Derrick

stop hoarding, social media's supposed to be fun (pt 1 of many??) theme: school's out and summer (classes) otw 🥳🙃 this is to release my inner perfectionism and be more free. i make images everywhere I go and really wanna share them with the world but I overthink alot of things, here's to breaking away from it🥷🏾

ITS SUNSET SOUNDSSSS DAYYYYY!!!!! if you like being outside to decompress with great vibes this is where you should land later tn. Theres no expectations and its FREE99!!! all you NEED to bring is a blanket/ something to sit on Feel free to bring your dinner, something your working on or even a game to make this night whatever you want it to be RSVP link in our bios CANT WAIT TO SEE YALL🤗🌅

HCW: Basement 2 !🔥 Live Band / Community Jam / Cypher Experience 🎶 Featuring live sets from TAR, Pynk Mo$cato, High Velocity, and Brassious Monk 🎤 Open Jam / Pass the Mic led by @lips.the.band 🎧 Sounds by @esoderic3 🎙 Welcome by @mizani.alexis 🎲 Crowd interaction + games hosted by @ladycl30_ 🎤 Hosted by @loitheshow 🔥 Closing jam / cypher w @rudeboy.919 🎨 Live art @markanthony.inspires 🍴 Food @eatblackapron 🎨 Tattoos @tripleonejack_ink 📍 Terminal 8 Bar & Lounge 2109 Avent Ferry Rd, Raleigh, NC 🗓 Thursday, May 21 ⏰ 7–11 PM Pay what you can DM to lock in jam 🎸or cypher 🎤 spot DM if you would like to Vend #raleigh #raleighmusic #durham #raleighart

story time, grad edition! 🎓🦅 i'm bout to get back to sharing archival pics (past and present), djing, and being outside for this summer but before all that i wanna share sum context about how i got here 🧍🏾‍♂️ fall 2022 i was living in nyc, working at nike's nyc flagship store (s/o vms). i knew i wanted to go to grad school, at an hbcu, but wasn't sure on the program. my undergrad was in hispanic linguistics bc i love languages and if i hadn't done rotc, i would've had a psychology minor. one day i looked up speech therapy to see what credentials were required to practice i got in a rabbit hole and applied to 1 school, nc central. i wanted to be back in nc and they were 1 of 2 hbcus that offered a 3 year track to take prereqs. i got in and prepped to move back in fall 2023 right when i got back, a 2+ year relationship had ended and it was ironic that i was entering a communication sciences and disorders program, when communication is something i've struggled with between romantic partners, friends, family, etc. on top of that, i had been in relationships since i was like 19 and didn't know much about myself however, july-september 2023 i began documenting my life thru journaling/pictures, went to my family's annual trip to myrtle beach, was codirector for the james cates scholars program and became a photographer/social media manager for nccu's womens basketball team. i learned so much about myself and realized i wanted to live a communal + love driven life beyond school this was the genesis of esoderic and there have been so many pivotable people and moments that have impacted me along the way ❤️‍🔥 the past 3 yrs has been a blur of beautiful moments and i wouldn't have it any other way. now its time to t up and continue living a life that honors my ancestors and community. summer '26 bout to be one for the books 🫡🫶🏾

Juneteenth weekend. We’re back.🖤 Black house all day. Kaytranada inspired. Kaymode 3. House music started with us. Celebrating our Studio Director’s / Owner (@bdajour ) birthday too 🎉 We’re outside this time. Sunday day party. June 21, 4PM. Tickets in bio! We sell out every time so don’t be late😉

Sweat on the Floor was never just a party. It was rooted in purpose to raise funds and that we did!!!🤍✊🏽 I’m still basking in what that night created, the energy, the joy, the release. The way we all showed up and let go together. 🥵 An ode to those who came before us. A moment to lay the weight down. A rhythm to shake what your momma gave ya This poured directly into the mission 🤍 to preserve and renovate my grandparents’ home and to keep this home in the family. Thank you for showing up for me, for yourselves, and for something bigger than us. Celebrating my birthday this way meant everything. 🤍 I’ll be sharing a Google Doc in my bio this week with the projects still ahead. If you’re handy, have skills, or know someone who can lend a hand, please sign up so we can keep this work going. I love you all . Truly thank you for shaking a** with me & a beautiful BIG THANK YOUU to the dj’s that helped make this possible @damolaakintunde @groov_ytee , @professorxtheproducer , @sexondeckss , @dj_himbo @vsprtn__ & the co host + everything under the sun @esoderic3 🥵🤍✨ I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS NIGHT. THANK YOU . . . #houseparty #durhamnc #homepreservation #healthroughdance

say go dj, the lion nigga under the sun 🛝⛹🏾‍♂️ 📸: @love_onwa_photography 👖🪡: @iamalexandriamonet @simply_solarpunk next Thursday and Friday I'll be graduating from the North Carolina Central University (NCCU) with a Masters of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders 🗣️ i've been interning in Durham Public Schools as a speech therapist the past 2 semester and will be returning for my clinical fellow (no more free labor tho!) next school year 👾 i've got so many reflections on these past 3 years and what the future holds but to keep it short, everything i do honors my ancestors, inner kid, and community. huge s/o to Mady for documenting lil dj (derrick jr) and much love to you if we've ever interacted 🫵🏾💜

