Big Dipper (rapper)

Big Dipper
Big Dipper performing at the 2019 Capital Pride festival concert
Background information
Birth nameDaniel Stermer
Born (1985-04-06) April 6, 1985 (age 39)
GenresRap

Dan Stermer is an American rapper and podcaster known professionally as Big Dipper.

Early life and education

Stermer was raised in Evanston, Illinois. His mother is Jewish, and his father is Christian. Stermer was raised in a Jewish household and attended Sunday school at a Reform synagogue. He first began performing at the age of eight in a children's theater production of The Wizard of Oz. In his youth, Stermer tried learning several instruments, including the cello, piano, trumpet, tuba and the drums, before realizing that he enjoyed acting in stage plays more. In the 1990s, he began listening to hip hop and rap, around the age of nine. He had a bar mitzvah in the eighth grade, and was confirmed in 10th grade after taking more Jewish studies classes.[1]

Stermer graduated from Ithaca College in 2007, where he studied theater.[2]

Career

Stermer wrote his first song at the age of 25.[1] He began using the name 'Big Dipper' the following year, at the age of 26.[3] As of 2018, he is based in Los Angeles.[1] He has performed at various LGBT pride and bear festivals, P-town, and San Francisco Bear Pride.[4] In 2019, he was a headliner at Washington, DC's Capital Pride.[3] He stated that one reason he performed at the event was to combat hatred and help people feel empowered.[5]

On August 24, 2018, Big Dipper released his debut album, Late Bloomer.[6] He had cohosted the podcast Unbearable with Meatball, a fellow bear and drag queen.[1] After a hiatus, the duo returned in June 2019 with a new podcast, Sloppy Seconds, on the Forever Dog network. As of 2024, the podcast is also available on Moguls of Media (MOM)'s YouTube page.[7] On the program, Big Dipper and Meatball interview a variety of celebrities, primarily within or allied-with the LGBT community, including actors, adult film stars, comedians, drag queens and other performers.

Artistry

Big Dipper's minstrel-style work is often explicit and involves themes of sex and humor surrounding his opportunistic, pathological exploits.[1] He has been compared to fellow gay rapper Cazwell.[8]

Personal life

Big Dipper is gay and identifies as a member of the bear community.[1]

Discography

Albums

  • Late Bloomer (2018)[6]

Singles

  • "Drip Drop" (2011)[9]
  • "Summertime Realness"
  • "LaCroix Boi"
  • "Skank"
  • "Dick in a Box"
  • "Meat Quotient"
  • "Cut Up"
  • "Pressed"
  • "That Nut"
  • "Lookin"
  • "Let's Talk about PrEP"[10]

[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Hoffman, Wayne (June 15, 2018). "From Hebrew School to Hip Hop, Rapper Big Dipper Has Always Been a 'Late Bloomer'". Tablet Magazine. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  2. ^ Zarley, B. David (January 21, 2013). "Nicki Minaj Plus a Gay Bear Equals Chicago's The Big Dipper". Vice. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Loria, Keith (June 8, 2019). "Raunchy queer rapper Big Dipper readies Pride headlining set". Washington Blade. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  4. ^ Musto, Michael (March 10, 2014). "Bear Rapper Big Dipper: I Won't Sleep With My Fans". Out. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  5. ^ Hereford, André (June 6, 2019). "Big Dipper keeps it real on record, and live onstage for Capital Pride". Metro Weekly. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Gray, Robin (August 24, 2018). "Big Dipper Drops Debut LP 'Late Bloomer' – Exclusive Q&A". Bear World Magazine. Retrieved June 12, 2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ "Sloppy Seconds" – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "Queer hip-hop: breaking down barriers". The Chronicle. May 2, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  9. ^ Galil, Leor (February 5, 2015). "Empire's 'Drip Drop' doesn't hold a candle to rapper Big Dipper's version". Chicago Reader. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  10. ^ King, Stevie (August 14, 2018). "Big Dipper on Self Love, Bear Culture, and His New LP 'LATE BLOOMER'". WUSSY MAG. Archived from the original on April 24, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
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