With his debut album Minute After Midnight behind him, Donny Goines has made quite a name for himself since his entry into the rap game in 2006. With only 3 years of grind behind him and a rather impressive blueprint of what hungry artists should work like, Donny continues to grind into 09′. With a reflective outlook on the rap game and how its changed in the last few years, we had the privilege to sit down and chat with Donny on tons of issues ranging from what it took to drop this album to his opinion of mainstream rap.

Arize: Much respect homie and congrats on the new album Minute After Midnight. I’ve read a few interviews and the responses have been spread out between a good album to a not so good album. Do you take the reviews with a grain of salt and any afterthoughts on what could have been done better now that the album is finished and out to the public?

Donny Goines: To be honest, I expected that. I knew people were going to either love it or not because I made it for a certain type of listener. For my very first album I wanted to make something that my core audience would appreciate. If you listen closely to the album you’ll notice that I don’t try to reach for any other demographic with trendy songs. I stuck to my guns all the way through and I knew that certain people just wouldn’t get it. So to answer your question, this reaction was expected.

Arize: How much have you had to sacrifice in your pursuit of making this album?

Time, money but most of all I sacrificed myself as a person to reach this moment. This album really sums up alot of struggles and in my opinion it was well worth it because the people who do get it understand and can relate. I could have held out for a deal and made some sort of major album with a bunch a features and major promotion, but the satisfaction that I have putting it out myself is very rewarding. It took alot to create this album but as long as the people enjoy it the sacrifice is nothing.

Donny Goines “Ricky’s Story” Dir: Mills Miller:

Arize: You go through a lot of different experiences throughout this album. Can you take us through your thought process while creating this album? What do you want us to take away after listening to this album?

I want people to take away a piece of myself. Many of the stories and concepts come directly from my own life experience and I have dealt with many issues growing. Drug abuse, jail, death, etc. and people need to understand that life isn’t always the best. I really touched on subjects that were close to my heart. Aids, the inner city, poverty, so on and so forth and for every so called Baller or drug dealer out there you have ten broke kids or abusers. I really thought about the people when creating this album and that made the process of writing it almost effortless.

Arize: If someone could only listen to 5 joints off of your new album what would they be and why?

Good Question. I would say listen to “I am Moving” Prod. by Dame Grease to understand how creative I am. “Ghetto U.S.A” Prod. by Beatnik and K Salaam featuring my girl Tess displays the struggles and feelings about my community faces. Another song I would suggest is “Heaven is with You” Prod. by DJ Static because it shows how you can deal with the loss of someone in a positive light. “What Happened” and “As the World Turns” are probably two of my favorite tracks because they show how much I really love Hip Hop and music in general.

Arize: You’ve been in the game for a while now. (Google Donny Goines folks lol) What have you seen change in the last few years? What has surprised you?

Things come and go in this world. That includes artists. The fans are very fickle and I notice that the people who rides certain waves usually crash eventually. I’ve seen the reggeton era, then the ringtone phase and now it’s the “hipster” movement as some may like to call it all in a matter of three years. Long story short this is the main reason I stick to my guns because I need people who believe in me and what I do and can see the long term. That’s probably the most interesting thing I’ve seen through these past couple of years. It surprises me that others don’t see it either and follow so blindly.

Things come and go in this world. That includes artists. The fans are very fickle and I notice that the people who rides certain waves usually crash eventually.

Arize: You are your own PR, management team, and publicist almost. You never sleep, (Really folks he doesn’t, I’ve emailed the guy at 3am and get a reply at 3:05am from Donny himself) How do you manage it all and do ever want to hand of certain things to someone else? Or do you like doing everything yourself?

