The 2005 award-winning documentary Darius Goes West profiled then 15 year-old Darius Weems and his battle against Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a disease without a cure. Throughout the film, Weems advances the narrative with beats and rhymes that made up for with raw emotion what they lacked in slick production value. 

He's come a long way.  

When Flagpole recently caught up with Darius in the studio at 1093 Boulevard, he was preparing for a 25 day, 11 state tour of the northeast US and placing finishing touches on a currently untitled debut LP for New South Entertainment with sound engineer Micah Bennett (TLC, Young Jeezy) and producer Dirt Reynolds (Bubba Sparxxx).  From our fly-on-the-wall perspective we witnessed an artist clearly dedicated to the craft that's surrounded himself with the right people.  Darius traffics in the inspirational ("God's GPS) just as comfortably as he does the crunk ("Money Man"), and that versatility should make his mixtape a hit around town, and beyond.  When asked, during a break in the action, about his ability to change gears, Darius came clean: "I spit about things that are in my life...I can be in any mood and talk about anything." 

As for the upcoming Believe tour [underway May 13]?  "I'm really excited trying to pick up on my rap career and basically trying get the word out.  A lot people know me through my documentary but people don't know me as a professional rapper. It's just like a dream come true for me," he shares enthusiastically.  From humble beginnings and home recordings to recording deals and unlimited access in a world-class studio Weems takes everything in stride. "It's a process you know...I gotta work hard for it," he says, adding, "I really just wanna take my time with it and not rush anything."

Keep up with Darius on tour at www.dariusgoeswest.org and find his music, including the track "Believe" (featuring Bubba Sparxxx), on iTunes.