Donny Goines’ resolute display of passion, hunger and a love for music could easily be read as a sign that hip hop has seeped through his pores from the time he recognized his ability to listen. His efforts, however, have brought him to a time and place that calls for change; as redundant as the word may sound when hitting politically-inclined ears, in the music industry, change is always necessary, and almost mandatory. With his recently-released EP Rocksmith Tokyo & Donny Goines Presents 20X having garnered a different sort of buzz for a rapper most noted for abundant lyricism, allow him to reintroduce himself as an all-embracing force to be reckoned with.
URB: You’ve been getting a lot of acclaim for your EP. What was the process like working on it, given the fact that you’ve switched up your style from being almost purely lyrically-inclined to album-ready?
DONNY GOINES: I’m glad you picked up on it. One thing I wanted to showcase really was the record- and song-writing abilities. I decided after I dropped The Breakfast Club that I wanted to make a transition. I felt like, at the beginning, as an artist, my focus was the respect factor of me being an artist and lyricist from the realm of hip hop. Everything was geared toward me trying to “spit” the best I can and still be ill with the rhymes, but I’ve done that already, on the majority of my projects. I’ve been proving I can rap all day. Now it’s more about making complete songs and records that the masses can feel. Once I dropped the album, I kind of took a step back, took a break and didn’t want to put out a constant stream of music. What I’m primarily known for is putting out a lot of content. Then, I went back to the drawing board, and locked myself in the studio for about six months. I really just focused a lot on my craft. As far as song-writing goes, I took it back to the basics. What a lot of people don’t understand is that my development as an artist took place in front of the public. They’re going to continue to see it, because I’m going to continue to grow. I was locked in the studio for six months, I demo’d about three songs and that’s where we got the EP.
URB: The creativity came from you locking yourself down and refocusing. You’ve got backing from Rocksmith Tokyo on the EP, so would you be looking into shifting your style of fashion?
DG: Honestly speaking, that was another thing I decided to do once I took a step back. I looked at everything, not only music, but my image and how I present myself to the public. I decided that I wanted to revamp everything, including the way I dress and my style. It may be a subtle change, but I no longer wear durags. I decided to wear more colors and become more in tune with what’s going on with streetwear culture. I am appreciative that Rocksmith Tokyo worked with me on this project and has helped me understand this realm better. Before I got into streetwear, I was just wearing what I was used to. White tees, a pair of Airs and a fitted. But what I realize is when you come into the world of entertainment, you have to understand that you’re a public figure and have to present yourself in a certain way. I wanted to step my game up in fashion, and I plan on doing that the further I go in my career.
URB: What you think 20X stands for as a statement EP?
DG: The reason I chose 20X to propel this movement was because that’s exactly what it is. The title represents a new year, new decade, new outlook and a new Donny Goines. I wanted to embody that.
URB: What do you have coming up next?
DG: Going forward, you can expect bigger situations. My next project won’t come out unless it’s on a major label or major distribution. There are parties interested, so we’re working that out. I’m licensing records now, and there are a couple that have been licensed for MTV from the EP. I’m trying to diversify my portfolio, trying to get into TV, radio, fashion and make the business all-inclusive, because that’s the type of person I view myself as. I’m focused on my business and what it is I want to do for the next decade.
Download the EP Rocksmith Tokyo & Donny Goines Presents 20X here.
Follow Donny Goines on Twitter @DonnyGoines
Leave A Comment!