my sophomore show, Black Pass Swamped, officially ended April 14! i can't fit all the love and appreciation in here but ima try! credits time🧞 i wouldn't be the person/artist i am today without community and gotta long list of shoutouts! 1st, s/o to my biological mamas who's love and presence have guided me artistically and spiritually. s/o to all the family and close friends that encourage me to keep going. huge s/o to AP @signedbyap for supporting me thru every step of the way as a professional and homie. s/o to DAG @durhamartguild for the amazing opportunity (artist in residence applications are open now if interested). s/o to Mike @imikewilliams Black On Black Project @theblackonblackproject for supporting my residency fiscally. s/o to Greg @voodustyle for being a fire co artist in residence/studio neighbor. s/o to Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artists Grant @durham_arts for supporting the making of some of this work. s/o to Ms. Sherri, the coolest person i met during my residency. s/o to Delayna @_acolorfulchaos Wendy and Michelle @ml_wilkie for the support at monthly meetings. s/o to Drea @dreaaab15 for inspiring me to hang trespassing signs from above. s/o to Sunny @sunnyxarray Kalen @maliburose00 for DJing, Alexandria @iamalexandriamonet for taking pics, and my pops for cheffing up at the Soul Train Party. s/o to JAC @wonderpuff and Free for collabing on a warm weekly collaging and communing series, Still Here Rituals of Presence. s/o to Erykah, Jamm @mr.thanubian @dj_vibrance Rakia @theblackpeace_ and Ace @acehenna for offering their beautiful art forms in the Black Art & Workshop Expo. s/o to AP and JAC for collabing with their creativity/intellect in the Closing Reception & Artist Talk. s/o to all the unc affiliated folks (what are the odds, in light of my trespassing order) who graced the Griot Talk with their storytelling and listening. s/o to everyone who slid for random pop ups such as the opening night, postgaming Brass's bday show or pregaming Erykah's bday celebration. one last s/o to anyone who joined in on community art swamping (aka flooding) in my trespassing collages, the exhibition journal and Free's collage! STAY BLACK 🥷🏾🐊💜

Rain is in the forecast for our April 29th meetup, so we had to reschedule. 😤 Our new date is Wednesday, May 13th! We hope to see there. Make it outside with us for another Sunset Sounds 🌅☀️ May 13th 6:30 PM Old Reedy Creek RD Trailhead ⭐️ Please bring a blanket, snacks or anything else you’d like 🫶🏾 ⭐️ Be ready to vibe out 🫵🏾📸 Ticket link is on our bio! Sign-ups are not required BUT heavily encouraged so we can estimate attendance. We also included donation tickets for snacks, games, supplies etc. This is not required but appreciated as we continue to host this experience.🫶🏾 See you soon!!😎

Back at it again! Make it outside with us for another Sunset Sounds 🌅☀️ April 29th 6:30 PM Old Reedy Creek RD Trailhead ⭐️ Please bring a blanket, snacks or anything else you’d like 🫶🏾 ⭐️ Be ready to vibe out 🫵🏾📸 Ticket link is on our bio! Sign-ups are not required BUT heavily encouraged so we can estimate attendance. We also included donation tickets for snacks, games, supplies etc. This is not required but appreciated as we continue to host this experience.🫶🏾 See you Wednesday!!😎

Jan 13, 2026 For a while, I had seen him photographing events in the area, as I also do. Last year, I got to talk to him. I love how he shows up in Durham spaces and does his thing his own way! He often captures and edits in very artistic ways. Frankly, I see his photos and think of how I miss the days when photography was less about paying bills for me and more about strictly creating art my own way. Don’t get me wrong, I have definitely always created images my own way. However, I was much more about the unfettered expression of art in my earlier photography days. He is like that and I love it! He just creates. And oh, he is in graduate school working on his Masters in Speech Language Pathology & Linguistics, a rare field for Black men. I love that for him! More power to him! And he’s a DJ too! Of course, I decided to go experimental with his Headshot as I would have done in my earlier photography years. :) And I love the @doechii record in it! Thank you for being part of this project!! —————- Last January, I did a Headshot series that I initially named, A Headshot a Day, but as it progressed, the name evolved into “Headshots: Giving Flowers.” I photographed 1 friend/ person a day and posted a Headshot the next day on my Facebook. 31 days, 31 people! My Facebook family loved it and I still get asked about it by people when I see them out. I will be posting each photo and its caption here daily for the next 31 days. Holla at me for your beautiful Headshots and/or spread the word!! 🙂 Thanks!! #GivingFlowers #HeadshotsPhotographer #CorporateHeadshots #DurhamHeadshotPhotographer #RaleighHeadshotPhotographer

sunset sounds 2025, season 1 recap 🌞 whether you're an og or a new kid on the block, before we kick off our new season of frolicking in the park, it's only right to take a look back thru the archive before our first one tonight from 6:30-til 😮‍💨 last year we had 5 sunset sounds, the majority at lake crabtree park, with a pop up at golden belt art gallery and our finale at old reedy creek trailhead 🌅 follow @sunset_soundss for all future experiences and see you at the park 😎