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Rappers should not be afraid to share their sense of humor, for it has been told that sometimes the best musicmakers are wanna-be comedians, and the best comedians often have some kind of musical background. Not sure about D.O.N.’s background, but he shows his sense of humor and an incredible lyrical wit in “Brand New Day”, a song that has him wanting to do new things in order to avoid the mistakes of the past. “Throw Shade” is one of those intellectual songs that you want to master aspect of the song because you know that by doing so, the song will seep into your mind. Is it nerdy, well isn’t the best hip-hop a sign of ultra geekiness?
Forget the tags, this is someone who sounds like a cross between Skillz and Kanye West, people who know how to control the mic and will do everything it takes to create songs of substance. Commercial Free Broadcast (Dubla Music) is music for those who demands a rapper actually raps, in the traditions of Big Pun, KRS-One, Blueprint, and Chino XL, people who pack as much content into their lyrics, where wordiness is the name of the game, and effectiveness is a gift. Eleven songs move at a face pace for 22 minutes, this could’ve been a 22 or 33-track album and I probably would have been satisfied. But if D.O.N.’s continues to make EP’s like this and flood the market somehow, people are bound to pay attention. Until then, pay attention to him and his music as is. - This Is Book's Music
Don Purvis is the dictionary definition of unsung. I met him for the first time a couple of years ago when I bought The Basics. Not really knowing what to expect, I was struck by the cover art which featured an MPC and a Playstation.
"What?? He's making beats on MTV music generator!? How interesting! This could either be really great or really awful."
Well, it seems neither held true because, The Basics was phenomenal. It stayed in my car CD player for over a month. The Basics was completely written and produced by D.O.N. I became captivated by D.O.N.'s wordiness, the clarity of his diction, and his positive messages. I re-visit the Basics about once every couple of weeks and I can still listen to the entire album from start to finish, not daring to skip ahead.
Well, when I heard about the new EP I had to get a copy of it. My first attempt to listen was twarted by someone sitting on the brand new CD and cracking it in half... Blast!!! Well, when I went to visit Aaron at Dubla Studios, he gave me another copy. I immediately put it into the CD player, afraid to have this copy meet the same fate.
Well... It seems he's left Dubla, to the production duties on this one, and Sqratchmo is always solid on the cuts. Of course I'm looking forward to hearing more from D.O.N. So here goes...
As the intro sounds off... "This is a commercial free broadcast..."
The first track "Brand New Day" is an upbeat jam laced with horns, and the curious sound of vinyl crackle throughout. D.O.N. starts us off with the happiest jam first. The song's message is more about maintaining your cool and staying positive amongst a world of stress and the evils of the everyday world. The track ends with D.O.N. still rapping as the music fades out. I've always loved this technique, it adds a sense of mystery and frivolity to a track.
From this point on, the tracks seamlessly blend together underneath strong drums that are at times tribal. Dubla pulls samples from the most obscure sources, and from song to song it's a mix of jazz, African, psychedelic, hip hop, spoken word and odd samples. His production reminds me of Madlib/Metal Fingers.
D.O.N. marches through every track like he's on some sort of mission. He poses moral questions, throws himself back to the early era of Hip Hop, demonstrates his mastery of the english language and in other words he's being himself.
After about ten listens now, I'm still discovering certain subtleties in his presentation. What I like about this album is the fact that it's just him (as was The Basics except for a brief Paul Barman bit in the intro), no cameos. Also the length of the tracks are exactly where they need to be. Only two tracks on the EP clock in over three minutes. This is the kind of album that is perfect for a trip across town. While it's listed as an EP, eleven tracks used to be an LP not too long ago. Now people want to put twenty-five tracks on a CD, which completely dilutes any greatness that the album may contain. Finally someone is getting it right.
This is music for the thinking man. D.O.N. isn't for everyone, that's for sure. But if you're tired of the status quo and are longing for the days when rap music made a difference, D.O.N. will satisfy.
I know Don Purvis. He's a new father. He's a regular working Joe. He's got problems. He gets discouraged. He's a Christian. His struggle, is our struggle. This is his endearing quality. For a man who goes to work every day just to put food his family's table, he's still got the time to write and record some of the best Hip Hop in the world today. He's not rich. He doesn't live off of his music, he works to live! The defining quality of his music is the fact that the more you listen, the more it opens itself up. After a while, new words seem to spring forth like water from a fountain. Wordplay that previously went unheard peeks around a corner like a playful child. D.O.N.'s music isn't happy. It's brooding and contemplative, and at the core it's honest. It reflects one man's struggle to maintain a rap career, whilst all around him are lesser caliber rappers garnering more acclaim for dumbed down music that promotes ignorance. D.O.N.'s music will never be pop. Nor will he ever win a Grammy, not in this world at least. I can only hope that he begins to sell more records. I hope that in this world, he can tap into the audience of lost souls searching for a more meaningful listening experience. D.O.N. will not disappoint. He makes the kind of music that invites you cleanse your mind. He's a underdog that you always want to root for. He's just a regular guy, who just happens to be one of my favorite rappers. - DMC New Orleans
Discography
The Basics
Commercial Free Broadcast
Photos
Bio
<-----d.o.n. Biography----->
----While the majority of hip hop these days narrows it's focus on money, gangster posturing, and percieved arrogance, there are artists that are dedicated to the traditional, and more beloved forms of hip hop music while maintaining content, subject matter and credibility without compromising what the listener would consider good music. d.o.n. brings this to the table and more.
