LOS ANGELES – It was a performance of family and power. Inglewood’s own D Smoke performed with his brother, SIR, and mother Jackie Gouche. For him, it was a picture-perfect opportunity to be a voice in the Black Lives Matter movement on the virtual stage Sunday night at the BET Awards

“To speak to what’s happening in this current moment,” D Smoke said. 

“With the lynching, so to speak of Black males, you know Black men and women, either at the hand of the police and so many other ways – also just the celebration of Black people,” 

D Smoke represents Inglewood with pride, attending Inglewood High and also working there as a Spanish, engineering, and music teacher - even naming one of his EPs, Inglewood High. He says the current movement is about looking at communities like Inglewood beyond stereotypes. Not just about police and judicial equality. 

“To break down all of these institutional imagery, ideas, and concepts, false history that allows people to buy into lies,” explained D Smoke. 

He now has a massive platform to address such issues after winning the Netflix music competition show, Rhythm And Flow last year, making him a household name in the music industry.

“More people are familiar with my story and are interested in what I have to say and what I’m about to next. No artist can ask for more than that,” added D Smoke. 

Now he wants to use his voice encourage the thousands of students he taught and Inglewood High. 

“I was connected with them in the classroom, so if I’m doing the same kinda work through my artistry then the marathon continues.”

He hopes his connection through his music can continue to break down the divisions of prejudice, at a time, everyone is listening.