When most people think of rap and New York, most people do not think of Buffalo. In this way D Real McCoy is an entry point holding it down across the great state of New York, and I got the chance to sit down with him.

RK Gold: Tell me about your current project?

D Real McCoy: My current project is called “Finding My Voice?”.  It’s an EP. It’s a long time coming I must say. I have two short mixtapes called Finding My Voice 1 & 2.  It’s called “Finding My Voice” because it seems to me it’s hard to find someone that has socially conscious music and dance music as well. My name is D Real McCoy and as the term Real McCoy is used as a sign of being genuine, so my music is a genuine reflection of myself.  So I talk about society and systemic structural racism; next I talk about kids and the life they are trapped in because of concentrated poverty. I have an upbeat love song. I have dance songs that uplift women and let them know they are queens and should not only look at themselves as such but expect to be treated that way. This project has a wide range of feeling and it’s all in pursuit of me finding my voice through music.

RK: What’s it like being a full time graduate student, with a full time job and a rap career?

McCoy: Well, being a full time grad student and having a full time job is the hardest thing I have ever done. I have worked 80 hours a week for about four years 2011-2015 and this full time job and full time grad school is by far more exhausting. I just finished my first year of grad school this May. Truthfully, my rap career was on the back burner. Along with moving four times last year, I also was in a super long distance relationship. My ex studied in England and we saw each other about every other month, on average longer during the summer and less during the winter, but it averaged about to about every other month. That along with school and work kept music coming along slowly but surely. It is not easy at all. This year I will look to perform at least once a month and start work on a new project.

RK: How long have you been in the game for?

McCoy: I started rapping May of 2010 and I have done so as a hobby since. I have not put the time into music like I have wanted to. Since 2013 I performed more and got serious about getting my project out. Now it’s almost here.

RK: Your full time job is helping high school kids, who don’t always come from the best situations, find success in and out of school. How important is aiding your community to your musical image?

McCoy: To my musical image, I would not say it’s important. Helping kids is my life and my music will always be a reflection of my life, what I go through and what I am trying to change.  I don’t think I have a musical image it’s me: D Real McCoy is Da’Von La’Mar McCune.

RK: Do you see yourself moving or will you always be repping Buffalo?

McCoy: I will always Rep Buffalo where ever I am in the world. Well who knows what the future holds. My Dream life would be a summer home in Buffalo and a Year-round home in San Diego

RK: How would you define your brand?

McCoy: Well I’m still finding my brand like I’m finding my voice. I want to save and change the world and I want to have fun as well.

RK: Rap is obviously a competitive industry, what makes you stand out?

McCoy: What makes me stand out is my ability to truly be me. Whether you hear that socially conscious song or a dance song it’s me. Also I have had crowds from age 14-60 like and appreciate the music so that cross generational gap is also unique.

RK: Do you Freestyle?

McCoy: Yes I do but I really need to work on it.

RK: Who are some of your musical influences, both in and out of hip hop?

McCoy: Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Eminem, J Cole, Lupe, Kendrick, Logic, Locksmith.  Although I sound like none of them (chuckles) I sound like D Real McCoy.

RK: Any artists you want to give a shout out to?

McCoy: Oh Man, here I go: J Schown ,That Omii Doe, Capital DC, Juno, J Heim, Tetris, Flex, JMHH, Hanarlo, Eddy Blanco, Solomon Dixon, Eric Crittenden,  Tom Dreitlien, Preach, Dev11n, Anothnii King,  Declan Miers, Blaise. My apologies to anyone I have forgotten, but shout out to all of these talented artists.