Interview: Dee Rail

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By Anthony Obi

“Cats love to steal my shit, I call ’em turd burglars.”

Born April 2nd, 1985 was Dee Rail, a Houston based Hip Hop artist with a heart of (black) gold (more along the lines of the Texas tea variety than Care Bear-esque). He is a man passionate about good times, good wine, good music, and good pine. On his records he sings of introspective insights, pain & pleasure, night time escapades, and smashing the shit out of any rapper he deems to be lacking in the talent department. A member of Devin the Dude’s Coughee Brothaz crew, Dee Rail assembles all-American stoner wit, boyish charm and lung wrenching inner city blues into a Martini-like shaken not stirred collage of rap-croons.

When did your interest in music begin?

Ever since a nigga first heard some music I gravitated toward it. Been making songs ever since I figured out what I was doing. When I was 11, I made my first personal mix tape called “Yo Mama.” It was a mix of my favorite songs from the nightly top 5 at 9:00pm on 97.9 The Boxx and 104.1, plus snippets from various sounds I liked. Had some Rocky Horror Picture Show and Twilight Zone samples thrown in there too with me announcing over everything on the tape.

What motivates your creations?

Big blunts, bad bitches brew (the Miles Davis album and secreting vaginas), as well as beautiful bangin’ beats. Man, really… the idea that one day all this work will be worth my efforts motivates me more than anything. Knowing that possibly Hip Hop fans years down the line will continue to jam the Dee Rail is all I need.

What artists would you cite as your main influences?

My biggest influences are Sublime, Al Green, Nas, Devin the Dude, Outkast, BlackStar (Mos Def & Talib Kweli), and Donell Jones.

Tell me about your fall/winter 2024 tour with Devin the Dude & The Coughee Brothaz. What experiences left the biggest mark on you? How did you first connect with Devin and his group?

The parts I can actually remember were unforgettable. Rockin’ Emo’s outside stage was a lifetime achievement. It has always been a dream for me to perform to a full house there and we definitely did the damn thing. Devin first introduced me to the Brothaz. I met him at a Big Daddy Kane concert in Feb. 2024 at Warehouse Live. I called him a week after I did my first NY show in April, and we linked up at the Coughee Pot [Devin the Dude’s recording studio]. We got together and went through a gang of each other’s songs and familiarized ourselves with one another’s music.

Outside of the Coughee Brothaz, do you have any affiliations and alliances?

I fucks with Tha Coughee Brothaz, Fat Tony and iLL Faded. Shout out to Tony, Coache Johnson, and Domino!

What are your ultimate goals for 2024?

I want to be recognized as the artist that I am. I plan to make a bigger dent in the local scene and perform on choice occasions including the My Bloody Bunny Camp valentine’s day party this February 14th. Right now I’m completing the W-Tour ‘09, which is something I would prefer to talk about in person with whomever is interested.

Find out more about Dee Rail @ http://www.myspace.com/deerailmusic