“Hip Hop Raised Me,” Danya Devs on Shifting to a More Melodic Sound

Danya Devs has spoken openly about the musical direction he has been taking in recent years, highlighting a gradual move away from heavy rap toward a more melody-driven sound. The shift, he explained, reflects both changes in the music landscape and his own artistic development over time.

“There’s no formula,” Danya Devs said when discussing his creative process on a recent episode of 5 Hip Hop Nights with DJ Speedsta. “When you make songs, you go and perform, you see the reception.” According to him, testing music live allows him to gauge audience reactions and refine his work accordingly, rather than relying on a fixed method for creating hits.

The artist further explained that the current musical landscape is increasingly focused on melodies, which influenced his decision to expand beyond a strictly hip hop style. “Right now we’re jumping to an era where it’s full of melodies, so I had to shift from being just like a hip hop straight,” he said. This shift has not been about abandoning his roots but about adapting to a broader approach to songwriting and performance.

Even as he explores new sounds, Danya Devs emphasized the lasting importance of hip hop in his career. “Hip hop raised me,” he said. “I don’t think even Blaq Diamond was gonna be here if there was no hip hop. Hip hop is our base, it’s the core. The wordplay we put on our songs is hip hop, but we have to put melodies.” His statements underline that while melodies now play a larger role, the genre’s foundational elements rhythm, wordplay, and lyrical structure remain central to his music.

This evolving approach is particularly evident in his debut solo album, Bayede, which blends lyrical depth with melodic experimentation. Through the project, Danya Devs demonstrates how he balances the technical and expressive aspects of hip hop with the demands of crafting songs that resonate widely. He also highlighted that recognizing this need for growth prompted him to focus on developing new skills. “It’s the shifting of time where I saw I need to develop melodies and learn how to make hits,” he explained.

Danya Devs’ reflections provide insight into how artists navigate change while maintaining a connection to their roots. His commitment to hip hop as a foundation, coupled with an openness to melodic exploration, shows an artist responsive to both his craft and his audience. Bayede stands as a testament to this balance, marking a stage in his career where innovation and tradition coexist.