Dave East @ Band on the Wall

Dave East is a Harlem rapper known for gritty street storytelling and a style inspired by ’90s New York hardcore rap. After building buzz with mixtapes in the early 2010s, he caught the attention of Nas, who signed him to Mass Appeal. He gained wider recognition with releases like Kairi Chanel (2016), Paranoia: A True Story (2017), and Karma 3 (2020). East has also acted, portraying Method Man in Wu-Tang Clan: An American Saga.

Born David Brewster Jr. in 1988, he began releasing mixtapes in 2010 and steadily built a following. His projects often feature major collaborators and chart success, including the studio album Survival (2019). In the 2020s he continued releasing collaborative and solo projects such as HDIGH (2022), Book of David (2022), and Fortune Favors the Bold (2023). He later worked with Scram Jones on For the Love (2024) and its sequel in 2026, while also continuing his Karma mixtape series with Karma 4 in 2025.