Derrick Harden aka Dear Derrick has blazed his own path as an artist of the highest order. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Derrick is a rapper, art curator, and filmmaker who maintains his independent status on the cutting edge of the culture.
Garnering acclaim for his artistic expression, Derrick has worked with the Wu-Tang Clan, the Hole Gallery, Dame Dash’s Poppington Gallery, HBO’s show Betty, the Harold Hunter Foundation, Lyons Weir Gallery, and Chelsea Art Museum just to name a few.
Previously, he released a slew of conceptual albums, including The Jamie Project, Born 4 Porn, The Art of Nothing, Penthouse II, and The Gallery Mixtape.
For his latest project, Derrick is set to release a film, The Black Sea. Releasing in select theaters on Friday, November 22, the film follows a man’s journey to a small Eastern European coastal town in Bulgaria where he finds unexpected connections despite being the only Black person in the area.
Growing up in Brooklyn, Derrick’s interest in the arts was piqued at an early age and it still fuels his vision today.
“In first grade at my school in Bensonhurst, I was in a performance arts program. I think I did Mr. Bojangles when I was in public school for three or four years straight,” Derrick told BET.com. “I also played a Black Rabbi in “Fiddler On the Roof.” So growing up in Brooklyn, there are two different neighborhoods, two different slangs. I was able to have both of those things.”
“Brooklyn is tossed around so heavenly nowadays but I’m from Biggie, Brooklyn,” he laughed. “We’re not in the same age group though. I’m from Barbra Streisand, Brooklyn. I just have to say that.”
Although Brooklyn has produced some influential artists, Derrick said that his artistry and, in particular, his love of rap was something that he wouldn’t reveal. Among his circle, he always knew that he was destined for something different.
“I was probably an outlier. You have to remember that during the hip-hop era of the ’90s, you hid your craft. It didn’t matter how old you were. At that time, writing was more of a hidden thing,” he said.
For Derrick, becoming an MC was no longer something that he could keep a secret. Eventually, his undeniable skills as a rapper became the conduit to showcase his creativity.
“I was not too much of a battle rapper. I saw rapping and following the beat as me being able to do something with the words that were constantly coming into my head. It wasn’t necessarily something like ‘I gotta be JAY-Z,’” Derrick explained. “It was more of an exercise for what was going on in the head.”
“Over time, I got really good at it and it also helped me write most importantly. From hip-hop to doing art curatorial work, where you write your press release, and artist statements, that involves writing,” he continued. “Even when you’re making a film or a TV show you have to write to know how to write well.”
Along with his love for rap music, Derrick brought his creative passion to the world of fashion.
“I was really into fashion, so I did visual merchandising. I was lucky to get a job early on and I was a part of the first team of people to bring H&M to America in the early 2000s. When we opened that up, I was working in Sweden which was my first time going to Europe,” Derrick recalled. “I had a job for a while, and then hip-hop just started calling me. I started to not pay attention to the jobs I was able to acquire because I knew new fashion or had some expensive taste. But that was as far as it went.”
Derrick’s new single “Ven Aqui” featuring Dario is a bop that listeners will love. The song was inspired by The Black Sea and it chronicles a man pursuing a woman who caught his eye.
“The song is part of a long trajectory of videos that are going to come behind the soundtrack as well as the film that is happening,” Derrick noted. “So it’s also going to be a fun story that we’re telling with the videos and the soundtrack. My boy Dario, who also sings the hook, produced the song.”
With its unique storyline, Black Sea is a rom-com that gives you all the feels. Amazingly, the film was shot without a script which is a testament to Derrick’s love of being in the creative moment. He is thrilled about the film’s upcoming release.
“Black Sea is something you gotta see. It’s a feel-good movie that makes you feel like the trailer makes you feel,” he said. “The film is a longer version of a good feeling of that. It’s a wonderful, wonderful, well-put-together film. And it’s all improvised.”
“Crystal Mozelle is an award-winning documentary filmmaker known for a popular documentary called Wolf Pack and a movie called Skate Kitchen. When we got together to make the film, I coined the phrase “cinematic freestyle.” Because everything was improvised and we captured real things in real-time,” he continued. “Hip Hop gives you a constant practice of improvisation depending on how you make it. But I’m sure everybody that does hip-hop at some point improvises on their songs.”
With all of his experiences, Derrick believes that being an artist means having the freedom to be who you are and to explore all available options to cultivate your creativity.
“I’ll speak from the perspective of my journey. So I don’t want to speak so broadly. But in my journey, I’ve learned to try everything,” Derrick shared. “Sometimes people take a second and try to figure out what it is they want to do. Just try everything. Try the job at KFC and see how that works. If it doesn’t fit, kindly leave, but try everything.”
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