New York emcee, Donny Goines is back with another album following the release of his very well received debut ‘Minute After Midnight’.
For those who arent familiar with Donny, he’s a rapper who had an epiphany after watching Jay-Z’s ‘Fade To Black’ back in 2006. Since then he’s been on a mission to be one of the best up and coming emcees that Hip Hop has to offer. Earlier this year, he dropped his debut ‘Minute After Midnight’, a personal, dark, hard hitting album.
Now month’s later, Donny has gone decided to create an album that is the polar opposite from his first. “The Breakfast Club” is an album full of upbeat singles and guest features, all of which helps to add to the commercial appeal of the album.
The album opens with “Dont You”, produced by Cook Classics. It’s harsh, its forceful peppered with a rock sound. A good way to open the album.
This is followed by “Bring It Forward (New York New York)”. It starts with Maino talking about bringing New York back with some “new sh*t”. So Donny decides to do just that. On a beat that isn’t necessarily New York sounding, the New York rapper is making a statement that its a new time and therefore its time for a new sound.
“Whatever It Is” is one of the three tracks where Donny doesn’t have a rhyming partner, a rarity in this album. Its a track where he has freedom to demonstrate his lyrical prowess. He comes through on his trademark punchlines. “I Ike Turner the track”, “Had to borrow from Black Rob, I’m Black Thought, never stray from my roots so haters back off”.
“Money” displays good chemistry between Donny and Mistah Fab while “Make Me Feel” featuring Emilio Rojas has a nice 80′s vibe to it.
One thing I do like about Donny is his choice of beats. “Don’t Mess With A Woman” is an example of this. Amanda Diva, (you don’t want to mess with a talented artist like her!) and Naledge from Kidz In The Hall cap off a solid track.
When I saw the tracklisting and saw the legendary Buckwild was producing “Sublime”, I really couldn’t wait to hear it and it didn’t disappoint. Good vibe, Outasight brings the right energy and Peter Hadar voice compliments the rappers.
Che Grand flows seamlessly on “She Likes” which also features Izza Kizza. Already half a dozen tracks into the album and Donny has already worked on the only criticism of the first album. While I consider Minute After Midnight a personal classic, I felt Donny could show more variety in terms of his flow. Not to say that he didn’t haven’t in his repertoire because he has, I just wanted to see it more in the first album. However already seven tracks in, he’s shown more than enough.
My iPod then plays a track called “Oh No” ft Patent Pending.
“What’s this” I say to myself? “A rock track?” Sounds good but I start to think Donny sent me someone else’s track in the advance copy. Just as I’m about to change the track, I hear Donny rhyming. I didn’t expect this!
For me, Donny always has alot of diversity in his music. ‘I Am Moving’ certainly showed that but I never imagined him on a rock song. But I’m pleasantly surprised, its fairly solid. It has a Fort-Minor-type sound to it but more importantly it doesn’t seem like Donny is out of his element.
The album then moves on to the remix of “What You Expected” with Rain, Reks, Termanology and Big Lou. Before the first album, this was my favorite Donny Goines track. I think all the emcee’s on the track do an admirable job.
Lydia Caesar shines out in “A Love Song”. Her powerful voice is helps the track. While it would seem on the surface that Donny and Skyzoo are talking about a girl, they are in fact talking about Hip Hop.
The hook lyrics: “All I can say is that I love ya, you got such a hold on me, everytime that I hear ya, you call me by my name, I think that I need ya, so I’m writing you this love song”.
Later Donny rhymes: “The beauty lies within its beholder, so when I look in the mirror I’m picturing Hova, Biggie Smalls and Pac, Rakim and the Cold Crush, the music is in my veins when I’m feeling the flow rush”.
Skyzoo was a brilliant choice to feature on this track. His style and lyrical delivery is perfect for the beat. This is one of the stand-out tracks of the album.
The Dame Grease produced “Closer” helps to further demonstrate Donny’s diversity as a music artist. He can be rock out, he can be street and now he can be smooth (for the ladies!)
But while I’m hearing quality music, I’m starting to wonder when I’m going to hear the defiant, hungry and street Donny that was ever-present on Minute After Midnight. “Digital Genocide” provides that fix.
Along with Brooklyn native, Posion Pen and West Coast emcee Planet Asia, Donny Goines is back to his punchlines. “…come from the era of terror, where most are scared of the sheriff and n*ggas tear up who dare us, before there was a Guevara”.
I was hyped when I heard Cookin Soul would be producing on the album because I am a fan of their work and the soul-infused “Grateful” doesn’t disappoint.
Then comes my personal favourite. “Party Apple” produced by The Apple Juice Kid. The track is essentially a dance track, a well crafted beat with an extremely catchy hook. This should be a single that should bring Donny crossover radio play. Its also a song that he could rip up at festivals (notably the Brooklyn Festival in June, which he’s performing at!).
Donny grooves with the track. It’s like he’s having fun with the track and the music. He’s in a different space from Minute After Midnight but does make a point to warn haters that he’s still lethal with his rhymes. “Don’t bicker or hate. See I can always go back … that my comfort zone, y’all know this n*gga is great”.
But as the listener is starting to feel happy and hopeful, 6th Sense comes with an infectious beat and tells us that A.Pinks, Esso and Donny just “Cant Get it Right”. Whether it’s girl trouble, work trouble, police trouble or the lack of money, things aren’t going the way you want. So after the fun-filled “Party Apple”, the listener and Donny is brought back to reality. The song is strong, it has a catchy creative hook and Harlem’s emcees A.Pinks and Esso help to add depth to an already solid track.
Finally the album ends with “These Times” . Its a well crafted song with Donny asking poignant questions about the current music climate. Donny puts forward the idea that maybe his artistry isn’t right for the current climate. “I guess I just wasn’t made for these times”.
In the song he asks would he be more successful if attached himself to growing trends. “What if I blend electro, rock music and techno, nothing as retro and simplify my lyrics because executives said so, would you really be a fan and I’d really be the best? No. What if I’m emo, uber or hipster, singing all of my songs in auto-tune …See the truth is, this sh*t is assuming, people think they are ahead of their time but really clueless”
One thing you’ll always get from Donny Goines, you’ll always get quality music. The Breakfast Club is a solid album. It has some fantastic tracks and there arent many independent artist (or those on majors) that are able to churn out intricate lyrics, diverse flow and sound.
It’s cool for a artist to make a hot 16, a hot 32 but its far more difficult to create a quality album, Donny has two.
The rapper’s motto is “If you don’t know my name, I aint working hard enough”, well I’ll flip it to the reader. After hearing Minute After Midnight and The Breakfast Club. “If you don’t know his name, you AINT working hard enough”.
The Breakfast Club is released May 19th.
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