D The Business Explained

D The Business
Birth Name:Donavin Rashad Hogan[1]
Birth Date:1990 1, mf=yes
Birth Place:Houston, Texas, U.S.
Relatives:Romeo Miller (Cousin)
Master P (Cousin)
Module:
Embed:yes
Background:solo_singer
Genre:Hip hop
Years Active:2000–present

Donavin Rashad Hogan (born January 15, 1990), better known by his stage name D The Business (formerly known as Lil' D and Little D), is an American rapper, actor, entrepreneur, songwriter and real estate agent. D The Business gained fame as a young street rapper in the early 2000s at just 10 years old along with his cousin Romeo Miller (formerly Lil’ Romeo) after signing with No Limit Records, which was founded by his cousin, Master P. He was one of the few artists featured on Romeo's debut album Lil' Romeo, which charted the US Billboard 200 at number six and went on to be certified gold, selling over 500,000 copies within a month, which went on to be certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

He was billed on early commercial releases as Lil' D or Lil D before eventually changing his stage name to D The Business in 2012. This name change was accompanied by his breakout street single We So Bout It featuring Master P, Black Don, and Lil Wayne.

In 2019, he released the song Fancy featuring Black Don, and in 2020, he released the single Flex featuring Romeo Miller & Young V. In 2022, he released the mixtape Back To Business.

Aside from music, D The Business is also an actor, realtor, and founder of numerous companies. Hogan also co-founded the independent label L.I.E. Entertainment and played a pivotal role in the creation of the record labels Guttar Music and No Limit Forever Records.

Early life

Donavin Rashad Hogan was born in Houston, Texas by way of Missouri City to parents Donald Morgan Hogan and Maxine Denise Miller,[1] as well as family from the Calliope and Magnolia Housing Projects of New Orleans, Louisiana. He spent a lot of his adolescence around music, basketball and street life while still excelling in school academically. At the time Mo. City and Houston was sort of a melting pot of organized gangs and sports. He traveled frequently between Houston, Los Angeles, and New Orleans growing up. He is the cousin of rappers and entrepreneurs Master P and Romeo Miller. He is the cousin of rappers C-Murder and Silkk the Shocker, and he is the brother of rapper and pro athlete basketball trainer Black Don (formerly BBlak or Black). He attended Thurgood Marshall High School, where he played basketball, and graduated in 2008 with offers of athletic scholarships and credits for college courses he had taken while still in high school. D The Business was coached by LeBron James under the guidance of Michael Jordan at a basketball camp in Santa Barbara, Ca.[2] Hogan and Romeo Miller also went to the Reebok-sponsored invitation-only basketball Teaneck, New Jersey-based ABCD Camp and both played on the AAU circuit for many years as part of the P.Miller Ballers alongside many now NBA professional players. He briefly attended college before leaving to focus solely on music and business. D The Business was signed to No Limit at the age of ten, after he wrote a rap and snuck with Romeo Miller into his fathers studio to record it. This inevitably started both of their careers in music.

Music career

2001-04: Lil' Romeo, Lil' D, and No Limit

In 2001, Hogan known at the time as Lil' D and Little D was one of the only features on Romeo Miller's debut album, titled after his original alias Lil' Romeo. Also in 2001, D The Business was featured on his cousins Silkk the Shocker's remix single of "That's Kool", featuring Lil’ Romeo and Trina which was the second lead single for the Lil' Romeo album.[3] Later that year, at just 11 years old he released his own debut hit single "Cotton Candy" featuring Lil’ Romeo executive produced by Master P and distributed by Priority Records off of his scheduled debut album titled "Meet Me At The Playground".[4] The album was never released.

In 2002, during the spring D The Business along with his cousin Romeo skipped school for the road on a 15 date tour at only 12 years old.[5] Later that year he was featured on multiple songs on Romeo's second studio album, Game Time via The New No Limit and Universal Records which included "Clap Your Hands" and the more notable single "Play Like Us" which spawned live TV performances of the song on Nickelodeon's 2002 "TEENick Summer Concert Series" hosted by Nick Cannon and on the television show Soul Train.[6] [7] [8]

D The Business also featured on the 504 Boyz hit single Tight Whips off of their second album Ballers released on December 10, 2002.

