Local's original 'Hustle & Flow' garners attention, criticism

The average adult wakes up in the morning dreading their 9 to 5. But rapper, D Mite, known for his hit song "Read a Book," sleeps late with the great feeling that the next day will be dictated strictly by his watch, and not by punching a clock. The D.C.- born lyricist has a clear vision of what he wants, and the hustle mentality that he has adapted while living here in D.C. has helped him to achieve it.The title "rapper" is commonly used to refer to anybody who recites a few rhymes, but D Mite, or Bomani Armah, dislikes this term.

"The game, as a whole, has a stigma right now." Instead, he considers himself a poet with a hip-hop style. "My art form connects a lot further past the 70s when hip-hop was created. I've been a poet forever. I've been writing since I was 11 or 12, and I've been serious about it since I was 19 or 20."

D Mite's beginning is not characteristic of a hip-hop artist, though he jokes otherwise. "I had the typical hip-hop hardcore childhood: two parents," he said with a laugh, "a home, and went to church every Sunday. I had a very stable home."

"My childhood was real cool. My parents opened the door for me in any artistic freeway I was interested in," he explained.

He grew up in D.C. until the age of 9, after which he moved to Maryland with his family, where he lived until he was about 21. Afterwards, he moved back to D.C., and remains here today.

Instead of rapping about the usual topics, such as money, sex, drugs and killing, D Mite raps about the complete opposite.

"I think what I do is the new hardcore. When I rap about the responsibility of being a grown man, I'm entering an uncharted territory because nobody is doing it. I feel like I'm more hardcore than 50 Cent right now because he's typical. I'm different and outside the box."

When D Mite made the hit song, "Read a Book," he showed just how far outside of the box he stands. By pouring a deluge of expletives over simplistic lyrics and a Crunk-heavy beat, he created one of last year's most controversial songs. "Read" not only garnered praise from casual and hardcore hip-hop heads across the nation, it also drew criticism from some influential members of the Black community, including a short feud with the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

"There were some people who criticized the song that got what I was doing. Then there was Jesse Jackson who completely didn't get what the hell I was doing. He doesn't understand what is going on in youth popular culture. But Jesse Jackson coming out against me was good because there is nothing better than having an old person telling young people that they shouldn't listen to your songs. Even my father was like 'good stuff son.'"

D Mite's new album is called "Radio Friendly." While few songs on his CD fit that description, the poet/MC admits that most of the tracks will never make it into heavy rotation on the airwaves.

"Each song is on one of the extremes. But I feel that the album is an I-Tunes album that everyone can find at least two songs that they really feel or relate to."

Outside of hip-hop, D Mite teaches youth to develop intellectually through music and poetry. He leads workshops and classes teaching simple grammatical functions, but explains them in a way that the youth can relate to. He also helps them understand that they don't just have to be intakes of the media, but they can also create media of their own in this new age of technology. "I love giving them that opportunity. I want to see them make it, and I hope by giving them the opportunity to express themselves, I have an impact on their lives in a positive way."

Whether it be by rapping a verse, or teaching young people, D Mite wants to leave his mark on the world as somebody who was able to influence people and give them a direction in the right path on the journey of life.