Donnis - Fashionably Late (Mixtape) & Interview

After a string of notable leaks Donnis has finally released his latest mixtape Fashionably Late. With a same titled EP dropping the very same day the MC hailing from Jonesboro, Georgia made sure to come up with some potent material for your listening pleasure. He is joined by the likes of Yelawolf, Pill, OJ Da Juiceman and Coling Munroe in the studio while production work was handled by Ced Young, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, and Needlz.

While enjoying his mixtape, check out this promising artist talking about his music, his Japanese experience and his future endeavors in our interview after the jump.

First of all, thanks for your time. Could you introduce yourself to our readers?

I go by the name of Donnis reppin’ for Jonesboro, GA. I started making music at 9 years old but really tapped into it when I joined the military and was moved to Tokyo for an assignment. In my downtime in Tokyo I would record nightly after work, sell my CDs and perform at local hip hop spots around the city until I made my name around there. After my assignment in Japan I was moved to Denver Colorado where i made plans to move to NYC and search for a record deal.

Could you give us a little insight on how this experience of constant travelling has changed your view on the world and how it is reflected in your music?

Japan made me a more colorful person for lack of a better term. It really just molded me. It’s where I became a man. I wasn’t old enough to club in Atlanta yet. So all my nightlife experiences and most of my dating experiences took place in Tokyo.

You are about to head back to Japan for a few gigs. BET is going with you to film the tour. How did this come about?

I was doing another project with them called Music Matters and it brought up me touring Japan. Kelly green took a liking to me and has a true love for Japan and Japanese culture so it just kind of took off from there.

You are dropping a mixtape and EP, both entitled Fashionably Late, on the same day. That is a rather unusual strategy. What was your motivation behind this move?

I played the record for the label and they kind of just took it from me. They were like “Whoaaaa this isnt a regular mixtape due to it being all original songs”. Again, I like to call it a “luxury tape” so they decided we should drop them both on the same day. It’s something that has never been done so im excited to see how it works out!

Could you tell us a little bit about these upcoming projects and what the world can expect from these?

Amazing music and me having fun like i always do.

You have a new single out, entitled “Yup”. What made you decide to go with this specific song?

Rihanna is on the fast track to becoming a legend out here and that part of the record “Hard” just stuck out to me and Needlz super tough. We heard it as a sample in my boy Da Grindaz’ track so we all got together and expanded it and made it bigger than life. I love giving my fans a way to participate in my show so while im doing my part they are all screaming out YUP YA KNOW THIS!!! I love performing that record.

You put out your mixtape Diary Of An ATL Brave with 10 Deep, but now you are signed by a major label for your upcoming releases. You are sure getting more exposure on the media now, but could you highlight other differences between 10Deep and Atlantic Records according to your perspective?

10 deep allowed me to do all my music without turning it into anyone they let me just rock the label has a few more hands in the pot that want to hear …but they both respect me as an artist and let me just go crazy with the visuals and the sounds so not to much of a difference yet.

Where do you see yourself in the current state of the rap game and what legacy do you want to leave?

I honestly do feel like I’m a part of this new south movement. Me, J. Cole, Cyhi tha Prince, EMB, Rob Roy, Yela Wolf, Pill, B.O.B – we all are. It’s a beautiful thing, very reminiscent of the good ol’ days of OUTKAST, GOODIEMOB, GHETTO MAFIA, AND KILO ALI. Where it was less about the hit they just did them and had the hits. The legacy P’m going to leave behind is going to be huge. We are still fighting these negatives Down South. People say we can’t rap or dress well…I believe im spitting my ass off and giving people visual 16’s when I rap it you can see it and believe it, 2nd of all well im doing it in Fredrick Samuelson, Phenomenon, MCM, and Custom Tailored Italian shirts so im giving them reason to shut the fuck up and kill themselves.

Some people highlight your sense of fashion. What is your take on this? Any plans on branching out into fashion?

I’m still learning fashion. I have a passion for it and strive to be fresh whenever I step out but I’m not going to act like I’m the best dressed person in the world. However, alot of my friends are some of the freshest people in the world. Million Dollar Mano, Curtains Hollywood Holt, Poggy and Tanaka from United Arrows and Sons and Liquor Women and Tears, Big O ETC. So with friends like that I feel like, yea I’ll be stepping out into the fashion world with their help.

Where will we see Donnis in five years?

MUSIC, MOVIES, CARTOON, CLOTHING, MARKETING….I MEAN THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIMETLESS…DONNIS WILL BE SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD…BECAUSE IN THE FAMOUS WORLDS OF MY IDOL T.I.P “I CANT QUIT”!