The funny thing is I do have a publicist and a management team. I just like to be hands on with my approach when I can. I’m a people person and I like to deal with others so I only delegate things to others when I feel its something that cant be done myself. I’m not the lazy type of artists that expects my team to do everything. Im a boss and at the end of the day the boss is suppose to be the first one to come and the last one to leave so that’s why I am the way I am

Arize: What has been the challenge of artists of your caliber to actually keep putting music out and to be heard by the Internet audience? Is this full-time? How do stay afloat? Do you have sponsors, investors etc? People want to know how you do it if you aren’t signed at all.

It is VERY hard because the amount of music out there is staggering. I wouldn’t say its hard to keep up because Im only racing myself, but I would say its hard to be consistent sometimes. I always tell people that consistency is key. As long as you are consistently putting out material, consistently improving your craft and consistently making progress you cant lose. As for investors, its all out of pocket. No label, no investors, I don’t come from a rich family or had a uncle who left me an inheritance haha. Im just being smart and using what I have to do what I need to do. If you want this bad enough, you will make a way trust me.

Arize: Do you ever want to just give up? It seems like all the real hip hop artists seem to be looked at as wack. When in all hindsight the game has got it all fucked up.

All the time. Not because people may think I’m wack or whatever. Fuck what they think. Its because this game is a hard one. You can become very jaded and disappointed but besides consistency, the other thing I tell people is to be PERSISTENT!!! Don’t ever let people tell you that something cant be done or let them discourage you. Just keep the faith, stay positive and work hard. Your time will come.

Arize: You’re everywhere on the net, YouTube, Facebook, Myspace etc etc. Is the digital artist’s music somehow diluted since it’s so easy to get music out in the open? Now everyone, including of course lame ass rappers, now have unlimited access to distribute online.

It’s no different from any other market facing over saturation in my opinion. The solution. Distinguish yourself from the pack. Once you do that there will be no confusion and you will get the respect you deserve.

As long as you are consistently putting out material, consistently improving your craft and consistently making progress you cant lose.

Arize: Besides the obvious artists that everyone is a favorite of (Nas, Jay-Z etc) who has influenced your sound?

No one. Seriously. When I started to take music seriously I stopped listening to others as a fan and listened with a critical ear. I’m more influenced by the people and things that go on around me then an artist. My sounds is inspired by what I grew up on. Mid 90’s Hip Hop just in the present form, from my own perspective.

Arize: What artist(s) do you think continue to fuck up the game for all great independent artists such as yourself? Who continues to annoy the hell out of you? Major or Indie.

Honestly, I don’t pay enough attention to become annoyed. I’m in my own world right now and what they eat don’t make me shit so I just look in the mirror whenever I became frustrated because the only one holding me back from success is myself. I dont care what everyone else is doing. God Bless them.

Arize: What’s next for you?

Sky’s the limit fam. Right now Im just focused on my album but 09 is looking like its gonna be one promising year for me. I just have to stay grounded, work hard and pray for the blessing you feel me?

Arize: Thanks for sitting down with us Donny and much success.

I appreciate all the love and support fam. Thank you all the readers and everyone out there who is supporting the movement. Much love and God Bless.

Buy Album “Minute After Midnight” here

www.myspace.com/donnygoines
www.youtube.com/donnygoines
www.donnygoines.blogspot.com

Episode 2:
In this episode , follow Shawn Chrystopher as he performs at USC, Hollywood, LRG Fashion Show, as well as clips of him in the studio and other behind the scenes footage.

IWGtv Episode 2: The Good Life from IWG TV on Vimeo.

Episode 1:
Shawn Chrystopher and his team visit LRG headquarters for a wardrobe fitting.

IWGtv Episode 1: LRG Headquarters from IWG TV on Vimeo.

Check out exclusive Shawn Chrystopher interview here.

Donny Goines gives the vivid visual depiction through his lyrics almost serving as narration as a young troubled youth gets caught up on the wrong side of life.

To purchase the Minute After Midnight album by Donny Goines click here.

Donny Goines-Ricky’s Story-Prod. by Statik Selektah Directed by Mills Miller Media: