Show & Prove: Lil Dicky
Words Roger Krastz
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in the Winter 2015 issue of of XXL Magazine, on stands now.

Hip-hop has had a long history of humor that is considerate to the culture. New rapper Lil Dicky is looking to continue the tradition while gaining the respect of heads everywhere.

Born 27 years ago as David Burd, Dicky has always had an affinity for being a celebrity. Raised in Cheltenham Township, Pa., he had as he tells it, “A very pleasant childhood with no real adversity. Everything was pretty great.”

David knew as a kid that he wanted to be a comedian or an en- tertainer. But while in college at the University of Richmond, Burd chose the more straight and narrow path, graduating in 2010 with a Bachelors in business and marketing. He then headed to San Francisco, to work at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, an ad agency where he spent three years as a copywriter.

In his free time, the aspiring creative conceived a rap alter ego he dubbed Lil Dicky. “I knew I could rap a little bit, which is not the most unique way for being funny,” he explains. “The more I did it, the better I got at rapping and then I fell in love with the craft of it and the possibility that I was a good rapper was very intriguing.”

Between 2011 and 2012, Dicky recorded over 75 songs and in April of 2013, dropped his debut mixtape, So Hard, which offered the breakout records, “Ex Boyfriend” and “Russell Westbrook On a Farm” (the latter earning Dicky a shout out on Twitter from basketball star Kevin Durant). He then continued to drop a new song or video a week for the next five months. Dicky also raised $113,000 via Kickstarter to cover the costs of recording his debut album and going on tour.

This past summer, Dicky put out his independently released LP Professional Rapper, which landed at No. 7 on the Billboard Top 200 and at No. 1 on Top Comedy Albums, Top Rap Albums and Top Independent Albums charts. The LP included notable singles “Save Dat Money” with Fetty Wap and Rich Homie Quan and the title track, which features Snoop Dogg and has a funny animated video with almost 10 million views to date. Recently off his first tour, Dicky is still figuring out his next moves but the doors are wide open now. “You can tell he has the drive to not just do well, but really be the best,” says Mike Hertz, Dicky’s manager. “Dave can really be the biggest and it’s just a matter of making the right decisions.”

With a bubbling rap career, Dicky still has more to prove and big dreams for the future. “Ideally in five years you see me just as much as a rapper as you do an onscreen talent,” he admits.

Spoken like one of today’s rappers.

Check out more from XXL’s Winter 2015 issue including Kendrick Lamar’s cover story, Rick Ross' forever hustle, Silento's takeover with "Watch Me (Whip/NaeNae)," Rhymesayers' legendary movement, Eye Candy India Love and Show & Prove with Bryson Tiller and Tory Lanez, CeeLo Green reminiscing on Goodie Mob's Soul Food album and Kevin Gates' Islah album.

See New Music Releases for January 2016

More From XXL