David Stones

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David Stones

Stones Performing in New York City On August 31, 2012 [1]
Background information
Birth name David Blake
Also known as Stones, S.T., Rollin Stones
Born July 31, 1988 (age 25)
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Genres Hip hop
Years active 2006 – present
Associated acts Buckshot, Smooth Da Hustler, Boot Camp Clik, Willie The Kid
Website davidstonesmusic.com

David Blake (born July 31, 1988),[2] better known by his stage name David Stones is an American hip hop recording artist from Brooklyn, New York. He is the co-founder of District of Hip Hop also known as the DOHH Squad and the younger cousin of Boot Camp Clik leader and Duck Down Music Inc. Co-CEO, Buckshot.[3][4]

David started receiving notoriety in 2010 while still known by the pseudonym Stones after remixing Diddy Dirty Money's hit song Hello Good Morning and releasing a music video to accompany it. Among the websites and blogs to showcase the video was Spike.com.[5] He then followed up with a music video to his song "Steppin Out" which was featured on the rapper 50 Cent's official video blog BooBooTV.[6][7] He was labeled a “HHL Co-Signed Artist” by HipHopLead.com[8] and featured in their “Unsigned Spotlight” section that same year.[9]

Life and career

1988-2011: Early life and musical beginnings

David Stones was born in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York. An area known as one of the roughest neighborhoods in not only the borough of Brooklyn but also the entire state of New York.[10] Rapping was a hobby he picked up from watching his cousin Kenyatta Blake, better known as Buckshot from the critically acclaimed 90's rap group Black Moon. When asked about his cousins influence over his career in an interview David replied, "I use him as a mentor, so when I run into some type of jam in the game I can always hit him up and ask, 'what do you think about this?'".[11]

While a freshman in high school David Stones formed a rap group with his childhood friend Dominick Bunch under the name Styxx ‘N Stones. The two participated in spontaneous rap battles and cyphers throughout their neighborhood in a attempt to build up their reputation as respectable emcees. Although they recorded a lot of music together they never officially released any projects as a group and decided to go their separate ways with Styxx enlisting in the US Navy while David chose to keep pursuing a career in music, but they remained friends. In 2012 Styxx died in a car accident.[12]

In 2006 David released his first mixtape entitled, “The New Stone Age” under the pseudonym Stones. The project didn't circulate too far outside of the Tri-State Area due to lack of promotion, however it did get him recognized locally. His local buzz led to him getting noticed by hometown hero Smooth Da Hustler who he later collaborated with on a revamped version to one of the mixtapes songs called, "Get Wit It".[13]

From 2007-2008 David released various songs and freestyles independently on his Myspace page.[14] The following year he caught the attention of Gallic Wars Mixtapes CEO who offered him a management deal in 2009.[15] He then went on to release his second mixtape, "The 2009 Collection" which featured a collection of songs, freestyles, and interviews recorded that year on New Year's Eve.[16]

David Stones took a hiatus from the music industry for the second-half of 2010 and the entire 2011 after switching management and decided to change his stage name from Stones to David Stones, stating the name change symbolized "progression" and marked "a new chapter" in his career.[17]

2012: The Steppin Stone: All Or Nuthin

On November 22, 2012,[18] David Stones released his third mixtape, The Steppin' Stone: All Or Nuthin' which features guest appearances from Buckshot, Mark Jonas, and Willie the Kid.[19]

The mixtape featured standout tracks such as, "Why I Love It"[20] which caught the attention of No Malice from the critically acclaimed rap group Clipse who then tweeted David his appreciation for the song.[21] Hip Hop blogger Tony Grands described the song as a "piano-heavy anthem"[22] while Christopher Bryan of RapRise declared David's "trying to bring the East Coast back in a real way".[23] It also featured "Triumph 2012",[24] in which David remixes the classic Wu-Tang Clan song and features Willie The Kid who is the younger brother of Wu-Tang affiliate La the Darkman. While reviewing the track Hip Hop blogger Erin Ashley noted David's bravery stating it took "real guts" to remake a classic song such as Wu-Tang’s “Triumph”, a song she stated "dominates people’s lives to this day." Ashley then went on to shower David with praises for the bold move saying he "held his own" while describing it as "that 90s New York [she's] been longing for."[25] The mixtape also featured the title track "All Or Nuthin"[26] where David talks about his struggles and reminisces on his fallen partner-in-rhyme, Styxx.[27] Who Need's A Genre? applauded David for the "raw emotion" and "knowledge" displayed on the song.[28]

In a review of the mixtape Joshua Hendricks applauded David Stones for putting together a project that's not just "a blabbering bunch of random words", stating his "flow is consistent", and he raps about real issues. When speaking on the mixtapes production he called it "really good", noting there are "some ride in the whip worthy tracks" while labeling “The truth”,[29] “Live @ The Ramada”,[30] and “Systm Bumpn"[31] as the projects standout tracks.[32]

