Donnis was motivated to pursue a career in music after seeing his childhood friend, Ciara, on TV while he was stationed in Tokyo with the Air Force. Soon after, he began recording music in Tokyo and performed at several clubs when he returned to the States. Once he finished his military duty, Donnis moved to New York and eventually released the buzzworthy mixtape Diary of an Atlanta Brave. He recently spoke about learning politics of music and the journey of a rookie emcee. –a.r.
What are some of the things you do to stand out from other rappers who are looking to make an impressionable debut in 2010 and 2011?
I exposed myself to hip-hop around the world. I wanted to find out what they were rapping about in other places like Tokyo and London. I wanted to find a different sound but still be able to bring out the sound that represents where I’m from. For me, it’s about exposing yourself to the world while still trying to to stay away from what the radio is being flooded with.
How did the mixtape “Diary of an Atlanta Brave” come about?
That mixtape was a year in the making. I came up with the idea to do this thing called a smack pack. I would record a freestyle and shoot a video to go with it and put it on the Internet. I later met the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League family and they hooked me up with a gang of beats. After that, I rapped over the beats and that’s how the mixtape came about.
What are some important lessons that you have learned about the politics of the music business?
A lot of people want to be a rapper because they think it’s an easy job. Honestly, it was easier for me in the military and school. In the music business, you have to deal with so many types of people. One thing I learned is that you have to be true to yourself. People are always going to be telling you what they think you should sound like, what you should do, and how you should dress. But you also have to stay true to who you are and not change for anybody.
