Derrick 'Smoker' Freeman is a genre-defying drummer, DJ, songwriter, and bandleader whose sound runs with the pulse of New Orleans. Blending jazz, funk, hip-hop, and second-line traditions, he's the creative force behind the Soul Brass Band, carrying the city's spirit onto stages worldwide.
Freeman is also a longtime DJ on New Orleans' legendary WWOZ, where his deep knowledge and instinct for sound move across eras and genres. He founded The Low End Theory, a 90s hip-hop tribute project that reimagines the golden era through a Crescent City lens, and he co-hosts The Shadow People podcast with Nigel Hall, exploring the intersections of music, creativity, and community.
Under Freeman's leadership, the Soul Brass Band — featuring James Martin, Grammy winner Miles Lyons, Sasha Brown, Kyle Sharmitaro, Mark Levron, and Wes Anderson — won Best Emerging Artist and launched its first Northern California run, the 'Mardi Gras Rolls West' tour, January 22–30, 2026.