Artistry

Musical Style

David Stones' voice has been described as "gravelly" [33] while his "flow" has been labeled “ambitious”, “gritty” & “super smooth”.[34] He often refers to himself as a Philosopher and is known to touch on the topic of Ethics in his music.[35]

Influences

Stones has shown admiration for American recording-artists Nas (left) and Jay Z (right)

In an interview with former NFL player, Anthony Henry's online music magazine David Stones cited his hometown as a key musical influence and stated it's "fast-paced" lifestyle is responsible for the "experiences and the insight" that shows in his music. He then went on to state, "I always try to present a picture of what’s going on in my mind in a genuine way that people can relate to" when asked to describe the best aspects of his style. While speaking on 90's hip hop aka "The Golden Age" which he described as "super original" he specifically referenced Wu Tang, Jay Z, Nas, AZ, BCC, The Dungeon Family, Snoop, and Dr. Dre as some of his "all time favorites".[36]

Discography

Mixtapes

  • The New Stone Age (2006)
  • The 2009 Collection (2009)
  • The Steppin' Stone: All Or Nuthin' (2012)

References

  1. ↑ "David Stones Live at the Recoup Lounge", Last.fm News, August 31, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  2. ↑ "David Stones Biography", MTV, Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  3. ↑ "TheBeeShine.com: What Inspires Buckshot". YouTube. February 14, 2013. Archived from the original on February 14, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013. 
  4. ↑ "Buckshot and David Stones at Southpaw in Brooklyn", Youtube, August 23, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Stones 'Hello Good Morning (ReMix)' Video directed by Mazi O", Spike, July 17, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  6. ↑ Insanul Ahmed, "Did 50 Cent Shut Down WorldStarHipHop?", Complex, January 24, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Stones – Steppin Out (Music Video)", BooBooTV, October 30, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Stones – Hello Good Morning (Remix)", Hip Hop Lead, July 27, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Spotlight: Stones – Na Na Na", Hip Hop Lead, February 21, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  10. ↑ Feifei Sun, "Brownsville: Inside One of Brooklyn’s Most Dangerous Neighborhoods", Time Light Box. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  11. ↑ John Charles Reedburg, "David Stones Datzhott Interview video", NME, March 15, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  12. ↑ Erik Badia , Joseph Stepansky and Jonathan Lemire, "24-year-old killed when joy-ride turns into multiple-car smashup on busy street in Queens", NY Daily News, June 16, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  13. ↑ "New Track Alert: Stones ft Smoothe Da Hustler 'Get Wit It'", iHipHop, Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  14. ↑ "David Stones | Official Myspace", Myspace. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  15. ↑ Global Grind Staff, "Stones (Cousin of Buckshot, CO-CEO of Duckdown Records) Signs Management Deal with Gallic Wars", GlobalGrind, January 11, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  16. ↑ John Charles Reedburg, "STONES! "THE 2009 COLLECTION!"". DatzHott. January 1, 2009. Archived from the original on February 23, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2013. 
  17. ↑ "David Stones Po Politickin Interview". YouTube. July 18, 2012. Archived from the original on July 18, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2012. 
  18. ↑ DOHHMixtapes, "David Stones The Steppin' Stone: All Or Nuthin'", Datpiff, November 22, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  19. ↑ "David Stones - The Steppin' Stone: All Or Nuthin' Album Lyrics", LetsSingIt, Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Why I Love It (Explicit)", MTV. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  21. ↑ "What The Critics Think About David Stones", LetsSingIt, September 26, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  22. ↑ Tony Grands, "Ear Hustlin’: New Music By David Dallas | David Stones | Pavy | Amir Driver | Dean Swift & Geniu$", The Tony Grands, July 11, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  23. ↑ Christopher Bryan, "NEW MUSIC: David Stones 'Why I Love It'", RapRISE, July 11, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Triumph 2012 (Explicit)", MTV. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  25. ↑ Erin, "Indie Submissions of the Week", Bad-Perm, December 27, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  26. ↑ "All or Nuthin (Explicit)", MTV. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  27. ↑ "David Stones – All Or Nuthin' Lyrics", RapGenius. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  28. ↑ "David Stones- All Or Nuthin (Prod. by Extraordinary Gentlemen)", WhoNeedsAGenre?, November 20, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  29. ↑ "The Truth (Explicit)", MTV. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Live @ the Ramada (Explicit)", MTV. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Systm Bumpn (Explicit)", MTV. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  32. ↑ Joshua Hendricks, "Local| Review of David Stones’ “The Steppin’ Stone: All Or Nuthin’” Mixtape", BrooklynBrand, March 9, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  33. ↑ AaronM, "Stones – Far From Sight.", Metal Lungies, February 17, 2010. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  34. ↑ Christopher Bryan, "NEW MUSIC: David Stones “OMG (On My Grind)”", Rap RISE, June 4, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  35. ↑ "Live @ the Ramada", Rap Genius. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  36. ↑ Eric Montgomery, "Brooklyns Own" , Coool Flame April 13, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2013.

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