Da Vinci Biography

15 April 2011 No Comment

The Fillmore District has bred more rappers per capita than any other district in San Francisco, and although the older generations recall its rich musical history rooted in Jazz, the Fillmore today is rife with drugs, turf wars, and mass gentrification. DaVinci (aka J. DaVinci), a young MC raised in the Fillmore, is a prime example of the duality of this area, who at the age of 13 was homeless, hungry, and hopeful for a way out. Explains DaVinci, “My music has everything to do with my environment: from robbing, killing, pimpin’ to selling and abusing drugs,” he explains about his heavy content. “It’s a direct reflection of what my friends and family have been through and are still going through.”

As traumatic and dangerous as his circumstances growing up were, it also is no different from any other ghetto in the world, and a reason for his music to be felt universally. As a youngster, DaVinci took the moniker by using his words to paint a picture of his troubled landscape through rap, describing much more than the superficial criminal activity that plagued his childhood. But he also grew up in a house full of Soul and R&B, digging though his mother’s basement full of records and taking them to the studio with him. “Listening and writing songs was a way for me to express myself, and I knew that no matter what I was going through, there was somebody I could relate to through Hip-Hop dealing with the same issues.”

While his story is similar to many other young rappers’ upbringings, DaVinci was surrounded by an incredible pool of Fillmore talent and by studying with the greats, he was able to sharpen his skills and aim higher than most, cultivating his story-telling abilities beyond mere drug-and-gun-talk. Growing up in the same 10-block radius as Bay Area rap legends San Quinn and JT the Bigga Figga, DaVinci was content in merely watching the next generation follow in their footsteps, until he received overwhelming praise from his peers from a mixtape appearance, which then prompted him to pursue rap professionally. In 2006, San Quinn welcomed him onto the “Pressure Makes Diamonds Tour” with rap veterans Xzibit and Tech N9ne. Since the tour, DaVinci has kept busy appearing on numerous local mixtapes and compilations.

Download Tracks:

“Get Her High” With ST 2 Lettaz Prod. By Lunice

“Its On Me” Prod. By Blunt

“Trickle Down” Prod. By Blunt

“Real N*ggaz Remix” Feat. Kaz Kyzah And ROD

“Hustlers Theme” Prod. By Blunt

“Guys Wanna” Prod. By Al. Jieh

“Gettin Money In My Sleep” Prod. By Big D

“Runnin Wit Us” Prod. By Merk S. Villian