In 2004, Hogan lead on the songs “Bobblehead” “Rich Boyz” “Can't Stop Us” released on Romeo's third studio album Romeoland via The New No Limit and Koch. D The Business was featured on "I Like That" “Dime Pieces" “We Can Make It" “Party" “Bobble Head" off of the soundtrack Romeo! TV Show (The Season) for the hit show Romeo! an American sitcom that aired on Nickelodeon from 2003 to 2006.

2005-07: Collaborations, Rich Boyz, and Guttar Music

In 2005 Lil' D's song "You Don't" was featured on the 504 Boyz Hurricane Katrina (We Gon' Bounce Back) album. Lil' D and C-Los were part of a street organization called “GUTTA Click” which prompted Master P to launch the Guttar Music Entertainment record label.

Also in 2005, Lil D, Romeo Miller, Valentino Miller, C-Los and Doug formed the rap group Rich Boyz and on November 22, 2005, they released their debut album titled Young Ballers: The Hood Been Good to Us on Guttar Music.

Hogan appeared on songs "Sittin’ Low" and "Fitted Cap” on the soundtrack album titled God's Gift which was Romeo Miller's first album to be classified as explicit released with his official name changed to Romeo.

D The Business also featured on Master P's Ghetto Bill: The Best Hustler In The Game, Vol. 1 on songs  “Let Me See It” and “Hood Starr”.

In 2006, the release of the movie Repos Original Soundtrack included his song “Bang” as well as his features on “Back Up Off Me” and the movie's lead single “Repo” along with Master P and Black Don.

2008-11: Mixtapes, No Limit Forever, Collaborations

Black Don & Lil' D released a compilation mixtape titled “Live From The Gutta Vol. 1”.

In 2010, D The Business featured on Romeo's Patience Is A Virtue Mixtape on the song Feelin Myself with Will Smith’s nephew K. Smith.[9] On May 25, 2010 at the time still known as Lil' D featured on Romeo Miller’s single entitled "She Bad”.

In addition, that year D The Business also performed at the VH1 televised 2010 Hip Hop Honors awards with his cousins Romeo Miller, Valentino Miller, Silkk The Shocker, his brother Black Don, along with Trina, Gucci Mane and Mystikal announced on stage by actress Taraji P. Henson to honor his cousin Master P and No Limit Records.[10]

His appearance on the song “I Be Chasing Money” and his single “We Here” were both released on his brother Black Don's mixtape entitled The Scrimmage.

In 2011, D The Business would go on a tour with his cousins Romeo Miller, Master P and Silkk the Shocker, the tour was titled "No Limit Forever International". On August 19, 2011, D The Business featured on Romeo Miller's I Am No Limit mixtape and was billed on this project as “D” after dropping "Lil" from his stage name on songs such as "Rock Wit It”, "Catch Me If You Can", "Drop That", and his brother Black Don's single "Money Flow" with Master P & Romeo Miller.

D The Business also featured on Romeo Miller's Maserati Rome Inception Mixtape on the song Phone Sex.

2012-present: New name, New label L.I.E. Entertainment

In 2012, Hogan formed a new independent record label with his brother Black Don titled L.I.E. Entertainment (Loyalty Is Everything) and he also officially changed his stage name to D The Business. On January 5, 2012, D The Business released his breakout single "We So Bout It" featuring Black Don, Master P, and Lil Wayne.

On June 28, 2013, D The Business released his debut solo mixtape, From Sidelines 2 Headlines, and on July 17, 2013, released the official video to the single We So Bout It.

His second mixtape Loyalty Is Everything, Vol. 1 was released on November 11, 2014, with the songs Sunny Days, On Right Now and Live It Up.

In 2017, he released the Lit Nights & Good Mornings EP on May 5, 2017, led by singles Gwap and the song All You Gotta Do (Say Yes).

On January 24, 2020, D The Business released the single Flex featuring his cousins Romeo Miller & Young V.

D The Business released the mixtape Back To Business featuring the singles Fancy and Tonight on March 11, 2022.[11] [12]

Other Ventures

Acting career

In 2004, D The Business was cast in the independent film Decisions. D The Business appeared as a school bully in the 2007 movie Uncle P.