---Born Donald C. Purvis Jr. in September at Kileen AFB near San Antonio Texas, d.o.n. is the only child of a military family. This fact, while seemingly meaningless, is a key element in his style, and vast subject matter as an emcee. After living in such cities as Savannah. GA and Weisburg Germany, d.o.n.'s family moved to New Orleans LA, where he has resided ever since. Growing up around various forms of music, he enjoyed everything from James Brown, Otis Redding and Rick James. It was only when his father purchased the first rap record to memory, The Fat Boys Are Back! that d.o.n. got to experience rap music on a more consistent basis. This, along with the inception of MTV, BET [the early years] and summer trips to South Carolina to visit his cousin - who seemed to have more cassette tapes than anybody he knew - made d.o.n. be a certifiable hip hop head.
---In 1994, a year before graduating high school, d.o.n. experimented with writing his first rhyme. After reading it, he decided to throw it away; it portrayed him in a light that wasn't his own. He wouldn't attempt to write another rhyme until 1996. d.o.n. is not afraid to rhyme about his spiritual beliefs either. "When I first started writing, I wanted to be the dopest Gospel rapper that anyone had ever heard, but I ended up using a great deal of profanity in the process. Having recommitted my life to The Lord Jesus Christ, in 2004, this was a conflict of interest. I view it as a part of my growth as an rapper."
---d.o.n. would continue to hone his craft while attending Delgado Community College to pursue a degree in dentistry, which he would later change to business. He eventually quit to find a job, and focus on the music career that he dreamed of attaining. After years of dedication and fervent writing, d.o.n was fortunate to come in contact and build relationships with some very talented artists who were willing to teach him more about his craft and the industry. Ace Lo, whom d.o.n. met while attending Delgado, was also a local rapper in the New Orleans area, and was the first person to put d.o.n. behind the microphone.
---In 2001 d.o.n. enlisted the help of friend and fellow artist Rami Sharkey - professionally known as Ballzack - to record his first demo. Creating beats on a Roland 909 Groovebox, they produced a strong 5 track demo album. Unfortunately, it failed to make any real noise outside of his friends and family. d.o.n. revamped the tunes with different beats, having learned how to better utilize the machine. With the addition of 5 new songs, 2002's "The Prologue" was born. Despite initial attention from Priority Records for the song "Night Life," d.o.n. was forced to return to the proverbial drawing board and start again.
---In 2004, d.o.n. began working, saving, borrowing, and legally hustling to purchase a MPC2000XL from a pawn shop. He continued to grow as an artist in content, flow and style. In 2006 after Hurricane Katrina, d.o.n was able to gather equipment for a home studio, by way of financial blessings in light of losses incurred by the highly publicized and deadly storm. He produced, mixed and mastered the album The Basics, which was the only album to be reviewed by critics. John Book of Music For America, writer for Okayplayer Magazine, and Left Hip Magazine, a Canadian publication, reviewed d.o.n.'s album with favorable reviews. He began to do more shows in and around the New Orleans area.
---d.o.n has worked and shared stages with some of the most talented artists in the New Orleans underground hip hop scene such as Ace-Lo, Ballzack, DJ Skratchmo, Guerilla Publishing Company, with whom thanks to the gritty production of Prospek, he has made some of his best work to date, Impulss, SWAT Team, Caligula and Nomad the Butcher of Cult Flick, Private Pile, Dubla and Juskwam of the Twen Bumbs, Majesty Sozey, ATM, Soapbox, Able Chris, Tony Skratchere, MC Paul Barman and Crucial. He hopes to spread his work further through collaborative efforts like the upcoming EP Commercial Free Broadcast with producer Dubla of Dubla Music, who has released work from such artists as Twen Bumbs, Juskwam, BlacKring and YourCuzn It.
---Despite setbacks and the struggles of everyday life, d.o.n. will continue to push forward in his walk with Christ. He doesn't want to bring back "real hip hop" or "change the game." d.o.n., by God's grace, just wants to be heard....and buy a diamond encrusted flying saucer with the spoiler on the back like the Vietnamese dudes be havin, and rims...47 inch rims you know how weeee do!...Hol
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