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Damien "D-Edge" Edgington (born October 21), primarily known by his stage name D-Edge, is a record producer, rapper, writer, music engineer,
and record executive. He is the founder and current CO-CEO of Xsquisit Records, an Independent company based in Gary IN, and is credited as a
notable figure in the popularization of Indiana Underground Rap, as well as Midwest Underground Rap. D-Edge began his career in music as a
member of the production duo Trackstar Music, with Augustus Carter (Pheromone) which crafted beats for an up and coming rapper by the name
of Devious and sultry soul group Trump Tight. In 1998 he became CO-CEO and President of the Independent Realizm Records where he recorded
his first solo debut Thorobreads. This release solidified D-Edge as a household name in Indiana Underground Rap and was received very well in many
markets abroad including the UK and Japan. After leaving Realizm Records, D-Edge founded Xsquisit Records with his uncle and co partner Brian
Edgington and produced the label’s first release BloodBrothaz-Blood In, Blood Out. The album proved to be a hit, with the singles Girly Girly, So Hot
and We All That being underground favorites. D-Edge then oversaw and produced music for local artists Yendor, AG, Poppa Smurph G, Big-C,
Nookie G (formally known as Country Caper) and T-Rugga, before producing and releasing another EP for himself called The Roast. The Roast was
also received very well and pushed D-Edge to hit the mixtape circuit, which sprawned the ingenious Xsquisit Radio Volumes 1 thru 3. All volumes did
great and set up his most recent release G-Kalaborationz, in which he collaborated with many artist from Northwest Indiana, in what is considered to
be his best work to date.
Music Career
Trackstar Music (1996–1998)
Inspired by all genres of music, D-Edge started as a DJ in the local radio station in his dormatory, McCutchen Hall, at Purdue University West
Lafayette in 1995. His name echoed throughout the collage campus and was known for his Freestyle shows and Grill parties at the radio station. In
the Fall of 1996, D-Edge began learning music production from a high school friend named Augustus Carter. Things came to a halt when D-Edge left
Purdue in December of 2006 due to acedemic probation and went back home to Gary, IN. Ironically, Augustus Carter also left Prudue that same
year and went back to Gary, where the two met back up at a studio session for an up and coming artist named Devious. They formed the
production team, Trackstar Music and began production on the Devious’ project and the R&B duo Trump Tight. After writing and producing songs
for both projects, D-Edge became an intern at Sheffield Studios, working under mentor George Johnson, who had done previous work with several
high profile artist including Eric B and Rakim. Due to the buzz surounding the Devious project, in late 1998, D-Edge and Augustus would become co-
partners with Ovell Sterling to form Realizm Records where D-Edge would become an artist and staff producer.
Realizm Records (1998–2000)
In 1998, D-Edge began producing his solo debut, Thorobread with a group he created called the BloodBrothaz. The original group members
consisted of Poppa Smurph G, T-Rugga and a talented young lady by the name of Country Caper (now known as Nookie G). After Country Caper
left the group to pursue her own solo career, she was replaced with Big C. Thorobread the album became huge underground hit and caught the
attention of many fans abroad. From Japan to China to the UK, Thorobread was in demand. “To this very day, I still have people reaching out to me
to get that album”, says D-Edge. “I was never really crazy about the album because it was rushed and we didn’t have proper funding to do the
album the way I wanted to do it. But hey, if they like it, I love it.” As the album continued to do well, things wasn’t going well with the label. Augustus
Carter left the company to pursue his education and D-Edge and Orvell Sterlin had diagreements about the direction of the company, resulting in D-
Edge leaving the company. The BloodBrothaz was under contract with D-Edge and left the company as well.
Move to Xsquisit Records (2000–2008)
In early 2000 after a disagreement with Orvell Sterling over ownership of Realizm Records, D-Edge left the label that he co-founded to start his own
imprint with uncle and Co-Partner Brian “B-Edge” Edgington. The label would be called Xsquisit Records and in 2001, D-Edge finally saw the release of
the BloodBrothaz-Blood In, Blood Out. With underground hits like Girly Girly, So Hot, Chocolate, Playas Afternoon and We All That, the album proved
that D-Edge was not just a good producer, he was also a good writer in his own right. But the following year the group disbanded due creative
differences, which would leave the label and D-Edge in limbo for several years. During that time, D-Edge went back to school and obtain his degree in
Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology. In 2004, D-Edge released an EP called The Roast, which publicised a heated “Beef” with several
local rappers that were friends turned adversaries. D-Edge showed that once again, he could take it to the next level. With lines like, “I bring the heat
to all you lil 80’s babies, flame the gats or we can rap whatever the case maybe”, he proved to be too much for his opposition lyrically. The Roast
was a Limited Edition CD and only 1000 copies were printed. All 1000 copies were sold out in one week. Then came the Xsquisit Radio Trilogy. These
mixtapes showed growth, depth and just how good D-Edge really was. Production, lyrics, and delivery were all in tact and all 3 volumes introduced
several new talented artist like Tone Dolla, D-Dub, Wood, Yendor, AG, Mz. Roe and Mr, Yak as well as underground vets Bolo DB.asi of First Battalion,
Menace and Soope of the Grind Family. These releases laid the ground work for D-Edge most recent release, G-Kalaborationz.
