Atlanta-based DJ and rapper Dillon Maurer brought his unique flavor to the stage at HopSauce Festival on Saturday, June 15.
During the day, Maurer is a full-time DJ who works weddings, corporate events and bars. But he doubles as “Dillon,” a “true school” rapper and record label owner with deep roots in the Atlanta hip hop scene.
Maurer’s “boom-bap” style of nostalgic, old-school hip hop is a refreshing change of pace from the familiar sounds of Top 40 and pop-rock cover bands that frequent LBI bars and clubs. His performance could be described as a lot of things – wacky, funny or unusual – but definitely not boring. Complete with a panini press and an ocean-dwelling alter ego, Maurer’s performance was a must-see addition to an already fun day for festival goers.
“Is he DJing or is he rapping? Who cares? We just want to have a good time!” Maurer said after emerging from his DJ booth to the front of the stage for his rap performance.
Maurer had no problem getting the audience’s attention; he kicked off his set by throwing T-shirts and hats to people beginning to gather around the stage. His first song, “Turn the Heat Up,” was especially appropriate for the occasion, and kept everyone in tune with the callback “Turn it up!”
Maurer’s performance marked his third at the festival. He connected with Jetty CEO Jeremy DeFlippis in 2020 when DeFilippis wanted to buy a sold-out shirt from Full Plate Fam, Maurer’s record label and merchandise store. Due to pandemic closures, Maurer was unable to restock his merchandise. DeFilippis, who said Maurer is one of his favorite rappers, told him he had a printing company, and invited Maurer to perform at HopSauce.
Originally from Jacksonville, Fla., Maurer started making his own music in college at the University of Florida almost 20 years ago. “I pressed my first record there myself,” he said.
’Nineties hip-hop culture was everything to him; some of his biggest inspirations at the time were legends such as A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and The Pharcyde. Maurer was inspired to start a career as a DJ when he was a teenager, but being a DJ then involved a lot of money and equipment, as opposed to easy-to-use software and apps today, he said. It wasn’t until he went to college that he met people who were more serious about musical professions. He was able to learn from them and slowly develop his own identity as an artist.
Maurer, who described himself as an “old soul,” said most of his friends are people – and artists – much older than he, whom he looked up to and took inspiration from. His biggest inspiration was his best friend Paten Locke, who passed away in 2019.
Maurer and Locke joined forces to start their own boutique record label, Full Plate Fam, in 2013, as “home base” for themselves and their friends to flourish creatively.
“Nobody wanted to sign me, so I said, ‘All right, let me start my own stuff,’” Maurer said.
Merchandise and physical albums are particularly meaningful to Maurer, being from the “old school era,” as he said.
“When we came out, there was no such thing as streaming. Thank God that’s how I came up – doing things the old, maybe antiquated way. I’m the equivalent of keeping a gas stove instead of using electric,” Maurer joked.
In the past 10 years, Full Plate Fam has released 40 albums and produced a plethora of “wacky” merchandise, including flower pots, oven mitts and aprons: “All types of out-of-the-box stuff that no one’s ever done, or would do – for good reason,” Maurer said.
Some of those items were inspired by his love for cooking, which was on full display at HopSauce. Maurer brought his own panini press onstage to make sandwiches for the crowd.
“I stopped at Acme on the way, and I picked up some provolone and sourdough bread and pesto,” Maurer rapped along to a beat while he assembled ingredients. “I’m rapping while I’m making you a snack.”
He continued freestyling about sandwiches until the paninis were ready; then he wrapped them in foil and tossed them to excited, hungry partiers in the crowd.
Following the snack break, Maurer introduced a special guest – his crustacean alter-ego, “Lobsterdamus.” Elevator music played before Maurer re-emerged in a lobster suit.
Lobsterdamus “emerged from the bottom of the ocean” around 2019. The character took off and everyone loved it, so it’s become one of Maurer’s staples as a performer, he said. DeFilippis had been disappointed when his favorite character, Lobsterdamus, didn’t make a HopSauce appearance last year, so he had to make a big return this year, Maurer said.
“He’s coming to rain terror and spread love on LBI,” Maurer said.
Maurer released the album The Tails of Lobsterdamus in 2019, filled with clever ocean-themed songs, including “The Shell Shocker” and “Claws Up (Lobby Dom’s Theme),” both of which he performed Saturday. The nautical puns were unsurprisingly well received by the lobster-loving LBI audience.
“Get your claws up,” Maurer repeatedly chanted to the audience, and many obliged.
Maurer’s next gift to those enjoying his set was a handful of lobster bibs, which several people happily adorned themselves with, as Maurer rapped, “I got what it takes to shell-shock you.” His commitment to the bit was thorough, pausing only to “take a sip of salt water.”
Maurer was particularly excited to see The Du-Rites at HopSauce, a New York-based funk group that he had a part in bringing to the festival. He has worked with The Du-Rites’ drummer, Jay Mumford, also known as J-Zone, a well-known rapper, drummer and producer.
“I thought it would be dope to bring another element of hip hop. If you know, you know, and if you don’t, just enjoy the funk,” Maurer said.
Aside from hip hop, some of Maurer’s biggest influences have been funk, rock and jazz artists; his favorites include Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and Ahmad Jamal. He attributes his appreciation for funk to his father’s record collection, and now as a DJ, he has a huge vinyl collection himself.
Maurer said he loves HopSauce and hopes to continue performing here in the future. His favorite part of coming to LBI is the “island life” vibe and surf culture, he said.
“I love the beach culture here. And I love playing old-school hip hop here. It’s such a great audience for it. I know LBI doesn’t get a lot of hip hop, so I’m happy to bring that element,” he said.
Maurer’s new album, What Have We Done, comes out July 12. He’s already released two singles, “Banana Peels” and “Cannonball,” which he previewed at HopSauce. For more about Maurer, go to fullplatefam.com or check out @dillonmaurer on Instagram.
— Emma Desiderio
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