stumbled across your site while searching for a song to put on my myspace page (my cassette of 'call me d-nice' finally wore out last summer). you've really got a great eye. I was in Gulfport MS 3 weeks after Katrina , went down to New Orleans and Slidel. The scope of destruction was overwhelming, but the residents all had a such positive attitude. Katrina wiped out everything but their southern hospitality. Shot a lot of pictures myself. Can't say I'm too suprised that there is still so much to be done down there.

After reading others' comments:

We think you could make this blog into a fantastic book:
D-nice Journal/Journey! Who wouldn't want a copy? Though, I'm sure we're not the first to suggest it to ya - feel free to give us credit if we are;-)!

D-nice, We are true fans of yours. We love your photos! These photos of Nawlin's are wonderful. It's a blessing that you can use your celebrity to expose the world!

We are a group of Ol' School Hip-Hop heads who have created a blog in honor of hip-hop and creative writing. We hope you will check it out. We hope we're doing Hip-Hop proud.

D,

I have finally taken the time to comment on my experience with you in New Orleans. I had the pleasure of bringing Swizz Beatz and you to New Orleans and venturing out to shoot some shots of my beloved hometown. It was an experience that I will never forget because living through the memories of what happened 2 years ago. For the first time I was looking at it through the lens of a camera where for some reason I saw more than I did with the naked eye. Looking on here today as we both chat by text and confirming our next meeting in New Orleans. (For those who want to join us it will be January 5th weekend.)I look forward to our return to the same area and see what changes have been made some 6 months later.

It was funny that I was listenimg to hot 97 in Newyork and it was old school friday and guest was D-nice long story short he gave out his site address so i checked it out and was so amazed at what i see. I am a thirty year old black male and Hip-Hop lover who has at some point worked withmany people youhave pictures with but I have never seen art that was so amazing to me that makes me want to keep coming backfor more this is hot peace.

Wow!! I still can't believe this..after they blocked everything at work I decided to google some old school hip hop. So I did and low and behold look what I found..D-nice has a journal, so instantly I e-mailed my cousin and told him about it..actually alomost cursed him out for not telling me about the site, but at the same time he was thanking me for telling him about it. This is something truely amazing in these hip hop days and times right now!! Like a breath of fresh air. I love everything that you're doing and I've loved everything that you've done for hip hop. I remember how I use to stare at you at the end of the I'm gonna get you sucka movie and just think that there's something about you that is interesting that caught my attention. At that time I was about nine or ten years old. Ha! Ha! I've just liked everything that you did back in the day, there's nothing now-a-days to look foward to. I use to wait to see your next video, videos now it's like " ok he made another video" Things move to fast. But that's another story...It's so good to see real hip hop......Keep doing what you do and I love the pictures the blogs are very interesting and I enjoy reading them. Don't stop!!! Wish everyone well and take care.

#1 fan since the age of 9 so for 19 years now.
Thanks for the memories.

I'm glad that the national guard allowed you guys to get in and through. They're still there "to keep the peace" in certain areas. Everyone has to remember that the police force isn't exactly what it was and policing ain't exactly a science after Katrina. D caught a good shot of a mural of Mardi Gras Indians. I'm sure that the Essence Festival was a lil too inflated to include in this piece. From the looks of the pictures, most of the damaged areas shown are in the now-forever-famous lower 9th ward (aka lower 9). Homes were washed away and also demo'd. You can actually see some homes where an owner posted (spray-painted) "DO NOT DEMO". It's a rough reality for a lot of people right now. There's a spirit in New Orleans that is not easily traded for anywhere else in the world. If you guys would like to see the rebuilding that is going on, take a trip. [Actually, the house beside the house behind Mannion seems to be in decent shape] It is not a ghost-town. The HAVE's ensured that downtown did not receive the collateral damage that other areas succumbed to. It didn't take but two weeks (or shorter) for it to be opened. You definitely will be able to enjoy it now that it is two years later. New Orleans is not dead, ya'll. Get on down there and laissez les bon temps roullez!!.

