David Arnold Augustine Jr. (born April 10, 1985), known professionally as Dee-1, is an American rapper, author, educator, and activist from New Orleans, Louisiana.

[3] The success of his 2010 single, "Jay, 50, and Weezy", led him to sign a recording contract with RCA Inspiration three years later.

[4][5][6] Also known for his social and educational work, he was appointed by his home state's governor, John Bel Edwards, to the lead the Louisiana Council for the Success of Black Men and Boys in 2021.

He was a star basketball player at Ben Franklin High School[9] as well as homecoming king his senior year.

In August 2009, Dee-1 released a Saints-themed song with trumpet player and Rapper Ty Ochsen, titled "Bring Em to the Dome".

The single received national attention and was praised for its narrative-driven storytelling and "sheer audacity that he displayed by calling out three of the game's biggest rappers, but mostly because of the song's strong message.

In 2011, Dee-1 toured with Atlanta rappers Killer Mike and Young Dro, as well as the southern California-based rap group Pac Div.

Dee-1 developed a close relationship with Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco while joining him on the Tetsuo Youth Tour of 2013 as well.

He discussed the importance of improving his personal life and increasing his faith in some of the music industry's moral corruption.

Due to conflicts concerning the mixtape's lyrical content and Cash Money Records, Lil Wayne's home label, the project was not publicly released.

[28] Dee-1 released "Sallie Mae Back" in 2016, a hyper-energetic track celebrating the completion of his student loan payoffs.

[29] The Washington Post called it the "anthem of a generation" and landed Dee-1 a seat on Fox's leading talk show, The Real, as well as ESPN's His & Hers with Michael Smith and Jemele Hill.

The album's lead single, "Hood Villains", was handpicked by Lupe Fiasco, and the project boasts names such as Sevyn Streeter and Avery Wilson.

In 2019, it was announced that Dee-1 left RCA Records and started up his own independent label called Mission Vission Music.

[31] On April 30, 2020, Dee-1 released a solo project titled Timeless, ahead of his collaborative album with Murs,[32] which followed on September 18, 2020.