10 Questions with ... Dee "lil D" Porter

Starting in Shreveport at 19, I learned everything on the job. I spent 10 years in three Ohio cities before returning to the south to do middays in Dallas. 15 years later, I'm just getting started.

1. What got you into radio?

I wanted to be a rapper. When I was in high school, the night jock in Shreveport used to have Freestyle Friday" and I called in and won 9 weeks straight. We kept in touch and he became a big brother. When I got to college, he asked me to be his co-host. I was awful, but with his guidance, I eventually became good enough to get my own part time shift.

2. What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?

I wanted to be the next Tupac. Old Tupac, not Death Row Tupac. I wanted to go platinum and travel the world using rap to help people get through their problems. I had mixtapes, was doing shows, everything. My goal was to go to college, then write for the Source Magazine until I made it big as a rapper.

3. What's your favorite thing about living and working in Dallas?

Half my family is here, and my hometown is 170 miles away. I haven't been able to get in a car and hug my mom in 10 years, and I don't take it for granted. Also, it's my first time doing middays (I've been a night jock my entire career) and I love it! I'm talking to a different audience and I love the way the city has embraced me.

4. What's the biggest difference you see or feel about Shreveport and Dallas?

Dallas is a bigger, slightly more cultured Shreveport. Dallas is more fast-paced, and there are a lot of people here from other places, giving the city different influences. They're more open-minded and the food/events/architecture is more diverse. But that's really it.

5. What would probably surprise most people about Dallas?

There's an entire culture here of socially conscious black people, who are in tune with our ancestors, believe in natural healing, support each other, and are open-minded to things spiritually, mentally, and food-wise. I love to see it and consider myself a part of it.

6. If you weren't in radio, what do you think you'd be doing professionally?

I'd be doing sign language interpretation (I double majored in social work and sign language interpretation), most likely in a non-profit setting, and finding a way to volunteer my time to help kids.

7. As the country begins to lockdown with the Covid-19 pandemic, what would you like to accomplish during your lockdown period?

(I'm hoping to clean my garage) I want to finish recording my audiobook. On October 10, 2019, I released my first book, "Route 2: My Choice to Struggle to Succeed," about my choice to remain homeless in Ohio so not to lose my part time job in Cleveland. Charlamagne Tha God wrote the foreword. It's been doing well and I'm super proud of that, but the audiobook was supposed to be done so long ago. Now that I have no excuse, it's time to finish recording it.

8. Who are/were your radio and life mentors?

Charlamagne Tha God, Jay Tek, DJ Hot Sauce, Rick Party, Mark McCray, and Petey Greene (he died before I was born, but his story/life/movie/book changed my life)

9. What moves you about being an on-air personality?

I love being able to use my platform to inspire and help people. Yes I make you laugh, but I also make you think, I'm an open, non-judgmental ear, and I'm your sense of hope. Anyone who listens to me knows I'm an open book; I talk about being homeless, being discriminated against because of how I look, and how none of it stopped me. My mission in life has always been to help people, girls specifically, realize their worth earlier in life than I did. And with radio I get to do that. So, I'm still fulfilling my dream of being the next Tupac, because this is why I wanted to.

10. If you had to eat one type of meal every day for a month, what would it be?

Italian. I'm vegetarian, and I think Italian gives me the most variety. Me and mushroom ravioli would be besties after 30 days.

American Idol or The Voice?

Amateur Night at the Apollo

Job shadow? Who would you like to spend a day shadowing at their job?

Keisha Nicole, she's the morning show co-host at 97.9 the Box in Houston. Her energy is infectious and I'd love to be in the room and watch her work.