Dior Ashley Brown, dubbed a "Hip Hop polymath" by the Washington Post, is an award-winning DC-native artist, emcee, musician, actor, activist, poet, playwright, founder of the DC Music Summit, and straight-up force. 

She has performed all over the city including at The Kennedy Center, both solo and with the powerhouse band Iza Flo. I first saw her perform at Gordon Sterling's jam at Gypsy Sally's a couple years back where she came in, took the stage, and had every single eye, ear, and brain in the place focused on her presence and message. (It was so epic that DC Music Review felt so moved to write an article about the experience.) 

As I came to know her better through the music scene, one thing was abundantly clear. Dior is a person who cares deeply about others. Her mission "to maintain the soul of music, empower all people, especially Black women and girls, and leave a legacy of positive change" is so self-aware because you watch her take the stage and BOOM, there it is, love and gratitude. Before she even says a word.

And then, she says a word, and you go next level. Her belief that the world can be a better place is woven into prose that she spits out with passion and smarts.  She commands the stage, but something about her presence tells you it's not all about her, it's about a collective spirit (a word she uses a lot in this interview) and the power of togetherness. Every time I've seen her perform since that first jam, I feel like she's reaching out her hand to share in her song. 

I had a chance to connect with Dior just as she was about to release her new song and video "Delivery" as part of a collection of songs being created for #MusicForTheMovement, a new fundraiser designed to benefit the movement to preserve Black Lives through music. She shared so much about herself that I never knew, which validated everything I had seen before in terms of her empathy and dynamism. 

I know you have a lot going on right now with an amazing and powerful new video dropping for your newest song, "Delivery."  But before we get into that, I’ve always wanted to know how you got into emcee-ing.

God, brought me to it. No lie. 

I was in love with hip hop from a young age but I never thought that I would be an emcee. I always wanted to perform, I studied acting, and I had lots of ideas I wanted to share. But for a long time I was more a closeted emcee, not really thinking I was good enough to spit publicly. I would write my freestyles early on, full of metaphors attempting to get my thoughts across. I’d write my diary entries, whole stories in verse. I’d freestyle with my boyfriend and his friends and they would laugh, and so I never really took it seriously, but I also hadn’t leaped with sincerity.  

I went to high school at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, back in the day I was part of this band called Independently Known to Conquer (INC) that was my first group. It was dope to rock with the guys but I hadn’t really taken it all the way seriously yet, but I was definitely writing more.  A sister named Empress who was a friend and also an emcee on the scene, told me I was dope. It took me some time to really believe this, and have the confidence to see it as part of my path. 

I started to get out there in the world, mostly going to the open mics, I was once compared to Nas. I held on to that tight, it meant the world to me since he is one of my biggest influences.

Now that I’m in it I can say that hip hop saved my life. Though I listened intently, once I submerged in it, the context opened me up, it helped me deepen my internal context.

Where did the idea for this song come from?

I was inspired by 12-year old Keedron Bryant’s video “I Just Wanna Live" which was trending on Instagram in light of what was happening with the movement for Black Lives. If you haven’t seen it you need to check it out. 

Keedron brought me to tears, that night I wrote rhymes to the production he made with Dem Jointz and posted it. After having such a positive overwhelming response, It got me thinking about the deeper about my mission in music, the movements, what has always been my purpose, like James Brown in the South fighting for desegregation against the Board of Education, and so many before me who fought on the right side. I wanted to do more that was inspired by this same feeling.

For many artists, performing is our life line, it’s our bread and butter. I wanted to encourage people that this is what we need #MoreMusicForTheMovement, music that will inspire us to force change within and around us. 

I had been sitting on some of my album tracks for a year now, waiting on the energy, feeling for the right time. The spirit told me the time was now and I had to trust that feeling. And the spirit moved. With these multi-pandemics going on, artists still need to thrive. I’m working with artists, especially those of color, to help me push and produce this work. We need to value Black artists and amplify our voices. 

Even with limited resources what I needed was coming together falling into place, the day of the recording was a perfect day, my sister who has been tucked away from the "'rona," was in my closet with me on FaceTime helping me to find the wears, my makeup artists came out of her domain to help.  I feel so blessed because I had the opportunity to work with my friends to further this message and secure some space to inspire and activate people to the many ways of protest and change. 

Oooh, I love all of those artists. And I know the pandemic has had a big impact on musicians, Christylez Bacon just dropped a powerful song about inequity in quarantine.  Tell me how the pandemic has affected your music and your life, and how are you taking care these days.

Initially it halted financial opportunities and the previous ideas I had for expansion. But currently it has slowed me down to reflect, get my business in order, and deeply cherish my loved ones. Plus, like I said, the spirit moved me to get "Delivery" out now, the time felt right. And yes, I am taking good care of myself, getting some rest, eating mostly home cooked food, taking long walks, journaling, and getting my business in order. 

We all have to be kind to ourselves these days like that. Can you tell me about a book that changed the way you think about things?

I have two book series that come to mind. When I was a little girl, my mother gave me The American Girl book series. The book about Addy, who took a stance and fought for freedom, changed me.  I always knew in my heart that if I would have been Addy in the time of slavery I would have taken a stance, too.

And Sister Souljah’s book series The Coldest Winter Ever, Midnight: A Gangster Love Story, and Midnight and the Meaning of Love.  She’s a powerful, thinker, leader, speaker, writer, and emcee. She showed me early on what not to glorify.

And what about three influential artists or mentors or icons in your life?

That would have to be Maya Angelou, Janet Jackson, and my uncle, James Tokley who is Tampa's Poet Laureate. 

How cool! So poetry and rhyme and the love of lexicon run in your family. Tell me more about him.

His book Oh, St. Regent was laying around our home when I was growing up.  And I read it and took to it that I rhymed like him, before I ever met him. When I did meet him, he was everything I imagined: soulful, a griot, and smooth that’s that Brown swag. 

I love it.  

The verses had so much rhythm that I can still hear them in my head. One of my favorites is “Red Top Bar.” I’ll share a link with you so you can check him reciting it.

He calls me first class and world class. I think sometimes he was upset that I became a rapper and not a poet, but I think what he is beginning to hear and understand is that I am both. He inspired that. To this day he tells me stories and encourages me. 

I am such a fan of him and so proud to call him my uncle. We have gotten closer as I’ve gotten older and we are so much alike creatively. 

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