Business Ventures and Real Estate

Hogan started many businesses and he is a licensed real estate agent in Texas.[13]

Other media

Hogan is the co-founder and co-host of the Intellects Connect podcast which launched in 2021.[14] [15]

Discography

YearTitleAlbum | Mixtape | Single
2001Releases as Lil' D
"That's Kool" (Remix)

(with Silkk the Shocker Romeo Miller Trina)

Lil' RomeoFeatured Artist
Where They At

(with Romeo Miller Master P)

Featured Artist
Cotton Candy

(Featuring Romeo Miller Master P)

Meet Me at the PlaygroundLead Artist
2002"Play Like Us”

(with Romeo Miller & Tyrone)

Lil' Romeo – Game TimeFeatured Artist
Clap Your Hands

(with Romeo Miller)

Featured Artist
Where They at 2

(with Romeo Miller Master P)

Featured Artist
"Tight Whips”

(with 504 Boyz, Master P, Slay Sean, 5th Ward Weebie, Lil' Romeo & Papa Reu)

504 Boyz – BallersFeatured Artist
2004Bobblehead

(with Romeo Miller)

Lil' Romeo – RomeolandFeatured Artist
Rich Boyz

(with Rich Boyz Romeo Miller)

Featured Artist
Can't Stop Us

(with Rich Boyz Romeo Miller)

Featured Artist
2005I Like That

(with Rich Boyz Romeo Miller)

Romeo! TV Show (The Season)SoundtrackFeatured Artist
Dime Pieces

(with Rich Boyz Romeo Miller)

Featured Artist
We Can Make It

(with Romeo Miller)

Featured Artist
Party

(with Rich Boyz Romeo Miller)

Featured Artist
Bobblehead

(with Romeo Miller)

Featured Artist
Let Me See It

(with Master P,  Black Don, C-Los, Tank, Pop & Ruga)

Master P – Ghetto Bill (The Best Hustler in the Game) Vol.1Featured Artist
Hood Starr

(with Master P, Black Don, C-Los & Tank)

Featured Artist
Got Cream

(with Master P &  Black Don)

Master P – Remix Classics (Greatest Hits)Featured Artist
You Don't

(with 504 Boyz)

504 Boyz – Hurricane Katrina (We Gon' Bounce Back)Lead Artist
"Cutt"

(with Rich Boyz)

Rich Boyz – Young Ballers: The Hood Been Good to UsLead Artist
B.I.G: We Roll Big

(with Rich Boyz)

Lead Artist
Young Ballers: The Hood Been Good to Us

(with Rich Boyz)

Lead Artist
2006Bang

(with C-Los & Tank)

Master P – Repos Original SoundtrackLead Artist
Back Up Off Me

(with  Black Don, Tank, C-Los, Krazy, Bengie B & Gangsta)

Featured Artist
Repo

(with Master P,  Black Don, C-Los)

Featured Artist
Let Me See It

(with Master P,  Black Don, C-Los, Tank, Pop & Ruga)

Master P – The Ultimate Master PFeatured Artist
Sittin’ Low

(with Romeo Miller)

Romeo – God's GiftFeatured Artist
Fitted Cap

(with Romeo Miller & Rich Boyz)

Featured Artist
2010Live From The Gutta Vol. 1 Mixtape

(with  Black Don,  Master P, 2 Kool and various Guttar Music artists)

Lead Artist
"She Bad”

(with Romeo Miller & Black Don)

SingleFeatured Artist
Feeling Myself

(with Romeo Miller & K Smith)

Romeo – Patience Is a Virtue MixtapeFeatured Artist
2011Releases as D
Rock Wit It

(with Romeo Miller, Black Don, Valentino, Ms Chee, Bengie B & Gangsta)

Romeo – I Am No LimitFeatured Artist
Catch Me If You Can

(with Romeo Miller)

Featured Artist
Drop That

(with Romeo Miller & Tempo)

Featured Artist
Money Flow

(with Black Don, Master P & Romeo Miller)

Featured Artist
I Be Chasin Money

(with Black Don & Tempo)

Black Don – The ScrimmageFeatured Artist
We HereLead Artist
Money Flow

(with Black Don, Master P & Romeo Miller)

Featured Artist
Phone Sex

(with Romeo Miller & T.E.C.

