White Dave – Black Rapper

There are few things worse than being on the wrong end of a roasting session. Your face gets warm and your palms sweat, while the laughs of your friends pierce your ego. Yet no one will laugh at you if you own everything about you. Today, White Dave has released his debut EP Black Rapper. Playing on the oxymoronic take of his blackness as contrasted by his name, Dave, partnered with Fresno-based producer, Kev H., to release a 17-minute laissez-faire epilogue to heightened stoner culture.

“I used to get roasted for the music. I’m not even going to lie to you, I didn’t start making music that was undeniably good until I was well into college,” says White Dave. Everybody gets roasted sometimes, but fewer people get inspired by it.

Born Noah David Coogler, White Dave grew up in Richmond, CA where he stood out from his peers even as a child. “People used to always say ‘You act and talk like Carlton Banks from Fresh Prince,” says the 28-year-old. As a black kid growing up in the Bay, specifically in the city where Master P gassed up his No Limit tank, Dave’s perceived lack of a rough edge made him a target. “That was like the go to insult. The other one was ‘Oreo.’ It was exacerbated by the fact that I’m from Richmond, and you know stereotypically n*ggas from Richmond don’t act like me,” says Dave. So no, White Dave isn’t white. The moniker is just an extension of the proudly black Noah David Coogler, who happens to march to the beat of a different 808.

About that name. It was given to him by his older brother who also has a very recognizable name for different reasons–he’s the award-winning director of Fruitvale Station, Black Panther, and Creed, Ryan Coogler. White Dave initially began rapping, producing, and recording his own music at 12 using the stage name Noah David. Years later, as a 20-year-old, he found himself still grappling with some of the same negative comments from his peers that he endured as a child.

Today, White Dave delivers a 6-track EP that shows his cohesion over familiar landscapes, while he explores a newer sound and incredible groove. Stream Black Rapper on all streaming platforms now.

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