:format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/baltimorebanner/ARUZZJ3OA5GXXPW32EP7Y4PT6A.jpg)
Baltimore rapper Deetranada will be making an appearance on 2022′s BET Hip Hop Awards,which airs Tuesday at 9 p.m. Deetranada, 21, joins a small list of artists from the city of Baltimore that have graced the cyphers, including King Los, Bandhunta Izzy and A$AP Ant. Other artists from the DMV area, like IDK and Rico Nasty, have been featured in previous years.
Deetranada rose to prominence while appearing on Jermaine Dupri’s competitive television series “The Rap Game,” where she was the runner-up in season 3 (although many argue that she should’ve won). Since then, the talented lyricist has toured all over the country, appearing on stages like SXSW, and her music has been featured in EA’s Madden NFL video game.
“I always wanted to be in the cypher,” Dee told The Baltimore Banner. “Growing up, every year I’d sit right in front of the TV and watch, telling myself I was rey be on there one day. It’s like a dream come true, I still haven’t even processed it yet. It feels so unreal I’m finally here.”
BET has had a major impact on the young wordsmith.
“I used to run home to watch 106 & Park,” she remembered. “I used to practice my awards speeches. It kept me up to date with the latest fashion. BET hit different for me because I grew up right around the time Twitter had just started and that was one of the only ways I knew the newest shit.”
While many artists would focus on trying to outshine the others in the cypher, Dee had her own motives while rapping her lyrics.
“I always aim for self improvement because I know i’m draggin’ on everybody by default,” she said. “The main goal I had was to get the point across that I’m here in all my glory.”
Being in the BET cypher is a major milestone, but being the first woman from the city of Baltimore to make an appearance is also huge.
“First off, that’s some crazy shit and I’m forever honored and humbled to be the first,” she said of the honor. “I hope that this not only inspires women coming up in the city to stay consistent but everyone. This lets them know that we finally in the door. It’s been open for a minute, but the way I’m coming, I’m kicking through the door and I’m holding it open ... Nobody seen nothing like me before and I’m not going nowhere. It’s been written.”
Make sure to tune in Tuesday at 9 p.m. on BET to see Deetranada in the cypher.
taji.burris@thebaltimorebanner.com
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/baltimorebanner/992d383e-d543-45c4-9c8a-c85d0df8210c.png)
Taji Burris has covered the Baltimore music scene since 2015 for outlets such as The Working Title and The 4th Quarter, and now at the Baltimore Banner.
:format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/baltimorebanner/UTOU6RCPLZEOREZ3XZNRG2ZDKY.jpg)
:format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/baltimorebanner/YO2XC34J6JHOZKTPKVPUWFEYVE.jpg)
:format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/baltimorebanner/5VYMTB6UOFHKXG72LMP42HMWOU.jpg)
:format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/baltimorebanner/7V65VJ4Z2FCCNPYEXDDIMABSPE.JPG)