My condolences to Derrick's family. I first met Derrick when I came to the Bay Area in 2012 and we met on your birthday in Oakland. You became one of my best friends over time. Your genuine and unique energy was a blessing to all you impacted. You were loved immensely and you were someone I could be myself around. I was very hurt to hear of your passing. I’ve continued to grieve over the past and our conversations and our friendship. Wed go on road trips, gatherings and even celebrations my birthday your birthday. To feel the energy of someone who never expected or wanted anything in return just the joy of his friends family and activities with music. To the times we would sit with nothing to do but hang with each other talk about in-depth emotions and feelings we were puzzled on or needed insight. Memories that are forever in my memory and thoughts. But As you spread your wings and rest your soul know that this isn’t goodbye, just I’ll see you later. The amount of support and kindness you gave even in the slightest was more than enough to be engulfed in your compassion and empathy. The way you treated others, the way you treated yourself spoke volumes. You were a one of a kind person with a 1 of a kind soul that is incredibly rare. it’s a pleasure to call you my friend. As you rest just know I’ll be waking you up when I get there. 

Till we meet again, stay golden, stay true. 

Stay you. 

Love you always, your friend. - Christopher manna. 

Although I am at a loss for words, my earliest memory of Lil Derrick love for music was when I worked at the radio station and I would bring him along.  Not knowing that one day he would surpass my expectations of becoming a legendary DJ taking after myself.  Definitely gone too soon.  Love you always 

"Your life may have been short, but the impact you made will last a lifetime"

Your Dad 

DJ Derrick D

My earliest memory of Derrick is the two of us in his mom's living room in Carbondale jumping from armchair to couch and back again while screaming "kamehameha!" at each other. For those of you who may not know, kamehameha is an attack from the anime Dragon Ball Z (https://bit.ly/3KL2SNY) My earliest memory of Derrick, and of anime, are both one and the same. Growing up, Derrick was one of my favorite cousins and anime wasn't the only interest the two of us shared. We bonded over many hours of gaming together as well.  In fact, it was one of our favorite gaming series, Final Fantasy, that Derrick got the inspiration for his DJ name, which he derived from a reoccurring enemy throughout the series called a behemoth.  

While living in the same house I also discovered that we shared a mutual love of cats.  Lightning, the tuxedo cat that our grandmother had, was definitely our favorite of the pets.  Living together under the same roof, in addition to being friends, Derrick soon became something of an older brother to me. We were born the same year, graduated from the same high school together, and even as adults we periodically lived together throughout the years.

I remember when the two of us were in middle school and our Uncle John decided to discipline us for not doing our chores adequately enough by making Derrick, myself, and my siblings clean around the yard including scrubbing the walls—outside. Even back then as adolescents, we all knew that if we just showed a bit of remorse about the chores that our uncle would have let us off pretty easily. Instead, our musical defiance was inspired and led by perhaps the first budding of DJ Baheemith.

Instead of sniffling and crying or begging forgiveness—which would have gotten us out of our punishment much sooner—Derrick led us like Baloo led Mowgli while singing Bear Necessities (https://bit.ly/3XkEjiB) except Derrick led us through an entirely different Disney song: Not one of Us from the Lion King 2 (https://bit.ly/3xeM3YN) I distinctly remember us dramatically singing along with him to the lyrics of the song, especially the deception and disgrace parts, while we scrubbed the walls outside. Derrick even remixed the song by adding in some quotes from other parts of the movie, like saying we have little food and less water, which had the rest of us tittering in laughter.

And that's what Derrick brought to many people's lives, music and laughter. Of course, not every day with Derrick was music and laughter, but enough of the days were, and it's those shining days in my memories that I wish to remember my cousin by. He may be gone, but Derrick will always have a presence in the lives of those he touched, and as a DJ, those lives are perhaps as numbered as the stars above. Or perhaps I'm just feeling nostalgic while thinking of that scene from the Lion King (https://bit.ly/4c6LLm4) with Simba laying under the stars while talking about Mufasa because lord knows we watched that movie on repeat more than enough times after the anime and early morning cartoons would finish airing. It was either the Lion King or the Color Purple and there's only so many times a kid can voluntarily watch the Color Purple before giving up on TV altogether.

Derrick, your memory will live on in our hearts forever, and your art will continue on, not just in the thoughts of those left behind, but through the cloud where you uploaded some of your work. How fitting then that many of my memories of you are tied together by the medium of song.

Dear cousin, I will miss you always and forever.  Rest in Peace.