Demrick

West Coast rapper Demrick, born Demerick Ferm, carved out space in the lineage of celebrated cannabis-focused artists by centering his sound on high-energy party records, hardship-driven verses, and open enthusiasm for weed along with its surrounding culture. He connected with veteran MCs and received mentorship from Cypress Hill’s B-Real, resulting in multiple joint projects that included appearances by Xzibit, Bad Lucc, and further contributors. The 2016 mixtape Blaze with Us, a collaboration with Dizzy Wright loaded with popular tracks, expanded his reach and opened doors to more complete solo efforts such as Collect Call that same year and Came a Long Way in 2018.

Early on, while based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the first years of the 2000s, Ferm performed as Young De within the group Tangled Thoughts. After meeting Dogg Pound’s Kurupt in 2005, the collective followed his advice and moved to Los Angeles, where they issued the 2007 mixtape Philly 2 Cali. Ferm then went independent the following year, releasing his debut project Audio Hustlaz, Vol. 1 as Young De. That mixtape began his association with B-Real, who guested on several cuts, and led to prominent features on the Cypress Hill member’s 2009 solo debut Smoke N Mirrors plus extensive touring together. Demrick supplied a verse to a single from Cypress Hill’s 2010 album Rise Up. He formally adopted the name Demrick with the 2011 release of the #HeadsUp mixtape. For several years his output remained largely collaborative, emphasizing joint mixtapes, singles, and albums with aligned artists. Key examples include the 2015 projects Losing Focus with Cali Cleve and Stoney Point with DJ Hoppa, the weed-themed Blaze with Us alongside Dizzy Wright, and multiple releases by the group Serial Killers that featured Demrick, B-Real, and Xzibit. Fully solo albums arrived with Collect Call in 2016 and the more reflective Came a Long Way in 2018.