The Don

"Rap is the new Rock and Roll"

Kanye West made this statement in 2013 during a popular interview with Zane Lowe on BBC radio. Kanye's statement has since been confirmed. However, it seems that in recent times hip-hop has sky rocketed to the top for everything but the most essential part of the genre: it's lyricism. The Don is a lyricist at heart. He makes it his duty to include clever wordplay, metaphors and punchlines in any form of hip-hop music.

Growing up between Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town afforded the young MC the opportunity to be exposed to different styles of rap music. The Don penned his first lyric at the age of 12. He released his first song at the age of 15 with a group called Red Johnz. The Red Johnz gained some popularity in Port Elizabeth before being disbanded in 2014. The Don continued making music as a solo artist thereafter. In 2015, The Don featured on two songs by popular Zimbabwean rapper H3nry. In the first song "Conversation on whiskey ave", The Don shows off his masterful ability to tell relevant stories: rapping about the traumas of being a woman in this day and age. The second feature "Cheat Cod3!" is where we see The Don flex his lyrical muscle. He laces up the verse with wit, punchlines and metaphors. The Don has since gone on to do features with US based producer-engineer vvsdiamxnd. He cites The Don as, "Someone who always brings the rap to the party.” UK radio station Kane FM debuted a collaboration between vvsdiamxnd and The Don called Out The East  and announced the duo as ones to watch. The Don is currently releasing a series of singles and features. One of the songs is produced by SAMA award winning producer Cxdy who has previously worked with Nasty C.

The Don has had many successful shows in the past. He has brought rap to campus parties at the University of Cape Town. Enticed audiences at Slipstream, Grahamstown and the prolific SAINT lounge, Cape Town. In 2019 the young MC decided to move back home to Pretoria. He is there currently working on his debut EP which is scheduled to be released at the end of the year.