Born and raised in South Kansas City, Southside Dame’s journey didn’t begin with music, it started on the basketball court. After playing in college, he made the decision in 2016 to hang up his sneakers and commit fully to music. Since then, he’s dropped a steady stream of projects, 15 EPs or full projects to date using his own experiences and the world around him as fuel for storytelling. His latest release, Rap City in the Basement, is a 10-track, 28-minute offering that shows just how much his sound has grown while still nodding back to where it all began.
The project, produced alongside WhatweonBooda, marks their third collaboration together and carries the same organic chemistry that Dame says makes this one special. “This project is one of those projects that’s important because it’s the first time since Southside Superstar 2 that Booda have had the opportunity to connect. I’m feeling like I’m going back to the basics,” he shared. That “back to the basics” energy is felt throughout, especially on records like Backwood Music and How It Sound, where his laid-back delivery and sharp wordplay cut through the smooth production.
For Dame, Rap City in the Basement isn’t just another release, it’s a reflection of growth both in life and in his craft. “Since my last release, When The Club Close Side: A, I feel like I’ve grown as a person in the sense of not aiming to please and being me unapologetically. As an artist, I’m becoming a better writer, just a better overall artist in general. I’m most confident putting this work on display to the masses cause I feel like I’ve figured out what to say and how to say it.”
That self-assurance is paired with a bigger purpose. Asked what he hopes listeners take from the project, Dame explained, “I want the supporters to walk away from this project with the mindset of hope, I feel like I’m fighting hard on project 15 so if I can keep pushing the music, they can keep pursuing their dreams/goals.”
And while Rap City in the Basement can stand on its own, it also serves as a setup for what’s next. “I feel like this project is the first domino of what’s to come,” he said. With an album slated for release this fall, Dame sees this project as both a starting point for new listeners and a sign of evolution for the day-ones who’ve been there since 2016.
Listen to Rap City in the Basement below:
