JD Cooper: The Heist, The Music & The Man Behind It

Gary, Indiana native and Louisville transplant June DeWayne pulls up to the OddPod with Marc and Pod Rashid for a long overdue conversation — third time was definitely the charm. Known for his silky melodic delivery, saucy flows, and a catalog that hits different no matter the mood, June DeWayne is one of Louisville's most interesting artists flying under the radar. Not for long.Born and raised in Gary — home of Freddie Gibbs and the Jacksons — June grew up close to Chicago, shaped by military parents who ran a disciplined household in a rough environment. That push-pull between stability and the streets is woven into everything he does. He moved to Louisville at 14, finished high school here, planted roots, and never left. He considers it a blessing.Musically, June was a sponge from day one. He started writing at 13, inspired by J. Cole's 2014 Forest Hills Drive, studying rap all the way back to De La Soul and Sugar Hill Gang before finding his way to his own melodic lane. His early rap names — Rula T (courtesy of a battle rap app) and Kid 90s — didn't stick, but June DeWayne did. The name came simply from combining his birth month with his middle name, and now even his own mother calls him June.The conversation digs into how June really found his sound: daily studio sessions at 400 Recording, a chance meeting with producer Tay Beats, and an obsessive study of what makes a lyric actually hit — not just what's said, but why it makes you feel something. His latest project JD Cooper takes its name from D.B. Cooper, the infamous 70s hijacker who parachuted off a plane with a bag of cash and vanished. June saw poetry in that — the plane imagery, the disappearing act, the perfectly executed move. That's his whole thing.He also shares a heartfelt moment around the Lost in Translation project, named in honor of his friend Jonah Webb who passed away, and talks about a legendary Spike Lee-shot music video that turned into one of the wildest nights of his life — someone jumped off a roof into a pool.Looking ahead, June has two projects dropping this year: the EP C'est La Vie coming in May (12-13 minutes, intentional, raw, honest) and a full-length project called I Don't Want to Be Perfect dropping in September — an OddPod exclusive reveal. Follow him everywhere at @junedewayne.June DeWayne, OddPod, Louisville hip hop, Gary Indiana rapper, JD Cooper, melodic rap, Louisville music scene, underground hip hop, rap interview, hip hop podcast, Tay Beats, C'est La Vie EP, independent artist, J Cole influence, Louisville rapper, emerging artist, 400 Recording, hip hop culture, new music 2025, Louisville Kentucky