D Smoke is giving fans an inside look at why he never signed with DJ Khaled’s We The Best Music following his breakout success on Rhythm + Flow. The rapper and actor shared his perspective on the latest episode of Won of One: A PLLRS Podcast.
“Khaled is an incredible executive and producer, and he’s still supportive. For me, I didn’t feel like my artistry and what he does matched at that time. I wanted a lot more creative freedom,” D Smoke explained.
He likened the music industry to a vast ocean filled with potential risks:
“The music industry is like the ocean. There are sharks and all of this stuff. Your business that you build is a quality ship, your vehicle. I focus on my nucleus and core to make sure that’s tight.”
Carrying the Legacy of Death Row
D Smoke also addressed his role in representing the legacy of Death Row Records. He believes his unique style bridges the label’s classic vision with modern soul and rap.
“I do believe I’m the right person to carry the legacy of Death Row. As it relates to rap, there are brilliant artists already on Death Row,” he said.
“October London, Jane Hancock – but they’re soul artists. I’m a bridge between what Snoop’s vision is for the label, with the soul and gospel coming out of it and rap.”
Acting Career: Mayor of Kingstown
Beyond music, D Smoke is also making waves as an actor on Paramount+’s hit thriller, Mayor of Kingstown. He praised co-star Jeremy Renner for his dedication and resilience following a near-fatal accident.
“You can’t even talk about what he’s doing now without mentioning he was in an accident that almost took his life. They had to do reconstructive surgery all over his chest. To now be doing his own stunts and have a trailer specifically set up for fitness rooms, his regimen and special kind of chairs, while still being a lead character, running and doing fighting scenes, is incredible.”
D Smoke added that production accommodated Renner’s recovery without compromising the storyline:
“They kinda wrote up some of the characters around him, so it wasn’t too demanding initially. However, he still came back to do it. I think the first season back took us longer to shoot because they didn’t want to overtax him and cram it, so it was spread out over more months.”
D Smoke is clearly focused on creative independence, bridging iconic hip-hop legacies, and building his acting career—proving he’s more than just a breakout star.
