Hip-hop is chock-full of rappers who have found mainstream success with songs praising brands and designers (see here for further proof). But exceedingly few of them have not only found such success from one of their first songs ever, but have so quickly begun to work firsthand with their brand of inspiration. Among this group of rare artists is Global Dan, a self-made rapper from Maryland whose breakthrough track "Off White" earned the attention of Virgil Abloh himself.
"Off White" appeared on Dan's Global Warming mixtape, quietly uploaded to his SoundCloud at the beginning of the summer. In the time since, it has become a lowkey viral smash, and it is about to receive a visual directed by - you guessed it - Mr. Abloh. We caught up with Global Dan for a brief chat to discuss the track, his come-up and what the rap scene in Maryland (NOT Baltimore as we learned after the fact) is all about.
So which came first... writing a song called “Off White” or the Virgil collab?
The song came before the Virgil cosign. I always loved the brand, just couldn’t afford it haha.
What does it feel like to have Virgil work directly with you after singing about wearing his brand?
What does it feel like to have Virgil work directly with me after singing about wearing his brand? IT'S LIT AS F***! Virgil is the man, yo I really look up to him. He’s one of my main inspirations in fashion.
The track features the line “I just wanna be rich and buy the fuckin mall.” What would be the first thing you do if you were give the keys to a shopping mall that was entirely yours?
That was my friend Mongo's verse you would have to ask him that. But if it was up to me, as soon as I got those keys I would skate all over the mall inside. That would be mad dope.
I've been told you're currently based in Baltimore... what is the rap scene like there at the moment?
I am currently NOT based in Baltimore lol... I am from SILVER SPRING MARYLAND REPRESENT!!! Shout out the DMV shout out Baltimore as well they have some great talent out there. The rap scene in the DMV is pretty big right now but nobody out here is making the music I make. There is only 1 Global Dan ya dig.
What three words would you use to describe your flow?
Nostalgic, fun, and melodic.
What’s something about you that may surprise people?
That I’m half Spanish, everybody thinks I’m just a white boy. Shout out all my Latina mamis and my melanin shawtys out there.
What’s next for Global Dan? Where can we expect to find you over the next year?
What’s next for Global Dan???…. GLOBALIZATION…. See you all very soon. Stay lit! :)
For more of our interviews, read our chat with Carnage about his new EP with Young Thug right here.
