What's the News? A Conversation with Donnie

A Conversation with Donnie
By Mark Anthony Neal
SeeingBlack.com Contributing Editor


When Donnie came on the scene back in 2003 with The Colored Section, many were tiring of the senseless neo-soul vs. r&b discussions. Following the old Duke Ellington adage that there are only two kinds of music—good or bad—The Colored Section was simply good music.

Not lost within all the good vibes was the fact that Donnie was very comfortable thinking out loud as he did on tracks like “Big Black Buck” (musical accompaniment perhaps to Bill Rhoden’s $40 Million Slaves) or the brilliant “Beautiful Me” where he stridently asserts “I’m not a nigger, I’m a Negro/When I become a nigger, I’ll let you know”. Donnie’s outspokenness about the world and the industry were clearly on display when I sat down with him by phone late last year during the recording of his latest recording The Daily News, which is being released June 19 by Soul Thought Entertainment.

MAN: How do you feel about the new release?

Donnie: I love it, I just can’t wait ‘till it comes out. I’m ready for it to drop. I’m ready to tour—all that kind of stuff.

MAN: For this project, producer Steve Harvey connected you with Craig Brewer at Soul Thought. What’s your label situation like this time?

Donnie: Some things are better about it. They haven’t had the chance to promote it, so I can’t say that it’s better in that sense. But I know, as far as doing what I want musically, it’s better. .

MAN: What are some of the differences between The Daily News and The Colored Section?

Donnie: The Daily News sounds more like today’s music. One thing I did not like [about] the last album, it was too 70’s sounding. I told them, I am an artist of today. And though my song writing is classic, I want it to sound like today. I want it to sound more hip. It was too warm and 70’s sounding.

MAN: With the release of The Colored Section, many wanted to include you among the cadre of Neo-Soul Arists. What’s you thought about that label?

Donnie: Just a name. People think that you get a Wurlitzer and a Rhodes, that you got neo-Soul. I like music. Period.


Read the Full Conversation @ SeeingBlack.com