Today we’d like to introduce you to Geechie Dan.
Hi Geechie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started in the early 80s as an aspiring rapper from Hollis, Queens, NY. As Hip Hop became popular, I began collecting the tapes of neighborhood block parties, park jams, and clubs of all our Hip Hop pioneers and emulating what I heard them saying on the tapes.
From listening to the tapes I was collecting, I started calling myself “Geechie Dan” and rhymed out in the parks, on college radio, on neighborhood corners and game rooms, and battling other rappers. My first encounter with battling someone was my neighborhood Nemis MC Jay Ski, who became today LL Cool J. We had brief encounters in our neighborhood, and we ultimately became friends. I received my 1st record deal at 19 years old in 1986 but couldn’t pursue my dream due to my mother’s involvement in the Jehovah’s Witness. In 2016, 30 years later, after 2 failed marriages and losing everything, an opportunity to live my dream, to be successful in what I love, my passion came to me. I was offered to play my tapes that had now converted to CD and MP3 digital format on a live streaming platform in New York. I left Atlanta and returned to NY with only unemployment money. I lived in a rat-infested room in someone’s 2 room apartment in the Bronx and started going after my dream. I had no job, no apartment, but I had faith. I started my live streaming show, “Geechie Dan Hip Hop Tape Show,” where I played the tapes of all our Hip Hop Pioneers, Legends, and ICONS and interviewed the ones on my tapes. I wanted the world to hear my tapes and see the ones I was interviewing like a radio/TV show. As my show became more popular, I became more popular. My passion ultimately became my purpose as everything I prayed for, cried for, and wanted to do happened for me.
Today in 2022, I’m Co-Chairman of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame in Harlem. I have become a Hip Hop Global Ambassador. I have the largest Hip Hop following on Facebook. I have published a book via Author House Publishing called “The Kingdom Hall No More.” I was the Former Executive Director of the National Hip Hop Museum in Washington DC. I appeared on 10 magazines in the last 5 years, and now in 2022, I have my show on LL Cool J Rock The Bells Radio Sirius XM Channel 43 called “Planet Of The Tapes” and have a 6 figure salary with Yada TV. In Sept 2022, I’m scheduled to travel to Dallas, Tx, to become Brand Ambassador for MAP ESPORTS for a gaming company and work on my documentary, “I Got The Tapes.” God gets all the glory. My test ended up as my testimony to share with everyone worldwide. I still cry today because I’m so grateful for getting another chance to be successful in something I love that’s all I ever wanted.
Thank you
Geechie Dan
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I had to cut off family, including my mother, my sister, my brother, and a bunch of friends that told me to give it up. I’m an 80’s rapper that Hip Hop isn’t concrete. I’m too old to be doing Hip Hop, but God believed in me, and that’s all you need.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
There is no plan B; there is only plan A and plan A. Your passion will lead you to your purpose, and your purpose will ultimately be your destiny.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
No nightlife! – cons
laid back living – pros
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Geechiedan100
- Facebook: Geechie Dan
- Twitter: Geechiedan100
