DeJ Loaf

23-year-old Detroit native DeJ Loaf is experiencing a whirlwind right now, thanks to her song that so sweetly sings about catching bodies and leaving a b*tch n*gga’s head in pasta, “Try Me.” Released on her SoundCloud account in late July just for the hell of it, the pint-sized rapper/singer never dreamed that it would have her in New York City a mere 2 months later, discussing her reaction to Drake quoting it on Instagram or the likes of Wiz Khalifa and her favorite, E-40, hopping on for the remixes. But it has, and now DeJ is gearing up for the ride of her life. Backstage at Hot 97‘s ‘Who’s Next’ showcase on Thursday night, I caught up with lil’ DeJ to discuss her upbringing, her style, how “Try Me” came about, what we can expect next and more. Get the full 411 on one of my favorite new artists below!

Interview by Marisa Mendez

On how she got started:

I been doing this since I was a kid. I’m 23 now. I started writing when I was about 9, 10-years-old and I built from there. I just love writing. I got serious after high school, that was 2009. I wasn’t really serious, but 2012 is when I dropped my first mixtape. I went to college from 2009 through 2011. I didn’t graduate unfortunately. I went to Saginaw Valley, it’s like an hour and a half away from Detroit. I was living on campus and had the whole little experience, but I came back home and started doing my music. I wasn’t feeling it.

On her upbringing:

Single parent home, my mom and my grandma raised me and my 2 brothers. My dad got killed when I was 4. We were in the hood, man. We were in the projects. I definitely used music as an outlet. That’s all I do, I write about my life.

How “Try Me” came about:

Well actually, I had recorded it on my phone in Voice Memos. I was in the mall and people were staring at me and I was like, “What are y’all looking at it?” And this was around March or April of this year. I just came up with the little melody to it, like, “Let a n*gga try me, try me…” So then I sat on it and I wasn’t really thinking about it. Then [the song’s producer] DDS sent a beat. The beat was called “Good Life,” and I just came up with that. You know, the beat matched the song. So I had all that, and I was in my room going crazy. That was around like, April. I released it at the end of July.

Her style:

I just like to dress comfortable for the most part. I don’t like to walk around in uncomfortable ass clothes. I just buy what I like. When it’s time to put on a dress and heels, y’all will see me turn up.

What’s next:
Mixtape next month. I’ve got a title but I don’t want to reveal it. Everybody’s reaching out, and I say that humbly. I’m out here in New York, I would love to work with Remy Ma. I’ve been listening to her since she came in the game. IBGM, we the new Death Row. We about to go crazy, man.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW ON LIFEISTREMENDEZ.COM