COVER STORY: DEADAZZ – FROM PRISON BARS TO RAP STARDOM
In the heart of Gainesville, Florida—where raw talent often goes unseen—one man refused to let life define his limits. From football dreams shattered by a truck accident to finding his voice behind bars, DEADAZZ is living proof that no cage, no street, and no setback can stop a man destined for greatness.
With his release from prison just around the corner in March, DEADAZZ is ready to reintroduce himself to the world—Deadazz serious about music, family, and the grind.
Finding Purpose in Pain
“I was in church,” DEADAZZ recalls. “I saw a piano, sat down behind it, and told myself—I’m gonna learn how to play this thing.” That single moment sparked a transformation. From praise team rehearsals to discovering his voice, it was faith and music that kept him grounded when life tried to pull him under.
The “Do The Swim” Era and Local Legend Status
Ask anyone in Jacksonville who remembers 2005/2006, and they'll tell you about “Do The Swim”—a dance anthem that put DEADAZZ and his crew on the city’s radar. “We just knew we had a hit,” he says. Performing at Endo Exo, approaching BET Battle DJ King Ron and manager D Lite, and getting co-signs from 93.3 The Beat DJs and DJ Q45—everything came together fast. They even scored a win at the Underground Grammys hosted by Midget Mac of I Love New York fame. “When we added Tampa Tony on the remix—it was a wrap!”
Recording Behind the Wall: Real Hustle
While most artists have studios, DEADAZZ had cement walls and a cell. But that didn’t stop him. “Every gang head on the pound in my cell at one point helped me,” he reveals. With support from inmates like Willie J. Burke and Michael Simmons, DEADAZZ learned how to record while incarcerated. “I stayed up for days learning. Then I linked with my homie Tee Whitey and Six O Clock Studios—and we pushed that sh*t.”
The “Hood Star” Anthem
His latest single, Hood Star featuring Tee Whitey, is a raw dedication to the ones who didn’t make it. “I lost my cousin Terrell—it got real. This song is for all the hood stars across the world that died too soon or didn’t make it in sports. We know these people without even saying names.”
Brushes with Greatness
DEADAZZ may not have a song with T-Pain, but he did collaborate with T-Pain's artist Young Cash, along with Tampa Tony and PIT. But it was a DMX and Ruff Ryders concert that shaped his musical identity the most. “That really made my sound how it is today.”
And then there was Super Bowl XXXIX. “My dad made that happen for me. Just being around someone like Cedric the Entertainer—even if it was for one second—it was priceless.”
From the Block to Big Moves
Whether it was his early crew “Dollar Bill Soldiers,” becoming co-C.E.O. of Mo Fi Ya Productions, or leading “Dem Grown Folks,” DEADAZZ learned the hard way that not everyone has your back. “I had mouths to feed. I had to surround myself with people who wanted the bag and would grind for it.”
Family and Motivation
One night, DEADAZZ turned on the TV and saw his blood brother, actor Christopher Foreman, on The Unit. That moment lit a fire in him: “I said, I’m next!” His brother’s success turned DEADAZZ from a dreamer into a man on a mission.
Wisdom from the Streets
“I moved from Sugarhill to Outeast Duval, then to 103rd with my real dad,” he shares. His message to the next generation? “Learn to love one another. Live and enjoy your grind. Everything’s a choice—you just gotta make the right one.”
A New Chapter: March 2026
When asked what we can expect after his release, DEADAZZ simply says: “Watch me do it.” He’s not just walking out of prison—he’s stepping into purpose. “Free BO, J Baby, Deck, Cheese, Rod J, Ish, Hulk—and of course me!” he laughs.
What’s in a Name?
So where did DEADAZZ come from? “My friends gave me that name a long time ago. I didn’t pick it—the people picked it. I’m deadazz serious about the Lord first, and what I do. I don’t play, and I don’t entertain bullsh*t.”
As we await his release, one thing is clear—DEADAZZ isn’t coming home as the man he once was. He’s coming home as the artist the world has been waiting for.
Follow DEADAZZ: Just type DEADAZZ (all caps) on any streaming platform and you’ll find his music—raw, real, and ready for the world stage.