G-Kalaborationz and BlockStars The Movie/Soundtrack (2009)
The D-Edge G-Kalaborationz album, released on February 24, 2009, featured songs by D-Edge himself as well as songs with other artist that featured
on previous works by D-Edge or artist that D-Edge produced. The cd is a certified banger and has been said that it could very easily be D-Edge’s
best work to date. With singles like Big Boyz, Lexball Whippin’ and Trainin’, to the grimy anthems Call’em Wut You Want, Clean’em Up and Block
Starz, you will not be disappointed. Itunes has reported serveral song, album and rigntone downloads and can be on it’s way to selling thousands of
units indepenently. It is also reported that there will be a short film and documentary called “BlockStars” that will be released this summer, as well as D-
Edge’s solo follow up Mr. Midwest-The 7 Step Process and “The X Files-Underground and Unreleased (UAU)”, which is an album showcasing previous
music that was never before released.
Musical influences and style
D-Edge has said that his primary instrument in the studio is the Akai MPC 2000XL, a drum machine and sampler, and his favorite keyboard is th
Ensoniq MR-61/76. He cites his uncles Brian, Kenny, Dennis and Wendell as primary musical influences. His uncle Wendell is a well advanced bass
player that D-Edge says “I don’t think too many people can fuck with him when it comes to playing bass.” Though Brian, Kenny and Dennis never
played any instruments or ever indulged in creating music, their love for music rubbed off on him heavily. “Dennis would have these family get
togethers at his home. He has thousands of albums and when we would go to his house, he would let me search through his albums and play
whatever I wanted or make little mix tapes with all my favorite songs. That's where my love for 70's music came from. My uncle Kenny was the
architect to making mix tapes. When recording his tapes, every song time was documented on the cover and each song was faded out perfectly.
His tapes sounded better than the originals. I think Kenny is what made me strive to be a perfectionist when putting this music together.” Yet it was
his uncle and Co-Partner Brian who made D-Edge want to become everything he is today. “Brian use to come home with music all the time. He was
always the first person with all the new music where we came from. He was everything Hip-Hop was about and I just wanted to be like him. I use to
sneak in his room, wear his clothes and "high-speed dub" all of his tapes. One day I snuck in his room and recorded this one tape that had no name
on it. When I took it home and listen to it, it was Eazy-E and N.W.A.” D-Edge credits his famous influences to DJ Quik, Dr. Dre, N.W.A., Eminem,
KLC (formally of Beats By the Pound),2Pac, Jay-Z, Ice Cube, Biggie, UGK, Twista, Trick Daddy, Rakim, Ice-T, Nas, Scarface, Chuck D, KRS-1, Paris,
Prince, Quincy Jones, Herb Alpert, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire and Michael Jackson.
Film and TV career
D-Edge has appeared in two movie documentaries called To Live and Die in G.I. and Midwest Underground Kingz. His first video The Alliance made its
debut appearance on To Live or Die in G.I. which was directed by Waylan Phillips. D-Edge also is credited to co-scoring Midwest Underground Kingz
and is responsible for music backdrops for several commercials and hairshows. D-Edge is making his directorial debut with Waylan Phillips for his dvd
movie Blockstarz. Though this will be his first opportunity to direct a movie, D-Edge said that he always knew that he would be behind the camera. “I’
ve always had input in all the videos that I’ve shot,” says D-Edge. “I always told Way (Waylan Phillips) that I wanted to do some directing because
the music paints the picture. Producing music and directing videos, to me, go hand in hand.”
