Dave East
Biography
- Real Name: David Lawrence Brewster Jr.
- Born: June 3, 1988 (Harlem, New York, U.S.)
- Occupation: Rapper, songwriter, actor
- Genres: Hip hop, East Coast hip hop
- Labels: From the Dirt, Mass Appeal, Def Jam
- Years Active: 2007–present
Early Life & Education
- Raised between East Harlem (mother’s home) and Queensbridge, NYC
- Of Dominican, Bajan, and Louisiana Creole descent
- Played basketball at Springbrook High School (MD), alongside future NBA players
- Attended University of Richmond then Towson University on basketball scholarships
- Dropped out and briefly incarcerated in Baltimore before focusing on music
Music Career
- Started releasing mixtapes in 2010, including *Change of Plans* and *American Greed*
- Gained attention with *Black Rose* (2014), which led to signing with Nas on Mass Appeal Records
- Featured in XXL’s 2016 Freshman Class
- Released mixtapes *Kairi Chanel* (2016) and *Paranoia: A True Story* (2017), both charting on Billboard
- Debut studio album *Survival* (2019) reached No. 11 on Billboard 200; second album *Fortune Favors the Bold* released in July 2023
Acting & Other Ventures
- Acted as himself in *Being Mary Jane* and *The Breaks* (2017) and had a supporting role in Netflix’s *Beats* (2019)
- Portrayed Method Man in Hulu’s *Wu-Tang: An American Saga* (2019)
Personal Life & Style
- Height: ~6′5″; athletic build from basketball background
- Father to daughter Kairi Chanel (born 2016); stage name pays homage to Harlem
- Converted to Islam during his prison time
- Keeps ties to his roots; known for gritty lyrical storytelling and East Coast authenticity
Online Presence
- Official Website
- Active on social media and streaming platforms
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