West LA's own Antoine Upshaw-Marshal, better known as Datta Boy, is an artist with a story to tell. He has lived several lives already including being a college graduate, a former NFL player, a youth football coach, and one of the best independent rappers in the county. Datta Boy has a powerful story that he has shared with Plan-A Radio before. In 2018, Datta Boy graced Plan-A Radio with his first interview hosted by DJ Show, Ink, King Kof, and DroBoy Govan.
During his 2018 interview for the release of The Duke Ellington Project, Datta Boy informed us of his story, the loss of his father, where he received his stage name, and his future plans in music. It was a heartfelt interview and we at Plan-A Radio have gotten the wonderful opportunity to see Datta Boy continue to flourish as a passionate artist with a lot more to offer.
Most recently, Datta Boy has released a powerful project entitled West LA Proverbs. It is gently orchestrated and sprinkled with features from the likes of UnspokenViews, Ventage, Monty Kong, Hunnit Spokes, Columbo Black and more.
To put it simply: West LA Proverbs is really good fucking album.
What makes us shake our asses? What can we use to pump us up at the gym? What sets the mood when company comes over? What creates a vibe? Every song featured on WLP is well-produced, well-written, and well-performed. Datta Boy does a great job of song placement on his albums, but even more, he is able to capture the essence of a song with a powerful music video.
Before we get into West LA Proverbs, let's discuss Datta Boy's history and videography.
In 2017, Datta Boy released the official music video for "Threat." Datta Boy and his band of masked friends avenge the death of his sister in this "Purge"-themed video. It is dark and sinister; and with the Ralph and Jose (Directors) on assignment, the video is complete with theatrics and timely graphics.
"Threat" Official Music Video Director :Ralph Laurence Mariano @ralphlaurencemarianio Asst Director: Jose Quintanilla @noface_films
When the pandemic hit, most artists slowed down, but Datta Boy continued to forge forward with the release of his "Friday"-themed music video, "Pull Up." There are some familiar faces in the video, including Plan-A Radio's own DJ Show and Ink. But most notably, our beloved Tommy "Tiny" Lister was cast to play his infamous role: "Debo".
It is only right to give honor to that day, as it is suspected to have been one of Lister's final appearances. In the West LA heat, we were blessed with Tiny's presence. He offered wisdom, inspiration, and insight into the dreams and goals that we all revealed. We were even blessed to see Monty Kong receive a good old-fashioned Debo-style chokehold. It was a day of laughter and wonder; something worth being thankful for.
Datta Boy collaborated with Lister to give away the lowrider bike featured in the music video to one lucky fan. This thoughtful social media rollout landed Datta Boy with over 5,000 views on his music video, and it is still regarded as a highly requested Plan-A radio favorite.
"Pull Up" Official Music Video starring Tommy "Tiny" Lister Director: Ralph Laurence Mariano @ralphlaurencemarianio
After releasing "Pull Up," Datta Boy went on to collaborate with Bone Crusher-- Yes, THEEEE Bone Crusher-- for the single "Go Hard." This. Song. Is. Fucking. Fire. Don't believe me, go listen on Spotify right now and you'll see why it has over 227,000 streams. Bone Crusher does his memorable "ATTENTIONNNNNN" and Datta Boy rides the beat like the seasoned professional that he is. The two work in perfect synchronicity to create one of the hottest tracks of 2021. ("Go Hard" might be one of my favorite songs by Datta Boy)
Datta Boy continues to be a dedicated artist with a wealth of talent to offer the game. West LA Proverbs is just a testament to the greatness of this West LA artist.
The third single off of the project is "Timbaland & Magoo" featuring HunnitSpokes and Monty Kong. We ALL KNOW how much I love a woman rapper, but seeing HunnitSpokes get her flowers as a feature on this song is heartwarming. She is a beautiful upcoming artist from the city who is in great company.
Monty Kong has been on the radar for a minute and is just waiting to pop. He and Ink competed at TeamBackPack NYC in 2016, and since, he's gone on to be featured in some great projects, including John Singleton's Snowfall.
"Timbaland & Magoo" is an immediate hit off of West LA Proverbs. There is a level of vulnerability in the song that deserves relishing, but Datta Boy has grown at lot, and even more, he shines.
"Timbaland & Magoo" Official Music Video featuring HunnitSpokes and Monty Kong Director: Jose Quintella (noface_Films) 2nd Camera: Alex Martinez(Amatudiosla)
Datta Boy is next up and that is an undeniable fact. He is well-packaged and dedicated to the work. He is able to budget to produce and release incredible projects and videos to accompany his music. Datta Boy is steadfast in his artistry. He knows his sound, understands his lane, and is willing to invest in himself to make his work work.
There is no wonder why he's lived so many lives. He has a lot of life and expresses joy through song. Datta Boy is able to take the lows of his life and turn them into monumental highs. Datta Boy understands how hard he needs to work to get a project done. He will lock himself in his studio and get the work done without excuses. While there is still limited presence online (trust me, I am on his head about this!), he has so much to offer. You don't want to be late to lending an ear to this artist. You will regret missing out on his rise to the top.
"Bonnie & Clyde" Official Music Video featuring Shanice Antonia Director: Jose Quintella (noface_Films)
To hear more from Datta Boy, click the links below:
Ink, 2023