D-Nice

Born June 19, 1970, Derrick T. Jones, better known by his stage name D-Nice, is an American DJ, record producer and rapper. Jones was born and raised in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. He later moved to The Bronx as a teenager. At age 15, he met Scott La Rock and later formed Boogie Down Productions along with KRS-One in 1986. D-Nice gained popularity when he produced the song "Self-Destruction" for the Stop the Violence Movement. In 1990, D-Nice signed a solo deal with Jive Records and released his debut studio album called, "Call Me D-Nice." In 1991, D-Nice released his second studio album. D-Nice began working as a photographer in the 2000s while also still being a DJ. In March 2020, D-Nice began hosting "Homeschool at Club Quarantine" on Instagram Live. On March 27, 2021, he was awarded Entertainer of the Year at the 52nd NAACP Image Awards. On June 22, 2021, D-Nice was awarded the ASCAP Voice of the Culture Award for being a beacon of hope and a source of inspiration during the COVID-19 pandemic.