CHAMBLY | Rapper Christian Dionne (Die-On), who today works with young people from the DPJ, says he had to “hit the bottom of the barrel” during his run in Colombia before realizing that this was not the life he wanted. ‘he wished.
“At that moment, I thought that I had nothing left to lose, that I was probably going to die soon anyway. I was up to my neck in it,” confides Christian Dionne, met by The newspaper at his workplace in Chambly.
The rapper, known as Die-On, was in Colombia with his then-partner when he learned he was wanted for trafficking, gangsterism and conspiracy in 2015. The vacation quickly turned into a real manhunt when he decided to tear up his return ticket.
Christian Dionne, aka Die-On, during his run in Colombia while he was wanted for drug trafficking.
Photo provided by Christian Dionne
The years that followed were a real descent into hell. Fatigue and despair eventually set in, as he was hunted down by different police organizations.
“I tried to die by using, by voluntarily putting myself in dangerous situations. I really hit rock bottom. Then it clicked,” explains the man, now 40 years old.
His life on pause
Instead of bribing Colombian police officers as he used to do, he finally decided to let himself be arrested after five years on the run. After his transfer to Quebec, he quickly pleaded guilty to the charges he faced and received a 5-year penitentiary sentence.
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“I decided that while my life was on hold, I was going to take the opportunity to change completely, get back in shape and stop using,” explains Mr. Dionne.
The rapper took this photo after being arrested by Colombian authorities, just before returning to the country to face justice in 2020.
Photo provided by Christian Dionne
“For me, prison saved my life. If I hadn’t gone there, I probably wouldn’t be here today,” he adds.
After two years behind bars, the rapper was finally released for good behavior in 2022. But after all these years spent “out of time”, the shock of his return to society was particularly intense, he says.
Working with humans
Nevertheless, Christian Dionne was able to keep his goal in sight, he who works in particular at the Maison Stéphane Fallu, in Chambly. This is a community organization that supports young people from the DPJ.
“I know it’s a bit paradoxical [par rapport à mon passé], but I always wanted to work with humans. I use a lot of my experience to guide young people on the right path,” underlines the man who now presents himself as a speaker.
“I saw how far the lack of hope, help and listening can lead. It can make a difference to have someone to support you,” he continues.
Alongside his daily work, Die-On continues to write music and perform on stage, notably alongside his friend Souldia.
Photo Agence QMI, JOEL LEMAY
Die-On, however, has not drawn a line under his musical career: he has continued to write since his incarceration. After having published a first album in 2022, collaborating in particular with Souldia, the artist is preparing to launch a second in the days to come.
“I am finally resuming my career where I left it,” he concludes, all smiles.
Christian Dionne tells his story in depth in the series Criminal family which is currently broadcast on the Vrai channel.