DeJ Loaf

DeJ Loaf is an American rapper and singer, born Deja Trimble in Detroit, Michigan. She grew up writing in a diary as an outlet, an early habit that shaped her intimate, melodic approach to songwriting, and studied nursing before turning fully to music, supporting herself with odd jobs including janitorial work while pursuing her career.

She broke through in 2014 with «Try Me», a moody, minor-key single blending rap and R&B that went viral after Drake publicly praised it, quickly establishing her as one of Detroit's most promising new voices. The song's stripped-down, melancholic production became something of a signature, and she followed it with a string of mixtapes and singles that showcased her half-sung, half-rapped delivery, including appearances on tracks like «Detroit Vs. Everybody» alongside a lineup of Detroit rap veterans.

Recognized as one of XXL's Freshmen in 2015, DeJ Loaf has continued to release music blending trap, hip-hop and R&B, known for a distinctively laid-back, moody vocal style that helped popularize a more melodic, singing-rap hybrid in mainstream hip-hop during the mid-2010s.