The District Chronicles

Issue date: 9/2/08 Section: Arts and Entertainment

Media Credit: NovelTeens' Ink

The average adult wakes up in the morning dreading their 9 to 5. But rapper, D Mite, known for his hit song "Read a Book," sleeps late with the great feeling that the next day will be dictated strictly by his watch, and not by punching a clock. The D.C.- born lyricist has a clear vision of what he wants, and the hustle mentality that he has adapted while living here in D.C. has helped him to achieve it.

The title "rapper" is commonly used to refer to anybody who recites a few rhymes, but D Mite, or Bomani Armah, dislikes this term.

"The game, as a whole, has a stigma right now." Instead, he considers himself a poet with a hip-hop style. "My art form connects a lot further past the 70s when hip-hop was created. I've been a poet forever. I've been writing since I was 11 or 12, and I've been serious about it since I was 19 or 20."

D Mite's beginning is not characteristic of a hip-hop artist, though he jokes otherwise. "I had the typical hip-hop hardcore childhood: two parents," he said with a laugh, "a home, and went to church every Sunday. I had a very stable home."

"My childhood was real cool. My parents opened the door for me in any artistic freeway I was interested in," he explained.

He grew up in D.C. until the age of 9, after which he moved to Maryland with his family, where he lived until he was about 21. Afterwards, he moved back to D.C., and remains here today.

Instead of rapping about the usual topics, such as money, sex, drugs and killing, D Mite raps about the complete opposite.

"I think what I do is the new hardcore. When I rap about the responsibility of being a grown man, I'm entering an uncharted territory because nobody is doing it. I feel like I'm more hardcore than 50 Cent right now because he's typical. I'm different and outside the box."

When D Mite made the hit song, "Read a Book," he showed just how far outside of the box he stands. By pouring a deluge of expletives over simplistic lyrics and a Crunk-heavy beat, he created one of last year's most controversial songs. "Read" not only garnered praise from casual and hardcore hip-hop heads across the nation, it also drew criticism from some influential members of the Black community, including a short feud with the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

"There were some people who criticized the song that got what I was doing. Then there was Jesse Jackson who completely didn't get what the hell I was doing. He doesn't understand what is going on in youth popular culture. But Jesse Jackson coming out against me was good because there is nothing better than having an old person telling young people that they shouldn't listen to your songs. Even my father was like 'good stuff son.'"

Continued...

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