D Prosper

D. (Derick) Prosper began his career as a poet on the NPS(National Slam Poetry)'National Poetry Slam circuit. After winning several national competitions and featuring on 1994 Providence Poetry Slam Team.^[1] D.Prosper was the youngest Poet featured on the tour. He ranked 4th in the nation @ the NPS finals in Asheville, North Carolina. Prosper was also featured in respected publication Fast Folk Music Magazine He eventually earned a coveted spot on the 1994 Lollapalooza Tour D. Prosper's love of spoken word poetry ignited his passion in Hip-Hop music.

In 1995 he moved to New York City to pursue a career in the music industry. Performing at open mics at Nuyorican Poets Cafe in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Freestyling alongside such artists as Masta Ace, Mos Def , Da Bush Babees, Pharaohe Monch. Prosper also performed poetry at the historical Nkiru Books in Brooklyn with Talib Kweli- and also appearing on the now legendary The Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show on WKCR.

In 1996, D. Prosper released an EP under the name Mastermind. He wrote and produced the independent EP titled The Adventures of The Mastermind for Brainchild/Griotchild Entertainment. It consisted of three tracks. Karma Autobiography of a Bad MC and Ambulance Ride There was a cassette version which included the additional tracks; Psalms for Pearl and a skit entitled M.A.S.T.E.R. The project was dedicated to Wayne 'DJ Pearl’ Baptista.

In 1997 he released his second single Waited All My Life and B-side Hip-Hop Heads on Prosper's own imprint Brainchild/Griotchild Entertainment. distributed by Fatbeats

In 2010, after a hiatus from recording for over a decade; produced by Illmind Derick wrote and performed lyrics to the closing sequence of an important educational documentary COINTERLPRO 101 designed at educating younger generations on COINTERLPRO.

Via social media D.Prosper also dropped a song entitlted Merkabah,Chariot of Ascension from forthcoming Project A.T.O.M (Advanced Thoughts of Mastermind)

A&R: Columbia Records, Rawkus and Interscope Records

Columbia Records

Derick began working at Columbia records under the president of A&R Gordon ‘’The Commissioner’’ Williams. He met Multi-Platinum Grammy winning singer/actress Lauryn Hill while she was recording The Fugees LP The Score. This led to him assisting in the studio during the making of her solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill which garnered ten Grammy nominations at the 41st Grammy Awards, winning five, making Hill the first female recording artist to receive that number of nominations, as well as awards in one night.

Derick progressed on to Music Consultant specializing in Music licensing/Brand Development, Show bookings and Music placement for such artists as 50 Cent, Dead Prez, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Jay Electronica , Estelle, Damian Marley, Nas, Q-Tip, Ghostface Killah: Theodore Unit, Lloyd Banks, and Busta Rhymes. He has managed music producers such as Illmind, Black Jeruz, Chad Beats, Supa Dave West, Hi-tek, Jake One, Tha Biznes, securing multiple music placements on such major labels as Island Def Jam’s Untitled (Nas), IGA’s The Blue Carpet Treatment (Snoop Dogg) and Koch Records’ Hi Teknology 3 (HiTek) 50 Cent Get Rich or Die Tryin (soundtrack).

Rawkus Records, 2002-04: A&R Consultant As A&R Consultant, Derick was responsible for hiring music producers and engineers for such notable projects as Black Star (Mos Def/Talib Kweli ), Soundbombing II and III and Talib Kweli and Hi Tek’s Reflection Eternal. Song Producer for X-ecutioners (Y’all know the name) featuring Xzibit, Pharoh Monch and Inspectah Deck Lyricst Lounge and Ecko Unlimited Present:Underground Airplay. 1999 Song Producer, Mister N****, Mos Def featuring Q Tip (A Tribe Called Quest) on Black on Both Sides

GUnit/ Interscope Records, 2004-07: Senior director of A&R

Over saw all elements of album production of 50 Cent and entire G-Unit artist roster, helping the company to sell over 20 million copies worldwide in three years. Responsibilities included song concept development, hiring of mix engineers and studio musicians, album mastering sequencing and delivery of master copies. Managed relationships with key music producers and music composers, background vocalists and studio musicians for all G-Unit projects. Liaised with label and music publishers to approve sample usage and sync licensing. Composed opening scene logo for MTV Fillms/Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Served as Music supervisor for Vivendi Universal computer game 50 Cent Bulletproof.

In addition to his work with G-Unit, Derick also served as LP production coordinator on the prestigious Tupac Shakur tribute albums Pac’s Life and 2Pac Evolution..

References

1. ^ http://www.gotpoetry.com/Sections/op=viewarticle/artid=16.html

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