Christian Rapper Dee-1 Helps People Pay Off Student Loans After Getting Out of College Debt
After paying off his own student loans, Christian rapper Dee-1 has helped five people do the same by making sure their student debts have been cleared.
In a contest called "Pays to Repay," the rapper who went to college and became a middle school teacher before pursuing music full time offered fans who attended college an opportunity to win $10,000 to pay off their student debts. The contest called for people to answer the question: "How did paying for college have a positive effect on your future?"
On Thursday, the music artist who was born David Augustine took to Twitter to announce the five winners of that contest. In a statement on the Sallie Mae student loan website, Dee-1 spoke about why he chose to focus on the matter.
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"Student loans are clearly a part of life for so many of us and that's why I wanted to celebrate the journey I took in paying mine off," he said. "And now, through the 'Pays to Repay' contest, I have the opportunity to reach more students and help them feel that same joy I did when I paid off my loans."
Last year, the rapper released the song "Sallie Mae Back" and also created a resource with tips and tools to help students manage their own loan payments.
After completing a tour called "Dee-1's Knowledge for College" tour, the rapper also gave out $95,000 in scholarships to high school students. Martha Holler, senior vice president of Sallie Mae, spoke about partnering with the rapper for the contest.
"Dee-1 is so passionate about financial literacy and helping people pay back their student loans," she said. "The 'Pays to Repay' contest is a natural extension of our shared mission. And while only a Sallie Mae customer can win the contest, any student loan customer can benefit from Dee's tips for building a positive credit history and successfully paying off student loan debt."
