Dee-1 "Sallie Mae"might be the anthem of the generation (Washington Post), perform on Real

[valet]

You’ve probably read at least one or two stories of people who’ve paid off their student loans in a matter of months. You know, the kind of Reddit posts that fill you with a mix of envy, grief and anxiety about your own loans, or maybe that’s just me. Those tales of triumph are never that relatable. They’re usually devoid of the stress that defines student debt for so many.

But a new song from New Orleans rapper Dee-1 captures the angst of repaying college loans in a way that makes it impossible not to delight in his pay-off. The aptly titled “Sallie Mae Back” details how the rapper paid off his student loans with a portion of the money he received from a record deal, after months of just making the minimum payments.

“It’s really a part of my life journey,” said Dee-1, who graduated from Louisiana State University in 2009. “So many people can relate to it. I’ve had conversations with friends who went to college, and Sallie Mae would always come up. I wanted to make it a fun, celebratory anthem to motivate people.”

In the song, the rapper, whose real name is David Augustine Jr., shares:

Needed tuition, needed room & board

Had to pay for books, so I took out loans to feed the boy

Graduated wasn’t making quite enough to pay them back

Went into default, messed my credit up, check my Equifax

I ain’t proud of that…ain’t drownin’ that…

I got two jobs really got on my grind…In the game right now, my time to shine.

Starting paying those loans back one at a time.

Got them down, down, down ’til I paid them all off.

Dee-1 wouldn’t divulge how much he owed, but he said it was substantial. The year he graduated in-state tuition, books, room and board at LSU was approximately $16,470.

“I never had that buffer of having anyone help me pay my loans back, or having my expenses be so minimal because I’m living at home with my parents,” he said. “I never had any of that stuff.”

After graduation, Dee-1 landed a job as a middle school math teacher in Baton Rouge, but left after two years to pursue his passion for music.

“The students I was teaching were more influenced by hip hop than anything else,” he said, noting that he’s still in touch with some of his students. “I wanted to restore some balance to hip hop. I come from the perspective of a young man who grew up in the hood and could relate to the experiences rappers often glorify, but who could also speak to the fact that I’m a man of God, I’m a college graduate. I’m proud of that.”

Leaving his job put a definite strain on Dee-1’s cash flow. He scraped by on his savings, while making a name for himself as an artist. When RCA offered him a record deal in 2014, the rapper saw no need to blow the advance on shiny new things.

“Cars don’t matter to me. I still drive a 1998 Honda Accord. I don’t care about keeping up with the Joneses,” said Dee-1, who is wrapping up production on his debut album due out later this year. “I was like ‘yo, I’m going to finish paying Sallie Mae back with this money.'”

By the way, Sallie Mae got a kick out of the song. The company commented on Dee-1’s Facebook page: “We’re all in the office singing along with you! Love, love, love the hook. Congratulations on your success!”

From the first frame to the last, the video for Sallie Mae Back tells a story that is all too familiar to the millions of Americans saddled with student loans. Here are some highlights that especially ring true (click here to watch the entire video):

The Fearsome Financial Aid Office: The first scene of a financial aid officer rattling off a list of tax documents needed to fill out the FAFSA before a line of sad-eyed students nails the frustration of the process. It also brings to mind the first week of school when payments haven’t kicked in and the threat of dropped classes looms large. If you’re lucky, you get a sympathetic financial aid officer willing to work some magic. Or you might end up with one who treats you like a deadbeat. Fun times.

[It’s about to get easier for students to figure out which colleges they can afford]

The Dreaded Calls From the Loan Servicer: Dee-1 dodging Sallie Mae’s calls when money was tight resonates with a lot of people who fall behind on payments. Yes, when a loan servicer calls, you should pick up. After all, they might put you in a more affordable plan or put your payments on hold until you get on your feet. But when you’re broke and overwhelmed with bills, it’s hard not to ignore those calls.

[People have more options to repay student debt, so why are defaults rising?]

The Reality That You’re Not Alone: The most sobering scenes, in the otherwise hilarious video, cuts to a police office, a barber, a nurse, a doctor, flashing the tens of thousands of dollars each owes in student loans. The amounts range from $35,100 all the way up to $215,700. There are, after all, 43 million people who owe nearly $1.3 trillion in student loans, the fastest-growing form of household debt in the country. These aren’t all millennials, as the video was quick to point out with the debt roll call, but people of all ages burdened by the same thing: student loans.

