"this is dante keeping that real hip hop shit raw, just like i like it." - Guilty Simpson (Stones Throw)
"... A breath of fresh air for Detroit ... Roaming Empire is the much-needed revolutionary voice Detroit has been lacking for years." - Wayne State South End
"The cockiest underdog in Michigan hip hop released the most original hip hop album in a long time...there is no stopping this man" - DetroitRap.com
From Detroit to Paris, Fort Wayne to Greece, New York to San Francisco, Dante built his game up in the Detroit Hip Hop scene and all over Mi then the US then the world . . .
Dante has been writing and rhyming since high school, freestyling @ houseparty's and @ classic spots like the mainfloor @ St Andrew's 3 Floors of Fun. His first time rapping on stage was at a show in Ann Arbor back in 1998 w/ Binary Star, Invincible and Athletic Mic League.
Already the recognized frontman for a regional live hip hop band in 2000, Dante linked up with high school friend Dirk and Ann Arbor battle DJ, Deckmaster D, as Switch Stance. Switch Stance made a fast and lasting mark on the stages of Detroit & southeast Michigan, building a classic live show and following before ever releasing a record (see the 2002 Detroit Rap Awards), their songs were memorized by fans who could only catch the songs at one of the hundreds of live shows performed between 2001 and 2004. The debut album from Switch Stance, 'Making Cents', sold well and charted on over 150 CMJ charts. From the mainstage @ the Detroit Electronic Music Festival to the the Warped Tour, Dante has been performing all over since first stepping on stage in 1998, including shows with KRS-1, Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Herc, Aphex Twin, Method Man, Inspecta Deck, El-P, Atmosphere, Aesop Rock, Mos Def, OneBeLo, D12, Immortal Technique, Sage, Brother Ali, Blackalicious and more.
In 2004 Dante really stepped out as a solo artist on a month long leg of the Van's Warped Tour. Performing throughout the states and Canada, Dante sold enough copies of "Making Cents" by hand to fund his whole trip and the studio time that would be the beginning of his solo debut.
With his solo debut complete in 2007, Dante made noise from Detroit through the US and to the world with his signature delivery and perspective on life in the US and Hip Hop today, all without proper label support or distribution. In 2007 Dante was again featured on the Van's Warped Tour, released his fast selling FixTape w/ Deck (now in its 3rd pressing), toured Europe three times, self-released his second piece of vinyl the Tucker Stomp 12" and reached number two on the CMJ hip hop charts w/ Roaming Empire. People who know are ready for the record, are you? The Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, MetroTimes, DetroitRap.com, DetroitHipHop.com, State News, 100's of hip hop DJs all over the world and your mother agree - You Need To Listen To Dante Rap.
