black Habits’, Performs ‘Top of The morning’, Fulfillment + A Lot More!
• People’s Party w/ Talib Kweli
• For the Record (Genius): D Smoke Talks Kendrick Lamar Comparisons & Dangers Of Addiction

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Favorite Lyrics:

Gasper Yanga:

Am I wrong for puttin’ us on? You would if you could

In my zone, they leave me alone, I’m good in the ‘Wood

Grey poupon, it’s in the cologne, my foot on your jug’

Gasper Yanga:

Stupid, man, it’s ludicrous (Ludicrous)

Give my girl a kiss and start playin’ all in her uterus,

People did it like me before, the world is new to this

Red City, nigga, plenty homies in the blue division

I did my homework and my rudiments

I made my dome work and stayed true to all my hooligans

Black Habits I:

Every time they hear this, they gon’ say he made an anthem, life ain’t a panda

Shit ain’t black and white, it’s a canvas

Spike Lee your dreams and Bruce Lee your tantrums

Two-three that bullshit and go Michael Jordan, go Samson

Knock down the walls around me, strong and dark and so handsome

Lights On:

I came here and needed some motivation

Your family probably got ass for generations

You got it from your mama, so mama can get it

Like My Daddy:

Thought I could get away wit’— You caught me masturbatin’

Didn’t get mad, you just laughed and helped me master datin’

All the game you gave ’em helped, that boy go slay ’em, though

That reputation as a player, ho, start layin’ low

Kamehameha, you was Goku, Super Saiyan, pro

And I’m just trainin’ to be just like you one day and more

Closer to God:

Uh, I go to church to listen (Yeah)

The music had me lifted, the sermon left me conflicted (Yeah)

The one who holds the throne said, “Cast the first stone

Only if you never sinned”, and you callin’ yourself a Christian?

Well, As-Salaam-Alaikum to my haters (Haters)

Peace be unto you, hypocritical instigators

Discussion Questions:

• Do you think this album deserves to be Grammy nominated?
• Do you think it competes with the other four albums in Rap AOTY category?
• Do you think D Smoke is a Kendrick ‘rip-off’? If yes, what makes him comparable to Kendrick? Does he do anything better than Kendrick?
• Do you like how much his family was involved in the project? Do you enjoy SiR, Davion Farris and Jackie Gouche contributions on the project?
• Do you think it’s to D Smoke’s advantage to stay independent. This album didn’t do commercially well despite being critically acclaimed* and him winning a Netflix show