Stephen “Dusty” Barksdale is a Washington, D.C.-native entertainment executive, entrepreneur, recording artist, creative director, and cultural advocate whose career has been rooted in music, community, and the continued evolution of D.C. go-go.
As the director of City Dreamz Entertainment LLC and founder and lead talker of Tru Expressionz Go-Go Band, Dusty has spent more than two decades building a career that bridges live music, entertainment, visual media, entrepreneurship, youth engagement, and cultural advocacy.
Dusty began his journey as a teenager in Washington, D.C., when he helped launch Tru Expressionz in 2005. What started as a youth-driven go-go band grew into a longstanding D.C. music institution, with Dusty serving as one of its primary creative forces and voices. From grassroots performances and self-promoted shows to recording projects and performances outside of the DMV, Tru Expressionz has remained committed to carrying the sound and energy of Washington, D.C. to new audiences.
The band's recording journey began with Welcome to the Go Go in 2007 and continued through a growing catalog of original and live projects, including Royalty (Rise of the Finest), “the Finest” Certified (Well Worth the Wait), Shine Time, Vol. 1, Shine Time, Vol. 2, Stay Tru (Summer 2017), Tru Expressionz Greatest Hits, and 6 Rings. The group has continued recording and releasing new material, demonstrating Barksdale's commitment to keeping the band and its sound relevant across generations.
Tru Expressionz's longevity has also translated into major performance opportunities throughout the DMV and beyond. The band has performed on prominent stages throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, as well as traveled to other markets to introduce audiences to the energy of D.C. go-go. Among its notable D.C. performances was an appearance at Echostage, placing Tru Expressionz alongside some of the region's most recognized go-go talent on one of Washington's premier entertainment stages.
In 2026, Tru Expressionz reached another important career milestone with a nomination for the 2026 Go-Go Awards, recognizing the band's continued contribution to the genre and its staying power within Washington's evolving go-go landscape.
For Barksdale, however, the importance of go-go extends far beyond performing onstage. He has consistently viewed the culture as a vehicle for community connection, youth engagement, and positive experiences.
That philosophy was on full display when Tru Expressionz performed at Sandlot Uptown in Northwest Washington, D.C., where Tru Expresionnz partnered with Gale Bean, actress known for her work on hit TV show Snowfall, P-Valley and its spinoff The Drop, to organize a back-to-school youth event. The collaboration brought together entertainment, community, and education, giving young people an opportunity to enjoy a live go-go experience while celebrating the beginning of a new school year. The event reflected Dusty’s belief that go-go can be more than a soundtrack—it can be a tool for bringing young people together and creating positive memories around D.C. culture.
That commitment to community has been a recurring theme throughout his career. Whether performing for audiences, creating opportunities for emerging artists, producing events, or using his media platform to document the people and culture around him, Dusty has continued to find ways to connect entertainment with community.
His entrepreneurial vision expanded through City Dreamz Entertainment LLC, transforming the company into a broader creative platform encompassing entertainment, event coverage, photography, videography, interviews, artist development, promotion, and digital media. Through City Dreamz, Dusty has been able to work behind the camera as well as in front of it, documenting artists, entertainers, athletes, and personalities from Washington and beyond.
Among City Dreamz Entertainment's notable videography and interview credits are conversations and media work involving nationally recognized artists and entertainers including Kevin Gates, Grammy award winning Artist Monica, Tory Lanez, Lightshow, Fat Trel, and others. These credits demonstrate the reach of Dusty's creative work beyond the go-go scene and into the broader hip-hop, R&B, and entertainment industries.
His work has also earned recognition from major Washington media outlets. Dusty has been featured in The Washington Post, The Washington Informer, and other media outlets, particularly in connection with his work in entertainment and Washington's go-go culture. His visibility in the local press has helped establish him not only as a performer, but as a voice within the larger conversation surrounding the preservation, growth, and future of D.C. music.
Dusty’s voice became particularly prominent during the #DontMuteDC movement in 2019, when Washington's go-go community mobilized to protect the music and the cultural spaces where it thrives. As the founder and frontman of Tru Expressionz, Dusty was among the artists publicly advocating for go-go and emphasizing the importance of creating more opportunities for the genre rather than allowing it to become restricted to fewer and fewer spaces.
For Dusty, advocacy and entrepreneurship have always gone hand in hand. His approach has been to not only talk about opportunities for artists, but to build platforms that create them.
That philosophy extends into Stay Tru Apparel, a lifestyle and creative extension of the Tru Expressionz and City Dreamz identity. Stay Tru represents the same principles that have guided Dusty’s career: authenticity, individuality, creativity, and remaining connected to one's roots while continuing to evolve.
Across music, media, fashion, and live entertainment, he has built a career around the idea of staying true to the culture while finding new ways to present it.
His work as a recording artist has also provided a platform for social commentary. Tru Expressionz material has addressed personal experiences, community issues, violence, loss, and social injustice, demonstrating that their music is not solely about entertainment. It is also a reflection of the experiences and realities of the communities that have shaped the band members.
More than 20 years after founding Tru Expressionz, Dusty’s continues to create. The band's catalog continues to grow with new releases and live performances, while City Dreamz Entertainment continues to expand its work across music, video, events, and creative media.
What makes Stephen “Dusty” Barksdale's career distinctive is the evolution of his role. He began as a young D.C. go-go artist with a microphone and a vision. He became a bandleader, recording artist, entrepreneur, entertainment executive, videographer, event producer, community organizer, and advocate for Washington's musical heritage.
His story is one of longevity, independence, creativity, and cultural commitment.
From building Tru Expressionz as a teenager, releasing multiple recording projects, taking D.C. go-go to audiences outside the region, earning a 2026 Go-Go Awards nomination, performing major D.C. stages, producing media featuring nationally recognized artists, receiving coverage from major Washington publications, partnering with entertainment professionals for youth-focused events, and continuing to create new opportunities through City Dreamz Entertainment and Stay Tru Apparel—Dusty has consistently found ways to turn his passion for D.C. culture into action.
At the 11th Annual Law Rocks Washington, D.C., “Dusty” brings that history to the stage as an artist, entrepreneur, and community-minded creative who has spent more than two decades helping keep Washington's expression TRU.
For Dusty, the mission is bigger than one band, one company, or one performance. It is about building platforms, creating opportunities, supporting artists, engaging young people, documenting culture, and making sure the sound and spirit of Washington, D.C. continue to reach the next generation.
