H.D.
For Information Contact:
E-mail: hdpurelyrics@yahoo.com

    "Somethin Gotta Give" (Produced by Mayhem)

Few artists manage to escape the requisite labels too often plastered on MCs when they’re first heard. Yet, Queens, NY-based H.D. (Hold it Down) pulls it off quite well. A hybrid of Hip-hop sub-genres, D as his acolytes call him, is as comfortable rocking the party, battering beats with metaphor laced braggadocio, narrating descriptive and thought provoking tales or pushing the envelope with concepts the average rapper couldn't fathom.

Though he’s far from the typical emcee, his artistic diversity is a reflection of his upbringing. Born to Haitian parents, D spent his childhood splitting time between, Sept-Iles, Montreal and New York before permanently setting shop in Queens in 1998. A compulsive thinker, D is constantly adding to his catalog (over 40 songs) while prepping his first mixtape, “Now Or Never,” which features shout outs from urban entertainment’s elite, including Kanye West, Ice-T, Twista, RZA, Method Man, Heather Hunter, and Sean Paul. From mainstream heavyweight Swizz Beatz to subterranean king Big Noyd, some of the industry’s most recognizable figures and insiders have praised H.D.’s innovative music.

“I like that he’s himself. He knows who he is. He’s not trying to be all hard. He’s original, real creative, real lyrical,” said Swizz Beatz who met with D to hear his music at Manhattan’s 36 Chambers Studios last December. “There’s a slot for him. The market is wide open for a dude like him.”

At the turn of the millennium, H.D. released a series of radio singles and quickly garnered a buzz in Montreal’s underground. Among his offerings, “I Just Wanna Rhyme,” a remake of Jay-Z's "I Just Wanna Love You" received an overwhelmingly positive response. While many enjoyed the parody the rest slept on it. Ironically, several years later, 50 Cent invaded the underground by making songs over- a trend now borrowed by aspiring artists to sneak into mixtapes. Since then, H.D. has made several cameos on underground projects and hit stages- touring Canada as well as performing in Manhattan, Yonkers and Sarah Lawrence College’s Baccanelia Festival among others.

“Hip hop needs to be innovative so I’m always looking for new formulas to say something,” says H.D., who graduated with a degree in Journalism from Brooklyn College. “I’m trying to make it innovative and creative as well as catchy and danceable.”

Though the newest Haitian sensation is temporarily foreign to the mainstream, his fist steps towards stardom were taken when he was barely crawling. At age 7, D was busy back spinning on cardboard and stages along side The Wacko Kids, his older brother's B-Boy crew. It wasn't until 1990, then 11 that D picked up a mike to experiment with rock, rap fusion with classmates, Phillip Amman (guitarist) and Marc Landry (drummer). However, the group was short lived and D then rhymed on and off until the mid-90s. Fast forward to 2004, the baby faced lyricist is now a soloist, yet he’s steadily pushing his Funky Minds crew, which is comprised of cousins Mayhem and Hi-Lite. D has also been garnering attention from prominent production companies, independent and major labels. To date, he’s been on mixtapes from the likes of P Cutta, DJ Joey Fingaz, DJ Dennis Blaze, DJ Vlad and DJ Exclusive among others. Whether it’s the lyrical orgy and contagious aggressiveness of the adrenaline fueled “Brace U’rself,” the introspective nature of “Soundcheck” and “Pressure” or the carefree and humorous attitude exuded on “Open Bar,” D is sure to hit home with nitpicking backpackers and spoon fed Billboard fans alike.