Defying limits, these deaf rappers are taking on the hip-hop industry

Matt Maxey

Born with a severely profound hearing loss, the Atlanta native was given hearing aids and speech therapy at the age of two. Growing up, he took an interest in music because he could hear it better than he heard people and could easily connect with it.

While at Gallaudet University, a university for deaf and hard-of-hearing students where American Sign Language (ASL) was the main form of communication, Maxey found it difficult fitting it with his classmates as he had never learned sign language. So he turned to music and began a YouTube channel where he uploaded videos signing rap lyrics.

His videos went viral, especially among the deaf and hard of hearing. Wanting to help these groups of people, he founded DEAFinitely Dope, an ASL interpreter and performance group helping deaf and hard-of-hearing fans enjoy live music. In 2017, Maxey and his team were hired by Grammy-winning artist Chance the Rapper for the remainder of his Be Encouraged Tour.