Discography
• Thorobread (1999), Realizm
• Blood In, Blood Out (with the BloodBrothaz) (2001), Xsquisit
• The Roast (2004), Xsquisit
• Xsquisit Radio Vol. 1 (2005), Xsquisit
• Xsquisit Radio Vol. 2 (2006), Xsquisit
• Xsquisit Radio Vol. 3 (2007), Xsquisit
• G-Kalaborationz (2008), Xsquisit
• BlockStarz Soundtrack (not yet released) (2009), Xsquisit
• The X Files-Underground and Unreleases(UAU) (not yet released) (2009), Xsquisit
• Mr. Midwest-The 7 Step Process (not yet released) (2009), Xsquisit
Filmography
• Live And Die In G.I. Vol. 2 (2001), himself
• Midwest Underground Kingz (2005), himself
• BlockStarz the Movie (2009), himself
and record executive. He is the founder and current CO-CEO of Xsquisit Records, an Independent company based in Gary IN, and is credited as a
notable figure in the popularization of Indiana Underground Rap, as well as Midwest Underground Rap. D-Edge began his career in music as a
member of the production duo Trackstar Music, with Augustus Carter (Pheromone) which crafted beats for an up and coming rapper by the name
of Devious and sultry soul group Trump Tight. In 1998 he became CO-CEO and President of the Independent Realizm Records where he recorded
his first solo debut Thorobreads. This release solidified D-Edge as a household name in Indiana Underground Rap and was received very well in many
markets abroad including the UK and Japan. After leaving Realizm Records, D-Edge founded Xsquisit Records with his uncle and co partner Brian
Edgington and produced the label’s first release BloodBrothaz-Blood In, Blood Out. The album proved to be a hit, with the singles Girly Girly, So Hot
and We All That being underground favorites. D-Edge then oversaw and produced music for local artists Yendor, AG, Poppa Smurph G, Big-C,
Nookie G (formally known as Country Caper) and T-Rugga, before producing and releasing another EP for himself called The Roast. The Roast was
also received very well and pushed D-Edge to hit the mixtape circuit, which sprawned the ingenious Xsquisit Radio Volumes 1 thru 3. All volumes did
great and set up his most recent release G-Kalaborationz, in which he collaborated with many artist from Northwest Indiana, in what is considered to
be his best work to date.
Music Career
Trackstar Music (1996–1998)
Inspired by all genres of music, D-Edge started as a DJ in the local radio station in his dormatory, McCutchen Hall, at Purdue University West
Lafayette in 1995. His name echoed throughout the collage campus and was known for his Freestyle shows and Grill parties at the radio station. In
the Fall of 1996, D-Edge began learning music production from a high school friend named Augustus Carter. Things came to a halt when D-Edge left
Purdue in December of 2006 due to acedemic probation and went back home to Gary, IN. Ironically, Augustus Carter also left Prudue that same
year and went back to Gary, where the two met back up at a studio session for an up and coming artist named Devious. They formed the
production team, Trackstar Music and began production on the Devious’ project and the R&B duo Trump Tight. After writing and producing songs
for both projects, D-Edge became an intern at Sheffield Studios, working under mentor George Johnson, who had done previous work with several
high profile artist including Eric B and Rakim. Due to the buzz surounding the Devious project, in late 1998, D-Edge and Augustus would become co-
partners with Ovell Sterling to form Realizm Records where D-Edge would become an artist and staff producer.
Realizm Records (1998–2000)
In 1998, D-Edge began producing his solo debut, Thorobread with a group he created called the BloodBrothaz. The original group members
consisted of Poppa Smurph G, T-Rugga and a talented young lady by the name of Country Caper (now known as Nookie G). After Country Caper
left the group to pursue her own solo career, she was replaced with Big C. Thorobread the album became huge underground hit and caught the
attention of many fans abroad. From Japan to China to the UK, Thorobread was in demand. “To this very day, I still have people reaching out to me
to get that album”, says D-Edge. “I was never really crazy about the album because it was rushed and we didn’t have proper funding to do the
album the way I wanted to do it. But hey, if they like it, I love it.” As the album continued to do well, things wasn’t going well with the label. Augustus
Carter left the company to pursue his education and D-Edge and Orvell Sterlin had diagreements about the direction of the company, resulting in D-
Edge leaving the company. The BloodBrothaz was under contract with D-Edge and left the company as well.
Move to Xsquisit Records (2000–2008)
In early 2000 after a disagreement with Orvell Sterling over ownership of Realizm Records, D-Edge left the label that he co-founded to start his own
imprint with uncle and Co-Partner Brian “B-Edge” Edgington. The label would be called Xsquisit Records and in 2001, D-Edge finally saw the release of
the BloodBrothaz-Blood In, Blood Out. With underground hits like Girly Girly, So Hot, Chocolate, Playas Afternoon and We All That, the album proved
that D-Edge was not just a good producer, he was also a good writer in his own right. But the following year the group disbanded due creative
differences, which would leave the label and D-Edge in limbo for several years. During that time, D-Edge went back to school and obtain his degree in
Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology. In 2004, D-Edge released an EP called The Roast, which publicised a heated “Beef” with several
local rappers that were friends turned adversaries. D-Edge showed that once again, he could take it to the next level. With lines like, “I bring the heat
to all you lil 80’s babies, flame the gats or we can rap whatever the case maybe”, he proved to be too much for his opposition lyrically. The Roast
was a Limited Edition CD and only 1000 copies were printed. All 1000 copies were sold out in one week. Then came the Xsquisit Radio Trilogy. These
mixtapes showed growth, depth and just how good D-Edge really was. Production, lyrics, and delivery were all in tact and all 3 volumes introduced
several new talented artist like Tone Dolla, D-Dub, Wood, Yendor, AG, Mz. Roe and Mr, Yak as well as underground vets Bolo DB.asi of First Battalion,
Menace and Soope of the Grind Family. These releases laid the ground work for D-Edge most recent release, G-Kalaborationz.
