D$ (formerly Endangered Logik)

The Journey

D$ is a Canadian hip-hop artist, chef, and storyteller whose music reflects a lifetime of struggle, resilience, and creativity. Born of British, French, Ukrainian, Irish, and Moose Cree heritage, he grew up across Canada — from Toronto and Thunder Bay to Calgary, his hometown — and has traveled abroad to Paris, Amsterdam, Belfast, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Juno Beach for the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

Marked by a 20-year battle with alcoholism, depression, anxiety, social anxiety, and ADHD (diagnosed at 42), D$ often felt like he didn’t fit in. He started drinking at 17 and didn’t stop until 2016, when his addiction nearly killed him. That near-death moment became a turning point — the beginning of survival and self-discovery.

As a teen, he also spent a month in juvenile detention. Instead of steering him deeper into crime, the experience taught him responsibility and perspective through chores and conversations with the homeless. By 18, he had left crime behind but continued to wrestle with addiction, intimacy, and self-identity.

Early Music Roots & Setback (Late ’90s – 2010)

Music had always been in the background. In the late ’90s, D$ experimented with rock parodies before naturally gravitating toward hip-hop. By 2000, underground MC Abacuz became his mentor, sharpening his lyrical edge and teaching him the craft of MC’ing. Using Cool Edit Pro and Fruity Loops, he began producing, writing, and recording, collaborating with collectives such as Trip~Wyre and Acadia Manor.

In 2008, he poured his entire heart into Untitled Poetry: Last Chance @ Life — producing, engineering, writing, and recording the full album. But in early 2009, he froze on stage during a performance in front of three judges. That moment marked the end of his group, Untitled Poetry, and D$ walked away from the mic. Falling back into alcohol, he sank deeper into depression, struggling to find purpose and self-worth.

Recovery & Martial Arts (2016–2020)

After nearly losing his life to alcohol in 2016, D$ found strength and discipline through martial arts. Training at Western Canada Martial Arts Academy under Sifu Marvin Ismael — the only school in Western Canada directly linked to SiGung Taky Kimura (Bruce Lee’s closest friend and protégé) — became a lifeline.

“Sifu Marvin and his academy helped me so much.” – D$

The academy gave him focus, brotherhood, and structure. Between 2016 and 2020, he immersed himself in multiple disciplines, earning:

Orange Belt in Filipino Martial Arts (2018)
White Sash rank in Wing Chun (2019)
Jeet Kune Do Level I certification
Level I in Silat, Pekiti Tirsia Kali, and Muay Thai

He trained under a remarkable lineage of masters, including SiGung Taky Kimura, Sifu Andy Kimura, Sifu Burton Richardson, Sifu Chris Kent, Sifu Matt Emery, SiGung Francis Fong, Sifu Kevin, Sifu Andrew, Sifu Joel Clark, and SiGung Dan Inosanto.

Martial arts wasn’t just physical training — it became therapy. It taught humility, discipline, and accountability. Even when self-sabotage crept in, the lessons stayed with him. When COVID-19 hit in 2020, training paused, but the foundation had already been built: martial arts gave D$ the discipline and mindset to eventually return to music.

Creative Rebirth & Music Comeback (2023–Present)

Music had always been part of D$’s identity, but it wasn’t until late 2023, after being wrongfully fired from a security job, that he fully reignited his creative fire. That setback became the catalyst for his return to hip-hop, blending years of struggle, recovery, and personal growth into his lyrics.

Since then, his output has accelerated:

EPs Today’s Yesterday and Yesterday’s Tomorrow revisited memory and identity.
2024’s For the Record became his first professionally mastered album, exploring personal confession and social commentary.
2025’s In Business showcased his evolving sound and sharpened storytelling.

Influences & Inspiration

D$ draws inspiration from a wide array of artists, including 2Pac, Will Smith, Maestro Fresh Wes, Whitney Houston, Alanis Morrissette, Bryan Adams, and his favourite band, Our Lady Peace. He’s attended countless live shows spanning rock, hip-hop, and Broadway, guided by honesty, storytelling, and real-life experience.

Beyond Music

A certified Red Seal chef, D$ has worked in kitchens in Canada but now works as a security guard in a Calgary casino — a steadier, less stressful path than restaurant life.

A lifelong fan of movies and pop culture, his favorites include Back to the Future, Star Trek, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Rocky, The Muppets, and ’90s TGIF classics like Friends and Family Matters. He also explores reaction content on YouTube, blending humor, insight, and personal perspective.

Today

As CEO of Half Breed Entertainment, D$ builds a collaborative community for artists, offering mentorship and support. His work reflects a life of struggle, survival, and rebirth. He’s not chasing trends — he’s creating a legacy of authenticity.

Fun Facts & Favorites

🎬 Movies & TV

Back to the Future trilogy, Star Trek, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Rocky, The Muppets
’90s classics: Friends, Fresh Prince, Family Matters

🎶 Concerts Attended

Rock & Pop: Our Lady Peace (x4), Bryan Adams (x2), Alice Cooper, KISS, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jethro Tull, Barenaked Ladies
Hip-Hop & R&B: Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Kurupt, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Afroman, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, De La Soul, Talib Kweli, Nas, Method Man & Redman, Ice Cube, WC, Choclair, Maestro Fresh Wes, Swollen Members, DJ Kav
Theatre & Specialty Shows: Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King musical, Elvis play (with grandma), Frank Mills Christmas Concert (with mom), Huey Lewis & The News (with parents and brother), Moby

📚 Books & Authors

Dan Brown (Digital Fortress)
Garfield comics (lost collection after 2013 Calgary flood)
Enjoys fiction with factual elements

🍴 Food & Culinary

Certified Red Seal Chef (SAIT graduate)
Loves exploring cultural cuisines (except offal — tried it in culinary school and not a fan)

🌍 Travel Highlights

Canada: Toronto, Thornhill, Thunder Bay, Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver, Duluth, Seattle
Europe: Newcastle, Bedlington, South Shields, Manchester, Paris (x2), Caen/Juno Beach (75th anniversary of D-Day), Amsterdam, Belfast, Glasgow, Edinburgh