Donnis - The Invitation

Donnis - The Invitation

I had grown weary of Donnis over the past six months or so. Maybe it was his scratchy, high-pitched voice. Maybe it was the nondescript Southern 'swag'. Hell, maybe I was just listening to too many other artists that I thought were better at the time. I think, in all actuality, that I stopped listening because everything he put out started to sound the same; not only similar to his other stuff, but similar to everyone else out there. Truth be told, rap today is a huge melting pot that everyone has a bowl of, and everyone tries to re-create for themselves. What ends up happening is a lack of innovation. Donnis fell under that category last year. In fact, I'm not sure what made me listen to 'The Invitation'. Regardless, I'm happy I did, because the ATL native has put in a lot of work and come back harder than I could have imagined. His punchlines, metaphors and wordplay are a lot more focused on this offering. He isn't as content to just say a punchline. When he comes through with one, it's like he's showing rather than telling. As far as swag raps go, he's on the level of Big Sean and the like. You know what you're getting from him and he keeps getting better at that part of his repertoire. I still have yet to see Donnis explore a deeper side to his rhymes, but what can you say to the man? At least he's good at what he does. Donnis flexes his lyrical muscle and shows off for the fans feverishly anticipating his album 'Fashionably Late'. I can honestly say, if he continues this string of music, everyone will be hours ahead when he finally does arrive. Check the download, tracklist, #dopetracks, loosies and the preview for 'The Invitation'...



#dopetrack
Thank You
Country Cool (Remix)
OMG (Remix)
Everyone Nose (Remix)
YUP
Aquemini (Freestyle)
Maybe Baby

Loosies:
Donnis - More Fire
Donnis - Aquemini (Freestyle)

Donnis - The Invitation Trailer from Adam Saewitz on Vimeo.

Kidz in the Hall - Fresh Academy (ft. Chip tha Ripper & DONNIS)

I'm just gonna come out right and say it: I have the biggest love-hate relationship with Kidz in the Hall. Sometimes their songs are catchy, sound good, have good verses and features that make sense. Other times, they get too experimental and have weak-ass bars. In this case, I see the former. The Kidz teamed up with DONNIS and Chip Tha Ripper for the track 'Fresh Academy' off their new album 'Land of Make Believe', and decided to keep it in the telly for the video. I can't say that the concept is anything remotely original or innovative, but it worked out pretty well. One thing I have to contest is Double-O's hair in the video. Nothing says hip-hop like a Farrah Fawcett do in a rap video. Follicular foibles aside, the video does the song justice...

Freestyle Friday (2/26)

Yo, yo, yo!!! It's Friday, which means we made it through another week, and that we've got freestyles on deck for your guys. Last week I must've posted about 5 verses from this year's XXL Freshman 10. This week, I've got one. The ones that came out this week were kind of weak (aside from Donnis), so I went digging through the interwebs and blogosphere for some other joints. The first one is from XV, who I gave a second chance to last night. He didn't disappoint me this time, and you (readers) should be pleasantly surprised too. The second one is from someone who was an unknown to me a few weeks ago. Pill, repping Atlanta, is signed to Def Jam apparently, and was in last week's Freestyle Friday. He rips off a nice set of bars while on some random rooftop (hip-hop video staple). The third one is from Donnis, and though his voice irritates me and his flow is semi-retarded, his lyrics are on point. Isn't that what we listen for though?? Whatever the case, check out all three ciphers and keep it locked to Dear Whoever...

Freestyle Friday (11/20)

What up people?? It's Friday, which means nothing more than FREESTYLES. Today we have two (sometimes one) of my favorite up-and-comers Wale and J. Cole having a cypher at a Denny's of all places. Minus the irony of two black rappers freestyling at Denny's, this was pretty good. Of course Wale uses his trademark flow, and you know J. Cole destroys it. The second one is from Emilio Rojas and Donnis. I wasn't familiar with Emilio, so this was a dope introduction. I'm downloading his mixtape 'The Natural' as we speak. Donnis does his thing on the cypher too. Check both of these out, and keep it locked to Dear Whoever...

The Mailing List: October 2009 (#4)

I haven't seen any concerts recently that I've really been interested in. Oops, scratch that. Curren$y, Styles P and Raekwon already make 'Better Recognize' a highlight on my calendar. For the heads out there that dig the trap-rap stars, OJ da Juiceman and Waka Flocka (apparently he's actually kinda nice?) are performing. And for all you blog-dwellers and Ivy-Leaguers, Kidz in the Hall and Donnis are set to rock the stage too. Best believe if I wasn't up to my neck in exams, I'd be in New York on Wednesday night. Hopefully you are though. Shoutout to OnSmash, NahRight, The Stadium and 10 Deep for throwing this one together...

Freestyle Friday (9/11)

Hey, what's up people. It's Friday and that means one thing and one thing only: Freestyles. Last week I left y'all with nothing to rock out to (I was moving into a new apartment), so this week I'm gonna hit you with the freestyle overload. The first one is from the ATL representer, Donnis. He spits over Mobb Deep's 'Burn' and 'Hottest in the Hood' by Red Cafe. To be completely honest, I'm still not sold on him. I think some of the stuff he says is elementary and that his flow needs work (just an opinion). The second one is from Wale, who's been going in a much different direction lyrically as of late. Dude's been focusing a lot more on storytelling and wordplay rather than just spitting, and it's scary good. With that said, he reverts back to his everyday flow, which gets annoying in this cipher. The third one is by a newcomer, named JD Era. This is my first intro to dude, and by the flag in the background, I'm assuming he's from Canada. He has a very aggressive flow, which I like, given how many 'softer' lyricists have been coming out lately. Whatever the case, check the ciphers and keep it locked to Dear Whoever, people...