The Culture
Because he grew up around street culture, his inextricable association led him to create that kind of music. “I would just try to make the music they were making, just gangster stuff. I kind of did that for about a year and then they all started going to jail and I kind of fell off from doing it.” Instead of quitting, Dusty readied for his comeback. After gaining custody of his young daughter, he decided to make music that reflected his life, which included heartbreak, as well as happiness. After taking several networking trips to Atlanta, the ambitious hustler recorded a single that Grey Goose sponsored. The hit not only jump-started his career, but it also changed his life. The Midwestern rhymer’s profile was instantly raised making him an overnight celebrity. “I’ve never had people call me Dusty Leigh in my life. Now I’ve got people running up to me yelling my name and buying me drinks. And at the time, I didn’t even drink.” Regularly dubbed “the party animal,” Dusty has worked overtime to earn the reputation and the rewards. “Most of my music is geared towards love and emotion, or just having a good time and living life. It’s not trappy at all. It’s real life and about how I live.”