Yeah its wonderful to see a community recover like that. New Orleanians have been strong through that process of transition. You are such a great soul by capturing those aspects of mankind.

i'm really impressed by your photography.... almost makes me want to whip out my camera and try to remember how the hell aperature and the f-stop works. i think i need to take a class. lol i'm adding u to my list of blogs to visit!

wow the speakers! I would've taken those home...I know tacky.but you can't just leave them there! lol

These shots are incredible. I especially like "don't stop the music" and the shots of the Magnolia houses. I guess I can't really say too much more then the other comments, but the artistic quality plus social value of these pictures puts you up into another level in my book.

Peace

'No Mo Projects'. Word.

You have so much talent that the worlds need to be exposed to. Can you do the Universe a favor a become a Photo Journalist (still and moving images) with your face and your voice telling the story of the images as they appear. Jay & Diddy are (per media gossip) planning to establish a new network. The D-Nice Journals would be a perfect 30 min program. I send a Shower of Blessings ur way.

The photos have a war torn city feel to them. Lots of emotion. The capture of the speakers caught my eye. It says, "voices being silenced" to me.

Thanks for showing pictures that the government don´t want us to see. I very touching.

Hey D.... Maynnn... We saw some amazing things down there in New Orleans... The beautiful spirit that remains in the aftermath of the disaster. There is still so much to be done to look after our own... search out a way to make a difference. The Essence festival must be commended for their commitment to inspiring people to contribute to a community that is still suffering but rebuilding... Big up to Baby and Lil Wayne who I photographed for the XXL 10 year anniversary issue cover there in an effort to show how much things have changed over the years... I wanted to go to the site of my original photograph shot 9 years ago that introduced Cash Money to the world... The actual footsteps that Juvenile, Baby, Turk, BG, Lil Wayne and Manny Fresh stood in nearly 10 years ago are now occupied by only Wayne and Baby for the shoot... D-Nice was there capturing the building of the moment with me and bringing it to the masses, thanks for coming by my shoot... means a lot my dude... We had a great time... Shout to Shauna, Na Na & the crew for contributing to the incredible vibe there... Made my weekend! D... Thanks for your energy my man... An honor to have you at the historical shoot even if only briefly before getting back to NYC...

Blessings!
Jonathan Mannion

these pics only say what we all know: the united states never care about us. we need to view these pics as motivation to go and buy land; invest in ourselves. i hope for the day we as a people awaken to the only true fact: this country CANNOT survive without us. but how they forget that it only makes us stronger... i thought they knew? spirit of nat turner RISE!!!

You captured some really great shots here! I really loved the gated community shot. So talented.

Your images give the actual reality.

D
you are a True Blessing, to this planet we call earth, much love and respect for all that you do...

I haven't been there so thanks for sharing. I hope you were careful around all that mold!! My cousin is down there using his skills as a contractor to help however he can...trying to join the union last I heard. I guess it's still a situation where even the people who want to help run into some sort of bureaucracy.

wow. and here i thought that N.O was back up and running with all the picket fences painted white and the perfectly manicured loans all back in place. Is that what they said on the news. Was Kayne really that far off. We have no rights in this country. We have no power to come together and do something. OR at least force our elected officals to do something. Its right in our faces. The tourist areas are fine and your cousins and aunts house is still without a roof. There is no money in getting our community back to the basics in our country of New Orleans. Oh wait this is the country of the UNITED STATES where we take care of the rest of the world first and its own folks second. Yo Dee if you don't see at the 40 or the parties is cause po/po came and got me. Sorry this story hit me at the wrong time at work man! DAG.

Military is still being used as law enforcement? Doesn't the US Constitution prohibit that except in case of Martial Law. What is really going on in New Orleans? Well, whatever it is I'm glad you captured it with your lens. Great pictures.

no need for color in these pictures you take because it leaves room for us to color them in in our minds....I love the essence you capture in your photos...from your lover to the streets of new orleans...beautiful work

You always Capture Images that make Me feel like I am right there with U.

dope... very moving images

I was down there as well and wish I had gone to see the ruins of New Orleans as well.... (But it was too damn hot!!!!)

That picture of the former "Foundation" needs to be given to everyone who is working on rebuilding New Orleans, as well as people who have yet to start. Its a hell of a motivator