
That mixtape was given an "A–" by music critic Robert Christgau, who wrote in his review for Vice, "What's irresistible is the form-content disparity-a rapper who brags so un-macho, a rapper whose greed is so explicitly for her family, a rapper who's 'Grindin' ' at music.

After signing a deal, she released her second official mixtpe, called Sell Sole. In October 2014, she signed a major record deal to Columbia Records. In July 2014, she released her track, called "Try Me" (produced by DDS) as a single, which earned her viral popularity, after Canadian hip hop recording artist Drake quoted lyrics from the song in his Instagram post. She was later signed to his indie record label, called IBGM (I Been Gettin' Money) under his management team. That mixtape attracted the attention of a fellow Detroit-native rapper SAYITAINTTONE.

In 2013, she released her first official mixtape, Just Do It. Her stage name is a portmanteau of a shortened version of her first name, "Deja", and "loafer", as she took a keen interest in Air Jordans when growing up.

In 2011, Dej Loaf began her career as a hip hop artist.