Romeo – InceptionFeatured Artist
2012Releases as D The Business
We So Bout It

(featuring Black Don Master P Lil Wayne)

From Sidelines 2 HeadlinesLead Artist
2013From Sidelines To HeadlinesLead Artist
On Right NowLoyalty Is Everything, Vol. 1Lead Artist
2014Sunny DaysLead Artist
Loyalty Is Everything, Vol. 1Lead Artist
2016Gettin’ NakedSingleLead Artist
2016Connect 4 FreestylesLead Artist
2017GwapLit Nights & Good Mornings EPLead Artist
All You Gotta Do (Say Yes)

(feat. 2 Kool)

Lit Nights & Good Mornings EPLead Artist
Lit Nights & Good Mornings EPLead Artist
2018The FAB 5 Freestyles

(with Black Don & 2 Kool)

Lead Artist
Bout My Shit

(with 2 Kool)

2 Kool – #ThoughtsAsTheSmokeFlow EPFeatured Artist
2019Regulate FreestyleFreestyleLead Artist
Us FreestyleFreestyleLead Artist
Fancy

(featuring Black Don)

SingleLead Artist
2020Tonight

(featuring 2 Kool)

SingleLead Artist
Flex

(featuring Romeo Miller & Young V)

SingleLead Artist
7.62 Freestyle[16] FreestyleLead Artist
Back To Business Flow Freestyle[30]

(with 2 Kool)

FreestyleLead Artist
2022Back To BusinessLead Artist

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Donavin Rashad Hogan . Ancestry Institute . Ancestry . November 24, 2022.
  2. Web site: Stories . Local . Check Out D The Business's Story - Voyage Houston Magazine Houston City Guide . 2022-09-18 . voyagehouston.com . en-US.
  3. Web site: D the Business Credits . 2022-09-17 . AllMusic . en.
  4. Web site: Recording "Cotton Candy (radio version)" by Little D. feat. Lil' Romeo - MusicBrainz . 2022-09-17 . musicbrainz.org.
  5. Billboard Staff . 2002-02-21 . Lil' Romeo Skips School For The Road with fellow kid rapper cousin Little D . 2022-09-17 . Billboard . en-US.
  6. Web site: Little D. . 2022-09-17 . TVGuide.com . en.
  7. Web site: Lil' Romeo in Concert . 2022-09-17 . TVGuide.com . en.
  8. Web site: Lil' Romeo and Lil' D performing Play Like Us on the Soul Train Television show . .
  9. Web site: Romeo-College-Boyys . 2010-02-19 . Mixtape 'Patience Is A Virtue' OUT NOW ! . 2022-09-18 . Skyrock . fr.
  10. Web site: 2012-02-09 . "2010: Hip Hop Honors Tribute Performance: Master P" Show Clip VH1.com . 2022-09-18 . 2012-02-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120209182452/http://www.vh1.com/video/shows/2010-hip-hop-honors/525475/2010-hip-hop-honors-tribute-performance-master-p.jhtml . bot: unknown .
  11. Web site: Staff . AllHipHop . 2022-07-25 . Rapper And Serial Entrepreneur D The Business Is Getting Back To Business as Hip-Hop's Next Biggest Mogul . 2022-09-18 . AllHipHop . en-US.
  12. Web site: D The Business on Instagram: "Back To Business out on platforms now! Go Stream That " . 2022-09-18 . Instagram . en.
  13. Web site: 2021-10-06 . Meet D The Business Rapper, Actor, Entrepreneur, and Real Estate Agent . 2022-09-18 . SHOUTOUT HTX . en-US.
  14. Web site: Intellects Connect . 2022-09-18 . Spotify . en.
  15. Web site: Intellects Connect - YouTube . 2022-09-18 . www.youtube.com.
  16. Web site: D The Business on Instagram: "7.62 Freestyle. Easy work. Vibe wit me on this Monday. Drop some in the comments for me. #DTheBusiness #FreeC #HappyBirthdayCMiller #LoyaltyIsEverything #NoLimit #762Challenge #MoCity #Houston" . 2022-09-18 . www.instagram.com.