In April of 2021, Dezzie Gee soft-opened the creative space that is The Corner Store in Los Angeles, California—offering a range of services from musical recording to space rental for private events. After brainstorming new ways to build a stronger online presence, a friend of his suggested an idea that would allow him to do that while providing a platform for artists to be seen and heard in a raw way.

“I was talking about doing something rap centered and my homie, Garland, said I should do a freestyle series. A week later, I went and bought a camera, and decided I’d call it A Trip To The Corner Store,” said Gee, who then called up his friend EpicMustDie to be his first feature. The two sat alongside one another in front of a time-lapsed video of Epic’s hometown, Compton, California, as he spit an unforgettable freestyle over Drake’s “Champagne Poetry” instrumental. “It all happened within a span of like three weeks. We dropped the first episode and people just started tappin’ in after that."

‍

Following a little over a year since the series’ debut, The Corner Store has produced well over a hundred episodes, growing its audience to about 15 thousand. When asked if Gee had a certain criteria for artists he wanted to showcase, he responded, “They just have to have talent and they have to be themselves. If I believe in it, I can post it.” This model has allowed him to collaborate with a variety of rappers of different styles and backgrounds—from Bay Area natives LaRussell and Saunsu, Compton’s Azjah and Westside Boogie, Long Beach’s Mista Clean and Dirty Dell, Inglewood’s Young Go and AshBash, Orange County’s Kamal Wilson, and Brooklyn’s Krimelife Ca$$.

^{“I wanted to create a platform that isn’t solely based on artists being signed or having a backing. I wanted underground people to have a place to come and get solid content.”}

For artists who have never done a show like this before, they’re provided the opportunity to sharpen their performance skills and prepare for other media outlets. For others, taking A Trip To The Corner Store has become a part of their rollout for music projects.

“The reactions and feedback I’ve received have all been positive, and I’ve gained more respect from supporters. I’m currently using this momentum to draw the interest I’ve gotten from my trip to my newest album. Really showcasing the west coast skill set I brought to my freestyle,” said Clean—who featured on episode 105 of the show—rapping over DJ Quik and Ludacris’ classic “Spur of the Moment” beat.

Whatever the artists’ reason for taking a trip, they get what they need from the one-on-one experience and gain more visibility, all while making a statement about who they are. “How you can tell a story through different people’s instrumentals is special. This brought back that feeling of Wayne rapping over other people’s beats. From the instrumental the artist picks, to what they choose to rap over it. Their style, presence, and delivery. It’s personal. I know after it’s posted the audience feels that rawness we felt while recording it. It’s an attention grabber,” said Gee. Aside from the true hip-hop fans tuning in every week, the series has also grabbed the attention of a few A&R’s from different record labels looking to sign new talent, making the demand for a spot on the show even higher. “It’s bigger than me at this point. I’m grateful for what this has turned into and how it’s helping people.” 

Dezzie Gee’s journey as an independent, multifaceted artist put him in the position to help fellow artists. Wearing many hats such as DJ, producer, rapper, and videographer made him the perfect person for such a role—elevating the talents of others. “A lot of people complain about not being seen. I know not everyone has the willpower to do it, but we can create what’s missing for us in this industry. I knew what was missing for me so I created something that I wanted and needed.” The growing success of A Trip to The Corner Store freestyle series has inspired Gee to expand upon it, creating The Corner Store network, to house a variety of shows for more than rap artists, but for tastemakers of all kinds.

If artists know what artists need, then we can trust the pioneering spirit in Dezzie Gee to continue creating spaces for unsung voices to thrive in the entertainment industry.

‍