Today we’d like to introduce you to Donn Chii.
Donn, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Detroit, MI and moved to Dallas, TX when I was 7 years old after my father passed away. I feel like I always had trouble fitting in whenever I went, moving to a new state and school and spending my summers back home in Michigan with my family. When I was 10 years old, I picked up clarinet and played for the school band for several years, which helped me develop early music skills. At age 13, I became interested in rock music because some of the other black kids in my school were into it and it was just different and so were they. I wanted to be part of that. I went to my first Warped Tour in 2005 and knew I wanted to do music! I picked up bass guitar soon after and played in a punk/metal throughout my 4 years of high school. I learned guitar also somewhere along the way and played continuously with different bands until I was 24. Each one of them failed. I became tired of working with others and decided to push myself to do music on my own if I really wanted to do it. I knew I had to use my voice but didn’t know how. I hit up a friend whose band had recently dispersed, too. He was making hip-hop beats and I wrote my first rap song, “Feel Me” to one of his beats, and from there, it was no stopping me. Today, at 27, I’ve self-released 2 mixtapes/albums and my newest EP called “Taiji”. I have a huge vision for my work and that is to spread hopeful and positive messages to my listeners. I lost my father to suicide and my entire life has been dedicated to bringing the lost, hopeless, and broken to peace and self-fulfillment through the universal language of music. And this is my journey…
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has never been smooth. I struggle with depression and anxiety and think daily about giving up, if I can be honest with myself. Often times I feel alone and my thoughts get the best of me but no matter how hard things get, I somehow always find light in the dark, no matter how dim. I’ve had to push the opinions of others out the way and sacrifice some things but I’ve also gained so much since my journey started. It’s a lot to try to keep the dream alive…
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Donn Chii story. Tell us more about the business.
I want people to know Donn Chii for being transparent and relatable. I just write about whatever is going on at any given time. I want my music to be fun but have a lasting message, too. To do what I’m aiming to do in this hip-hop industry is a little bit uncommon because hip-hop doesn’t have a reputation for positivity and change. I want to change that and find others with the same vision. I’m most proud of my music today because I’m breaking free of the labels I once had attached to me but I’m still the same me. I want to encourage people to be themselves.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t really believe in luck, I believe persistence is the only way to succeed. One is a mistake, the other is a reward. There’s no coincidence I’m where I am today, good or bad.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.donnchii.com
- Phone: (469) 230-1723
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donn.chii/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donnchiiofficial/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/donnchii
Image Credit:
Joshua West
Justin Hamra
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