DESS DIOR: STANDING ON BUSINESS, DEMANDING GROWTH, AND DEFINING HER NEW ERA – BOLD 2026 INTERVIEW
From Savannah roots to global Afrobeats experiments, Dess Dior discusses evolution, vulnerability, and her transition into a new creative chapter.
The trajectory of a Hip Hop artist is often measured by their ability to balance bravado with growth, and for Dess Dior, that evolution has never felt more intentional. Following the success of her 2022 project Raw, the St. Louis-born, Savannah-raised rapper is no longer just “playing with music” as she did in her childhood; she is defining a standard. Her latest project serves as both a manual for self-worth and a sonic map of her personal transition into a more versatile, vulnerable space.
In this exclusive sit-down with VIPER, Dess Dior opens up about the drive she inherited from her musical lineage, the high-vibration studio sessions in Atlanta that birthed her most emotive tracks, and why stepping out of her comfort zone for a global sound was a risk worth taking. Whether she is collaborating with friends like Mariah the Scientist or curating a wardrobe that is “Cunt, Edgy, and Classy,” Dess is making it clear: she isn’t just part of the conversation—she’s leading it.
First of all, congratulations on the EP ‘Take Notes’. When you think about this project as a whole, what chapter of your life does it represent for you?
I would say it represents where I am right now in my life. It’s been very transitional, and it’s really just a representation of me standing on everything I’ve learned this far. I’ve grown a lot as a woman and an artist, so I just wanted this EP to reflect that.
Take us back a little, where are you from, and how did where you grew up shape your confidence and approach to music?
I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and I was raised in Savannah, Georgia. I have musicians in my family. My cousin is Chingy, so I grew up close to the music industry and I think that really inspired me to even try to play with it as a kid. I used to always want my friends to make Rap groups with me when I was literally like five or six years old.
Savannah is where I would say I really transformed into who I am, when I moved I started to play with it more. I was in a Rap group with my best friend Jada. It was called ‘Caution’, and I was the one who was really, really passionate about it. So once my dad realised that I had that passion, that real drive for it, he motivated me to actually give it a try seriously.
For fans who connected deeply with your project ‘Raw’ released in 2022, what do you think will surprise them the most when they hear this EP?
I feel like there was more range with this project, and I was very intentional. I wanted to show my diversity and just me tapping into a little more of my vulnerability. That was really important to me, and I think that’s what the difference was from ‘Raw’.
The ‘Take Notes’ EP has a strong theme of women empowerment, high standards, and self-worth. Were you intentionally setting the tone for how you want to be perceived?
Yeah, absolutely. I want my listeners to feel very empowered. I want them to feel like they shouldn’t have a problem with raising their standards and having high requirements when it comes to themselves and protecting their energy, because I don’t want my music to exemplify settling in any area of your life.
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This interview is part of our long-form content series, now hosted exclusively on our Substack. To read the full conversation with Dess Dior and gain access to our archive of deep-dives into the architects of Hip Hop and global culture, head over to the Viper Substack.
[READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE]
Photos by Chad Lawson
Interview by Nickeeba Archer
