West Denver Rapper DJR Opens Up About Gang Violence, Carrying Guns in Middle School, Jail, Growing Up in Westwood, Losing His Dad, Denver Hip-Hop & Joining Pure Devocion

West Denver rapper DJR sits down with Mile High Minute for an unfiltered conversation about growing up in Denver’s Westwood neighborhood and the experiences that shaped the artist he is today.DJR reflects on being surrounded by violence at a young age, seeing friends carry weapons to school, his own experiences carrying a gun in middle school, and why the environment eventually made him reconsider how deeply he wanted to be involved in the streets.But his story goes far beyond that environment. DJR opens up about losing his father — DJ Jesse James — and how his dad’s support continues to motivate his music career. He also explains how discovering that his own brothers made music inspired him to start recording, why he moved beyond drill music, and how years of experimenting with different sounds helped him become a more versatile artist.He talks about:Growing up in Westwood and West DenverViolence, shootings and street life around his neighborhoodCarrying a gun while still in middle schoolWhy he eventually wanted distance from the streetsHow his brothers inspired him to start making musicHis father DJ Jesse James and the impact of losing himMoving beyond drill and experimenting with R&B and other genresDropping out of high school and earning his GEDWorking from a young age to support himself and his musicMeeting Kid G and becoming part of Pure DevocionWhy Denver artists need more collaboration and less competitionColorado being overlooked by platforms like XXLThe legacy he ultimately wants to leave behindDJR’s story is ultimately one of evolution. He came from an environment where negativity was easy to fall into, but now he wants his career and legacy to represent something different: positivity, collaboration and proof that where you come from doesn’t have to determine where you end up.Mile High MinuteDenver hip-hop. Colorado culture. Independent voices.