DA-MOVEMENT stands as a proud Chicago soulful hip-hop crew and cultural preservation project, started back in 2009 by Pompey “Pay” Hicks III. This meaningful collective grew straight out of a powerful promise made at the family funeral of great-aunt Dorothy Reed, alongside the late legendary singer John “Johnny P” Pigram.
Operating as both a close family bond and a generational bridge for the Midwest music scene, the crew brings together classic street-soul storytelling and conscious old-school beats with fresh modern production formats like Dolby Atmos. Their dedication has earned them global acclaim and wide radio airplay, highlighted by standout releases like their foundational anthem “All Black Everything” and the unvaulted studio single “24’s,” which features iconic collaborations with members of Crucial Conflict.
Art is a mirror of life, a reflection of the coarse grit of the everyday grind and the placid grace of emotional equilibrium. This chapter is a double header and the crew are buzzing on the crest of a wave of unstoppable momentum culminating in a major landmark achievement – winning the coveted 2026 InterContinental Music Awards for North American Rap with their anthem “All Black Everything. The track has stood the test of time: #12 on the World Indie Music Top 100 Chart, and a dominating Top 15 for the entire month of August 2026.
The track cranks up the sonic ante, sharpening the percussive edge and highlighting the distinct talents of AK of Do or Die, Never of Crucial Conflict, and J. Harris. This potent combo injects a blistering energy, delivering an aggressive, high-octane performance. Meanwhile, their hit single “24’s” has taken the world by storm, capturing #1 on the Euro Indie Music Chart for Week 34, claiming #2 on the global Top Sound rankings, and dominating the Digital DJ Pool network at #6 in Hip Hop and R&B across 378 clubs worldwide.
The track is also making serious inroads on U.S. commercial radio—leaping to #68 on the Mediabase Top 40 Activator Chart and rising to #80 on New Music Weekly, out-spinning major-label heavyweights like Lil Durk, Olivia Rodrigo, and Shaboozey. These milestones collectively offer a veritable masterclass in contemporary rhythmic storytelling, firmly planting the independent Westside Chicago sound on a massive global stage.
The journey follows naturally from the momentum of the award-winning song All Black Everything, establishing itself firmly within a gritty street-oriented synthesis of hip-hop and urban contemporary music. The instrumental landscape is heavy on percussion, deep bass tones and haunting piano loops, creating a strong sense of urgency and resolve.
The song’s backbone, the vocals, are relentless in aggression and hardened authority when multiple iconic voices merge into a unified front. The delivery is no-nonsense and unapologetic, with the weight of lived experience manifesting in call-and-response dynamics and a collective sonic force that feels like an advancing march.
There’s a deeply philosophical core underneath the aggressive production, looking at the mental armor needed to get through a tough world. It is about not wavering in solidarity, of being resilient, of standing tall without losing balance. It reflects those moments in everyday life where you have to have an impenetrable defense against external pressures and the composition captures a state of total focus where distractions fall away and it’s just about survival, ambition and triumph. It’s a song that captures the everyday struggle of overcoming tough hurdles, turning the human pursuit of dignity into an everlasting soundtrack for anyone fighting life’s toughest battles.
The second offering, “24’s,” moves into melodic urban cadence, smooth R&B grooves and mid-tempo rhythms that meld classic soulful hip-hop with current radio appeal. This track boasts soaring vocals from the legendary Johnny P and stellar performances from Daries “Qraft” Jackson and Pompey “Pay” Hicks, seamlessly presented under the official banner of DA-MOVEMENT (feat. Johnny P & Never of Crucial Conflict).
The song builds itself out of warm synthesizer pads and a pulsing bass line that sounds like steady, hypnotic, forward motion. Vocals here are an atmospheric instrument, delivered with smooth confidence, navigating effortless vocal runs and rhythmic swings. Johnny P’s honey-dipped chorus strikes a rich acoustic warmth that grounds the entire sonic environment.
This second composition is, at heart, a narrative shift to the cyclical nature of progress, patience and emotional balance in the everyday adventure. It explores the rhythm of endurance: how consistent, persistent motion eventually creates momentum in life’s constant acceleration and deceleration. The song is not simply about literal meanings; it is a picture of the complicated dance of modern romance and emotional exchanges where timing and moving forward determine if relationships will blossom or wither.
In the end, both of DA-MOVEMENT’s creations remind us of the universal quest to find rhythm in chaos and navigate the adventures of everyday life by tuning into an inner compass. Whether it’s the fierce, high-octane resolve of the award-winning anthem “All Black Everything” or the smooth, introspective grooves of “24’s,” the collective makes a timeless artistic statement. They cross generations. Real passion and hard work are what elevate culture and make a lasting impression on the world of music.
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