DL first started his career in 1999 when he appeared on the Nine Planets Hip Hop compilation Welcome To The Land Of The Lost. His first solo release was his 2002 release, A Sample and a Drum Machine. Two years later, he released the albumLife's a Collection of Experiences. In 2006, he released Organic Music for a Digital World. Rowald Pruyn of RapReviews gave the album a very favorable 8.5/10, saying "DL Incognito, whose name he interprets as 'delivering lyrics on the down low,' has skills on the mic which are surpassed only by his ability for self-reflection." The album received a Juno nomination. Following this, he released A Captured Moment in Time in 2008, which like his last albums, also received a Juno nomination. In 2013, he released the album Someday Is Less Than a Second Away, which features D-Sisive, along with others. Exclaim! gave the album a very favorable review and Chayne Japal said: "His recent efforts have resulted in a fifth album, Someday is Less than a Second Away, a tight, potent record that utilizes his and his collaborators' strengths." DL Incognito said in an interview that his main goal is "just trying to give Canadian hip-hop an identity." In another interview, he said what inspires him to rap is life: "Life inspires me, all the ups & downs that people go through, current events, happiness, pain, everything is an inspiration. As I continue on this journey I've realized that life's a collection of experiences and my albums are captured moments in time."
Name
The name 'DL Incognito' means "Deliverying Lyrics on the Low".
Lyrics
In many songs, DL talks about personal issues such as the loss of his mother:
On the track "The Ending" off of Life's A Collection..., DL raps 'If I never really make it mom it ain't your fault you gave me everything.'
On the first song "Welcome" off the Organic Music... album, DL raps 'While I was fightin' for radio spins, my mother was fighting a battle she couldn't win, found the strength within, then I lost her to cancer, there's your answer if you ask me where the promos been.'
'Make A Difference' DL raps 'And when I go I'll finally see my mommy again, Miss you mommy twenty four seven.'
'Live In My Element' DL raps 'My brother has my mother's tattoo upon his arm, a portrait of her so life like I, can feel her charm, We will always remember, through us you will live on.'
'Reality Bites' DL raps 'Raise your kids, my mother did, struggled for a bit, plus she raised her twins, strong black womanrest in peace mom I love ya.'
