Smoke DZA
ABOUT
Smoke DZA comes from Harlem, New York, and is a prominent figure in East Coast hip-hop, celebrated for his laid-back delivery, vivid storytelling, and deep-rooted New York sensibility. The son of Guyanese immigrants, he was immersed in music from a young age, drawing inspiration from local icons like Jay-Z and The Notorious B.I.G. His stage name, influenced by Chris Tucker's character Smokey from the film Friday, stands for "Dream Zone Achieve" . Discovered by Jonny Shipes of Cinematic Music Group in 2002, DZA began his career ghostwriting for various artists before forming the duo Smoke & Numbers, eventually launching his solo career in 2008 . His discography includes acclaimed projects like Rolling Stoned (2011), which won the High Times Doobie Award for Hip-Hop Album of the Year, Rugby Thompson (2012) produced by Harry Fraud, and Don't Smoke Rock (2016), a collaboration with Pete Rock . Beyond music, DZA co-founded The Smokers Club, a lifestyle brand and music collective, and is known for his passion for professional wrestling and political activism, notably endorsing Bernie Sanders in 2016.
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