RIP Disco D

A few months ago, my brother and I were at a spot called Prey in NYC, attending a CMJ (College Music Journal) meet & greet. I saw my brother talking to some nerdy Jewish hipster and I walked up and said hello. Nick said “Yo this is Disco D—he did ‘Ski Mask Way’ for 50!” I remembered him from a blurb in the Source or XXL and gave him props for the beat.
Then three of us bullshitted for a little while about hip hop and how D had just gotten back from spending two weeks at K-Fed and Britney’s house in LA. He told us about how wack Britney looked in person and how his Brazilian girlfriend totally outshined her in person. Once I discovered our mututal interest in Brazil, we spoke some portuguese and talked about how much we love Brazilian culture and music.
Then he gave us a couple packs of the clear rolling papers he apparently had a stake in and we bounced. My brother and I agreed he was a really memorable dude. A snobby hipster for sure, and a bit cocky, but funny—and interesting.
I was really bummed out when my Nick called me this morning to tell me of D’s apparent suicide. He was a talented ecclectic producer, who also had some serious fire. I love that he was such a hipster, but unlike most hipster turned producers, his shit had mad soul. “Ski Mask Way” is a future classic for sure. I’m glad I got to spend a few minutes kickin it with him.

RIP David “Disco D” Shayman