“Everyone’s journey to repaying their loans is different,” Dee-1 said. “Some people just ride it out and make the minimum payments the whole time. Some people can’t make the payments at all and struggle. Some can knock it out in chunks. But we all have the same destination to reach, which is when we can say: I finished paying Sallie Mae back.”

 

[valet]

Performance on the Real

 

[((ReFleXioN)) EteRNaL]

this shyt bangs.....beat is fire

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

Performance on the Real

 

[valet]

celibacy or the song? Or both?

 

[IronFist]

Remember he was teaching before becoming a rapper. I think Dave was a algebra teacher. I do however know he was pushing his mixtapes on LSU campus (can remember time i'll be trying to pull chicks and see him out there). I rocks with dude for the simple fact : 1.) he does alot for his community with food drives and on that activist tip. 2.) He stay within his lane. So many artist try to play "verbal hop scotch" if you will and penning these songs with these concepts that they never really experience OR you have underground artist trying to be mainstream in some of they approaches opting for anything to be the next big smash record. His lane/formula works. Dude does concerts all over from what ive seen. I share the same as it pertains to Lecrae as well

 

[Mac Casper]

This dude pays for his publicist rather than promotion resulting in an inflated sense of relevance as soon as people see his name in an article

at the idea of Washington Post telling me what the anthem of generation is

 

[Mac Casper]

Nevermind . . this is a good song

No generational anthem tho

 

[valet]

Rapper goes viral with ode to paying off student loans - CNN.com
The former middle-school math teacher, whose real name is David Augustine Jr., says his debt problems started after he graduated from Louisiana State University. Even with a full-time job, he found that he couldn't make headway on his student loans.

"I have literally been in that place in life where I'm like, do I want to put some gas in my car or do I want to eat dinner tonight?" the musician said. It's clear he hasn't forgotten that time in his life: He's giving away digital copies of the song "Sallie Mae Back" to anyone who signs up for his mailing list. "Everyone should be able to share this song, and money shouldn't be a distraction."

Now that Dee-1 has paid off his own debt, he stresses financial responsibility to those with college loan bills and says even though it might take longer than you want, you'll see the light at the end of the tunnel one day.

Student loan debt is also a hot issue on the campaign trail. Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio favors automatic income-based repayment plans for student loans, while rival John Kasich's plan includes letting high school students earn credit for basic college courses. Democrats Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton have offered plans to reduce or eliminate tuition at public colleges.

Dee-1 says he's heard some great ideas from candidates but wants them to be clear about how their plans would work. "It is ear candy to my generation to hear 'let's make college free.' ... That's easy," the New Orleans-based musician said.

What made "Sallie Mae Back" popular -- besides the catchy beats and whimsical video that's drawn more than 320,000 YouTube views -- is that so many Americans can relate: As of 2014, at least 40 million Americans have at least one outstanding student loan, pushing the nationwide student loan debt to a record $1.2 trillion.

"In the video, we tried to keep it fun but keep it serious at the same time. ... In college, you'll be partying; you'll be having fun. The whole time, your debt is just going up and up and up," Dee-1 said. "I wanted to be the light at the end of the tunnel for people."

The video has gained so much traction that the song's subject, lender Sallie Mae, tweeted a response: "Congrats @Dee1music!"

But Dee-1 isn't just basking in his fame; he's looking to the future. The musician is recording his debut major-label album for release this year.

He wants to get back into touring as soon as it's finished. "I think I'm going to be heavily requested on the college circuit because of this song," Dee-1 said with a laugh.

 

[cjlaw93]

My dude finally gettin some recognition for his music


#BlackExcellence btw

 

[↓R↑LYB]

I'm still paying Sallie Mae back

 

[NSSVO]

Good song

 

[Anerdyblackguy]

That song speaks to me on so many levels

 

[Monte Cristo]

Have been on this nikka for 5-6 years now

Good to hear he's getting some recognition now.

 

[Raheem95]

Remember he was teaching before becoming a rapper. I think Dave was a algebra teacher. I do however know he was pushing his mixtapes on LSU campus (can remember time i'll be trying to pull chicks and see him out there). I rocks with dude for the simple fact : 1.) he does alot for his community with food drives and on that activist tip. 2.) He stay within his lane. So many artist try to play "verbal hop scotch" if you will and penning these songs with these concepts that they never really experience OR you have underground artist trying to be mainstream in some of they approaches opting for anything to be the next big smash record. His lane/formula works. Dude does concerts all over from what ive seen. I share the same as it pertains to Lecrae as well

how them LSU chicks looking like tho ?

but damn the homeboy, Dee-1 graduated and decided to push tapes on campus and it worked out for him