The Awesome Crew - The Manifesto

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Meet The Awesome Crew
The Manifesto
No Apology Exclusive Bundle

Home
Music
Meet The Awesome Crew
The Manifesto
No Apology Exclusive Bundle

WE CAME BACK TO FINISH THE STORY

The Awesome Crew returns with No Apology and a manifesto built on legacy, purpose, and excellence.

Click here to pre-save "no apology"

The Awesome Crew: A Manifesto

We are not making a comeback.

We are finishing what we started.

Hip-hop taught us to dream before anyone believed.

We built our own stage.

We financed our own records.

We buried our brothers.

We refused to bury the vision.

We are more than music.

We are a cultural legacy.

We are driven by purpose.

We are The Awesome Crew.

Story of The Awesome Crew

In 1980, Smooth D and Daddy D were the best battle rappers on the streets of Clinton, South Carolina. After battling each other they decided to form a partnership and the group officially formed in 1984. We not only wanted to make good music, we also wanted to build a sustainable future for ourselves. As fiercely independent artists, we worked odd jobs, we collected and recycled aluminum cans and we organized our own parties. Our first record “Bad” hit the streets in 1987 under our own label Awesome Records. We are one of the first rap groups from South Carolina to make a record after the legendary all-female trip The Sequence.

In 1993, Smooth D was shot and killed. After his passing, we went our separate ways. Several years later, in 2019, Smooth D was among a group inducted into the Clinton High School basketball hall of fame society named after former head coach Bobby Brock. We realized that people had not forgotten about him. The time was ripe for our return. While working on new songs, Daddy D died unexpectedly as he was receiving treatment at a medical facility. We lost two of our founding members but not our vision.

We are here to preserve the legacy of the Awesome Crew and to advance the future of hip-hop culture. We have no regrets or excuses. We make “No Apology” for our return.

Who We Are

Daddy D (rapper, background vocalist, composer, producer)

Daddy D (Julian L.D. Shabazz) was the heart and soul of the group and our de-facto leader. He was a strong advocate for Southern Hip Hop and South Carolina hip-hop in particular. When we felt exhausted, he became energized. He always did the heavy lifting. We would not have been successful without him. He was the de-facto leader.

Smooth D (rapper and lead singer)

Smooth D (Derrick Robinson) brought a new dimension and an unparalleled energy to the group. As a natural soprano, he was the group’s co-organizer and lead singer. His melodic voice complimented his fierce skill as a street battle rapper. Nobody could command a stage like him. His confidence was contagious as much as it was intimidating. His loss to a bullet became our greatest wound. But his spirit still guided us and his voice still speaks through our music. He made us “Awesome.”

Classy D (rapper, background vocalist, composer, producer)

Classy D (David L. Shabazz) is one half of the production and composition duo know as the Twins of Spin. He plays drums, percussion, keyboards and guitar. Classy D is now the lead rapper of the group. He is the torch bearer focused on keeping the legacy of The Awesome Crew alive. Every generation needs someone willing to preserve the story. Without memory, there is no movement. Classy D is the driving force behind The Crew’s new movement into the modern era of hip-hop.

Busy B (human beat box, background vocalist)

Busy B (Bernard Foster aka Nasty Nard) was the human beatbox for the group when we were battle rappers earning credibility on the streets. After entering the studio and transitioning to recording artists, he became a vocalist and beat maker. He did not have formal training as a vocalist but was very versatile with his falsetto vocals and ability to create rhythms with his voice. He primarily provides vocals and occasionally raps. All we had to do was give him an idea and structure and he would do the rest.

Why hip-hop still matters

Hip-hop is the soul of the youth. Originally it was the heart and soul of primarily Black and Latino youth. It has grown into a global phenomenon with artists on every continent. Hip-hop has inspired fashion and language as well as music, movies and other forms of entertainment. Breakdancing is now an Olympic sport. Hip-hop is a cultural movement with an ideology which ignites and empowers the youth by giving them a voice. Hip-hop is fueled by the four elements that can be seen and felt – MC, DJ, breakdancing and graffiti. But the culture extends throughout the world because of the fifth element – knowledge. The knowledge of self not only spreads awareness but also builds confidence. We believe hip- hop should not be relegated to young people. It has the ability to unite different generations due to its advocacy and agency as a catalyst for social change. Hip-hop is transformative and continues to be a primary medium of information, entertainment and social change.

Our Mission

Our mission is to inspire and uplift people. I want listeners to internalize our music and sing it with pride as if it was their life. Our music is ultimately designed to motivate people to be their best and to also have fun. Music should naturally release endorphins and make you feel good. The mission is to uplift and spread positivity which should empower individuals to become the best version of yourself.

The Movement

The Awesome Crew isn't just four men from South Carolina.

It is a lifestyle.

We believe achievement should never require an apology.

We believe ordinary people can create extraordinary things.

We believe the next generation deserves examples instead of excuses.

If you believe that—

You're already part of The Awesome Crew.

Live with Purpose. Create Without Permission. Never Apologize for Excellence.

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