Detroit King Tape: A Detroit Legend’s Transition from Crime to Consciousness

His appearance is neat, meticulous, and tapered: attributes that earned him the moniker “Tape.” He is an exquisite man, a person of detail, and a legend in the Detroit streets. “I got the name Tape by being meticulous,” he asserts.

As a teen, Tape wanted to be a hitman–he came up robbing–he was a cowboy. His persona has matured from “Crime Scene Tape” to “Detroit King Tape.”

Detroit King Tape is one of those legendary figures from the city’s criminal underworld—often spoken about, yet rarely seen. You might recognize his name from the track “So Far Gone,” where Street Lord Juan vividly recounts the harsh realities of drug trafficking, wealth, and power.

“Eat niggaz food, beast and rude, them niggaz won’t move, squeed the tool, Tape told me that, he my dude, did ten and aint rat could of took me with him, instead he came out with dreads, more sick in the head, got back focused on getting his bread, back flipping coke without lifting a hand, we fell off and went broke, started licking again, i remember after one, mission we done, we pulled straps arguing bout where we ditching the guns, thats crazy, we were so vicious and young, I swear i get goosebumps when i listen to songs, why? cuz i know they true, dirty ass heaters and fake ID’s ducking them people, switch states like teams, still hoping that this rap shit blow.” So Far Gone By Street Lord Juan

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It’s been nearly 16 years since So Far Gone first dropped, and Detroit King Tape’s life has transformed dramatically since then. Leaving behind the street life that once shaped him, he relocated to Los Angeles, embarking on a path of spiritual growth, gratitude, and health. Yet, despite these changes, one thing remained constant—his pen. What began with jailhouse bars evolved into crafting 16-bar verses, and now Tape has taken it a step further, self-publishing his own motivational self-help book, The Hustle Code.

Reflecting on his journey, Tape shared:

“After years of ups and downs and overcoming the obstacles of street life and bad decision-making, I realized that to end the continual cycle of chaos, I had to change my life to change my outcome. I was inspired to seek out productive methods that would guarantee me a better life and ensure my survival. That’s when I came up with the hustle codes. I compiled strategies of survival with uplifting information and common sense. The result was my 10 hustle codes that I live by to this day. As I became an example of change, people would ask how I did it. That’s when I knew I had to share my hustle codes with the world.”

Detroit King Tape’s transformation from a notorious figure in the criminal underworld to a symbol of resilience and positivity exemplifies the power of change. His meticulous nature, which earned him his iconic nickname, has been a driving force in his journey. Emerging from a tumultuous past, Tape has distilled valuable life lessons and a profound desire to uplift others into his self-published book, The Hustle Code. This work not only reflects his personal growth but also serves as a guiding light for those seeking to break free from their own cycles of chaos. As he inspires others with his story, Tape embodies the belief that it’s never too late to rewrite your narrative and pursue a life filled with purpose and fulfillment.

You can grab your copy of The Hustle Code at DetroitKingTape.com and tune in to his weekly podcast, Health-N-Hustle Show, for inspiring insights and stories—subscribe here! Don’t forget to follow Tape on Instagram for more updates and motivation.