G-Kalaborationz and BlockStars The Movie/Soundtrack (2009)
The D-Edge G-Kalaborationz album, released on February 24, 2009, featured songs by D-Edge himself as well as songs with other artist that featured
on previous works by D-Edge or artist that D-Edge produced. The cd is a certified banger and has been said that it could very easily be D-Edge’s
best work to date. With singles like Big Boyz, Lexball Whippin’ and Trainin’, to the grimy anthems Call’em Wut You Want, Clean’em Up and Block
Starz, you will not be disappointed. Itunes has reported serveral song, album and rigntone downloads and can be on it’s way to selling thousands of
units indepenently. It is also reported that there will be a short film and documentary called “BlockStars” that will be released this summer, as well as D-
Edge’s solo follow up Mr. Midwest-The 7 Step Process and “The X Files-Underground and Unreleased (UAU)”, which is an album showcasing previous
music that was never before released.
Musical influences and style
D-Edge has said that his primary instrument in the studio is the Akai MPC 2000XL, a drum machine and sampler, and his favorite keyboard is th
Ensoniq MR-61/76. He cites his uncles Brian, Kenny, Dennis and Wendell as primary musical influences. His uncle Wendell is a well advanced bass
player that D-Edge says “I don’t think too many people can fuck with him when it comes to playing bass.” Though Brian, Kenny and Dennis never
played any instruments or ever indulged in creating music, their love for music rubbed off on him heavily. “Dennis would have these family get
togethers at his home. He has thousands of albums and when we would go to his house, he would let me search through his albums and play
whatever I wanted or make little mix tapes with all my favorite songs. That's where my love for 70's music came from. My uncle Kenny was the
architect to making mix tapes. When recording his tapes, every song time was documented on the cover and each song was faded out perfectly.
His tapes sounded better than the originals. I think Kenny is what made me strive to be a perfectionist when putting this music together.” Yet it was
his uncle and Co-Partner Brian who made D-Edge want to become everything he is today. “Brian use to come home with music all the time. He was
always the first person with all the new music where we came from. He was everything Hip-Hop was about and I just wanted to be like him. I use to
sneak in his room, wear his clothes and "high-speed dub" all of his tapes. One day I snuck in his room and recorded this one tape that had no name
on it. When I took it home and listen to it, it was Eazy-E and N.W.A.” D-Edge credits his famous influences to DJ Quik, Dr. Dre, N.W.A., Eminem,
KLC (formally of Beats By the Pound),2Pac, Jay-Z, Ice Cube, Biggie, UGK, Twista, Trick Daddy, Rakim, Ice-T, Nas, Scarface, Chuck D, KRS-1, Paris,
Prince, Quincy Jones, Herb Alpert, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire and Michael Jackson.
Film and TV career
D-Edge has appeared in two movie documentaries called To Live and Die in G.I. and Midwest Underground Kingz. His first video The Alliance made its
debut appearance on To Live or Die in G.I. which was directed by Waylan Phillips. D-Edge also is credited to co-scoring Midwest Underground Kingz
and is responsible for music backdrops for several commercials and hairshows. D-Edge is making his directorial debut with Waylan Phillips for his dvd
movie Blockstarz. Though this will be his first opportunity to direct a movie, D-Edge said that he always knew that he would be behind the camera. “I’
ve always had input in all the videos that I’ve shot,” says D-Edge. “I always told Way (Waylan Phillips) that I wanted to do some directing because
the music paints the picture. Producing music and directing videos, to me, go hand in hand.”
Discography
• Thorobread (1999), Realizm
• Blood In, Blood Out (with the BloodBrothaz) (2001), Xsquisit
• The Roast (2004), Xsquisit
• Xsquisit Radio Vol. 1 (2005), Xsquisit
• Xsquisit Radio Vol. 2 (2006), Xsquisit
• Xsquisit Radio Vol. 3 (2007), Xsquisit
• G-Kalaborationz (2008), Xsquisit
• BlockStarz Soundtrack (not yet released) (2009), Xsquisit
• The X Files-Underground and Unreleases(UAU) (not yet released) (2009), Xsquisit
• Mr. Midwest-The 7 Step Process (not yet released) (2009), Xsquisit
Filmography
• Live And Die In G.I. Vol. 2 (2001), himself
• Midwest Underground Kingz (2005), himself
• BlockStarz the Movie (2009), himself
