South Florida rapper DKE Author proves to have the potential to be Hip-Hop’s next big thing in his debut mixtape “Respect the Dark.”

Belle Glade, Florida rapper DKE Author has a name with a combined meaning. In reference to medieval times, the DKE in his name stands for Dark Knight Empire. Author is slightly more self—explanatory and alludes to his storytelling ability. When you first hear DKE Author’s slight country accent mixed with his deep and melodic vocals, you will likely compare his sound to Baton Rouge rapper Kevin Gates. Still extremely new to the game, DKE Author has the potential to surpass Gates’ level of influence due to a more tasteful pen and a bigger vocal range to work with.

Already adopting the nickname, “Prince of the South”, DKE Author gained a following after the success of his song “That Guy” officially released on most multimedia platforms in February 2019. The single has been streamed over two million times and played on various radio stations across the country. The hard-hitting track produced by Yung Dza grasps listeners’ attention but DKE Author’s adlibs lock them into continuing to listen to the song. On February 18, 2019, WorldstarHipHop premiered the video for “That Guy” on their Youtube channel and it has since secured almost one million streams. His confident and fun persona in both the song and music video left his new fans wondering “who is DKE Author and when is he dropping more music?”

Respect the Dark was made available on all streaming platforms on March 12, 2020. The 37-minute mixtape was made up of 12 songs, six already heard by fans. Prior to its release, the mixtape’s next leading single “Gamble” featuring Georgia rapper Quando Rondo was also released via WorldstarHipHop’s YouTube channel which now has almost 200,000 views. The debut project also features southern rappers Lavish the MDK and Kevo Muney.

My favorite song on Respect the Dark, “Hard Nights,” is easily the realest song on the mixtape because of DKE Author’s vulnerability. Known for producing many of Chicago rapper Polo G’s popular tracks, JTK embeds a subtle cry into the beat that DKE Author effortlessly matches with the emotion in his voice. The song, dedicated to his friend and rapper Raw who lost his life to gun violence, addresses Author’s feelings surrounding his mental health and his connection to his hometown. DKE Author reflects on his decision to pursue a music career and how it has threatened his relationships with longtime friends.

Respect the Dark undeniably leaves listeners wanting more from DKE Author. It is obvious that the Belle Glade native has a future in hip-hop because of his talent but also because of his relatability. In light of coronavirus pandemic, DKE Author live-streamed a performance of the songs on his mixtape via YouTube. Actions like that prove that that DKE Author has the drive and discipline to gain a loyal following. While Respect the Dark still leaves us uncertain about who DKE Author is, we all should keep the rapper on our radars.

Favorite songs:

Gamble ft. Quando Rancho

Hard Nights

That Guy

Rating: 7

Listen to Respect The Dark here:

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