Interviews: February 2008 Archives

Two Words. Most Imitated, Grammy Nominated. If everything in the universe were right, both of those two previous phrases would ring true, however, one of those proposals is false, but the other, holds as true as it did in 1993.

Donny Goines - to the average fan of snapping fingers and "supermannin' that ho" the name rings few bells, but to those that are truly and deeply immersed in hip-hop whether in the board room or the bodega the name Donny Goines resonates. With a blessing from the late Disco D (producer of such hits as AZ's "City of God" and 50 Cent's "Ski Mask Way") and an ability to switch flows from track to track similar to the rap chameleon's Jay-Z and Method Man, Donny Goines is ready to bear the torch for "real" hip-hop. Ring tone rappers you have been warned.

If you want to check Donny Goines Mixtape Off the Books go to for a FREE DOWNLOAD :

http://www.mediafire.com/?fdiujdbuyox

And listen to a real emcee do his thing. Look out for a Donny Goines contest on MixtapeKings.com COMING SOON!

Mixtapekings (MTK): So, first off before I get into anything else, let's talk about the mixtape. Off the Books is fire, plain and simple. What did you have in mind for this mixtape and what would you like it to do for Donny Goines and for hip-hop itself?

Donny Goines (DG): Thank you. I wanted to display something a little different from the normal music I put out. I mean, people know me for songs and concepts, but I felt like people needed to hear that other side of me, because that's another aspect of it. Also, I wanted to put out a "real" mixtape, I mean that everyone nowadays just puts a bunch of songs together with a few hosts and calls it a mixtape, but I think that if your going to do a MIXTAPE, the emphasis should be more on freestyles.

MTK: I've had Off the Books on repeat ever since it came out. On it you rip beats that have been originally christened by legendary, god-like emcees, such as Slick Rick, Jay-Z, Nas, Kanye West to name a few. However, I believe that you really show your versatility when you rip a track originally done by Timbo and Nelly Furtado then switch to an original like Take a Walk Wit Me or Hip Hop's Lazarus, while still killing "Juicy". Which is your favorite track, and for what reason?

DG: Good question... I would have to say Alarm Clock honestly, because I really like my flow on there and that was the main idea that I had for this mixtape. A focus on flow and delivery, not so much on concepts and songs, and I think I nailed that track.

MTK: To follow up that question, I know your focus on this tape was to show your breadth of ability with flow, delivery, and pace, but on all the tracks you spit real shit. Do you think that you being a true emcee just shines through or was it a conscious choice to avoid the cotton candy rhymes that seem overly popular in hip hop today?

DG: Well, I hate cotton candy music so it was definitely a conscious effort [laughs]. Regardless of whatever it is, you know, albums, songs, mixtapes, et cetera, I will always be lyrical and will speak on topics that are real to me. I'm not dumbing down or sugarcoating anything. Either you like it; or you don't. And there's a million and one ring tone rappers out there if you're looking for singles, but I feel like you can be a great emcee and still make party records or dance records. Like take, Biggie's "One More Chance" or Jay-Z's "Girls, Girls, Girls" for example.

MTK: That's what you're saying on My Occupation [the Timbo/Furtado cover] right?

DG: Exactly, I just feel that most people out there, feel like they need to sound like a child on their records for it to hit. They just come with the same ol' "ABC 123" type wordage, and that's not true! You can have dope mainstream records and still be lyrical.

MTK: You moved around a lot growing up. What do you consider your true "hometown" and how did the diversity you went through during your youth affect your outlook musically?

DG: New York. All Day.

MTK: Any particular borough?

DG: I don't give a fuck where I lived or where I go I'm a New Yorker. Period. New York taught me a lot of what you see and hear in my music. I grew up in the Bronx and Harlem, but I don't tie myself down to a particular borough, I'm a New Yorker.

MTK: Also, many people have argued that mainstream hip-hop has been in decline recently, I'm not going to name names, but sometimes what is heard on the radio is a poor representation of hip-hop, but with people like you, and Wale from D.C., etc, looking ready to pounce on the scene, hip-hop's future is looking bright. How do you feel about being a "torch bearer" for REAL hip-hop?

DG: I can name names if you want [laughs], but it's more about doing what YOU can to make it better. The best way that I can describe it is with a quote. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ghandi. If I am complaining about the lack and substance and art, then I need to do something about it, and if that puts me in the forefront, or gives me a "torchbearer" tag, then so be it. Honestly, it feels great. You see money isn't everything, if I get rich and famous in the process great. But those aren't my goals really. I really want to make an impact musically, and then everything else will fall into place and I will get what I deserve. But as long as I am true to what I do and try to make a difference, it was all well worth the sacrifice.

MTK: Disco D, the late producer and a true legend on the pads, was your mentor right? How did his passing affect you and your music? Did it push you in any direction artistically?

DG: Yes. He is a big reason for the change in my music and I'll tell you why. Before I met him I was lost musically, and I did a song called "Fuck the Source", to make a long story short I got into some issues with the magazine about an Unsigned Hype column that I was supposed to be in during 2006, I'm past it though, but basically I made a song talking about The Source magazine. Before that all the songs that I had made, Disco had said that they were "good" or "aight", but after I made that track, he said that it was the best song that he had ever heard from me, not because of it's negativity at all, but because it came from the heart, and from that moment on I vowed to make sure that all my music came from the heart and that I never just made what I thought that people wanted to hear.

MTK: Besides Disco D, who has been your biggest influence in Hip-Hop?

DG: It varies to be totally honest with you. Certain times I may feel a certain way, but the next year or even the next week my influences may have changed. At first, Jay-Z's movie Fade to Black, was like an epiphany for me, and I wrote a song that very night entitled "Inspiration". But in 2007 I was really inspired by under appreciated rappers, or rappers that aren't in the spotlight, like Bishop Lamont, Crooked I, underdogs you know? Joell Ortiz, Sha Stimuli just to name a few.

MTK: The release party for Off The Books is tomorrow night, I know that's going to be a great night. Anything special in store?

DG: The party to be honest is to meet a lot of people. I mean everyone knows me via the internet but rarely do people get a chance to interact with me face-to-face. I mean I don't have anything too special planned, I'm just going to bring together good people to have a good time, and listen to good music. It's all about unification and having a good time.

MTK: Your unsigned. Have the major labels made any big plays for your services? It seems like someone as talented as yourself would be in high demand right now?

DG: [laughs] You would think right? I'll be honest, my type of emcee, right now, we're like underdogs, but Soulja Boy types, the ring tone types are in high demand. They're a quick turn-around financially, and the industry is a business.

MTK: Industry Rule 4080?

DG: Exactly, They are not looking for talent but profits. An emcee like myself, or take Joell Ortiz for example, you will never see his shit on 106 & Park or TRL, but he put out a great album and had great video singles, that deserved a lot more mainstream play than they got. It's hard for an emcee like myself to be profitable in the eyes of the suits, I mean if I have a million YouTube hits or a dance it would be crazy. I mean, don't get me wrong, they are definitely interested, but they want a single not a career, and I'm just looking for the right home creatively, artistically, and financially, it's not just them, it's me as well.

MTK: What's next for Donny Goines? Big plans for 2008?

DG: Well, right now I'm working on my first official album with Dame Grease as my executive producer. As far as "album albums" are concerned, everything I've done previously has been either a mixtape or a concept album, so I am making a real album, which I am taking to a major label and a major distributor. I'm working on this album as we speak actually, I'm really focused on that and finding the right home to launch that album. My main focus is making a fucking fantastic album, to please everyone from the underground heads to the mainstream fans. I'm definitely dropping it this year you can expect that for sure.