Donald D Explained

Donald-D
Birth Name:Donald Lamont
Origin:The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Genre:Hip hop
Years Active:1978present

Donald Lamont, professionally known by his stage name Donald-D, is an American rapper and record producer from the Bronx, New York. He is a member of the Universal Zulu Nation, a member of the B-Boys, and is best known as a member of Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate.[1] [2]

Career

Late 1970s–1987: Universal Zulu Nation and the B-Boys

Donald D began his career in 1978 in the Bronx, New York, when he became a member of the Universal Zulu Nation joining forces with Afrika Islam, DJ Jazzy Jay, Kid Vicious and others as the group the Funk Machine. He was featured on Afrika Islam's radio show the Zulu Beats on WHBI in 1982.[3] Lamont and DJ Chuck Chillout formed a group named the B-Boys. From 1983 to 1985, the group has released several 12" singles via Vincent Davis' Vintertainment and Morgan Khan's Streetwave labels,[4] including a 12-inch extended play Cuttin' Herbie, which peaked at #90 on the UK Albums Chart.[5] When the group disbanded, Donald D released a single "Dope Jam / Outlaw" with DJ Chilly-D via Rockin' Hard Records in 1987.

1988–1992: Rhyme Syndicate

In 1985, Lamont met West Coast rapper Tracy 'Ice-T' Marrow and later went to Los Angeles, California to join the Rhyme Syndicate. His first appearances were in 1988 on the track "The Syndicate" with Hen Gee from Ice-T's album Power, and on the track "Name of the Game" from Rhyme Syndicate compilation album Comin' Through. Donald-D was featured on the posse-cut single "What Ya Wanna Do" and released his debut studio album titled Notorious in 1989. Reaching a peak position of number 78 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, the album remained on the US chart for a total of 18 weeks,[6] spawning a single "F.B.I. (Free Base Institute)", which also peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs.[7] A year after, he made his guest appearance on his bandmate Everlast's debut album Forever Everlasting on the track "The Rhythm" with N'Dea Davenport and Ice-T. Lamont also appeared on two tracks from O.G. Original Gangster and provided audio production on Home Invasion. In 1992, Donald D released his sophomore studio effort titled Let the Horns Blow on Sire/Warner Bros. Records. The song "I'm Gonna Smoke Him" off the album was featured in Trespass (soundtrack).

1993–present

In 1995, Donald D, Kurtis Blow and Prince Whipper Whip were featured on the track "Old School Jam" from DJ Honda's self-titled album.

In 2003, he released a single "Hip Hop / The Return of the Culture", that was later included in his debut solo extended play B.R.O.N.X. (Beats Rhymes of New Xperience), released in 2006 under Dondee alias. In the same year (2003), he's featured duetting with Marco Masini in the song Generation, in which he sings in English the final rap part (personally significant is the line «as a boy growing up / in the South South Bronx»).

He has started a new group with another Universal Zulu Nation Rhyme Syndicate member, DJ MC Dynamax, called the Bronx Syndicate.

Discography

Solo albums

YearTitleLabelsChart position
1989Notorious/Epic/CBS RecordsTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums

#78

1991Let the Horns BlowSire/Warner Bros. Records

Extended plays

Singles

YearTitleAlbumLabelsChart position
1987"Outlaw"B-side: "Dope Jam"Rockin' Hard Records
1988"Name of the Game"Rhyme Syndicate Comin' Through Records
1989"F.B.I"B-side: "Syndicate Posse"NotoriousHot Rap Songs

#8

"Notorious"B-side: "Hell Raiser"/Epic/CBS
1991"Let the Horns Blow"B-side: "To the Beat Y'all" / "The Way It Used to Be"Let the Horns BlowWarner Bros. Records
1992"I'm Gonna Smoke Him"Let the Horns Blow and Trespass (soundtrack)Sire Records
2003"The Return of the Culture"B-side: "Hip Hop"B.R.O.N.X. (Beats Rhymes of New Xperience)Hot Shit Records

Guest appearances

YearTrackArtist(s)Album
1988"Anything Can Happen (Acid Condominium Mix)"Was (Not Was)What Up, Dog?
"The Syndicate"Ice-T, Hen-GeePower
"Name of the Game"Bronx Style BobRhyme Syndicate Comin' Through
1989"What Ya Wanna Do"Ice-T, Bronx Style Bob, Divine Styler, Everlast, Evil E, Hen-Gee, M.C. Taste, Nat The Cat, Randy Mac, Shakell Shabazz, Toddy TeeThe Iceberg/Freedom of Speech...Just Watch What You Say
1990"The Rhythm"Everlast, Ice-T, N'Dea DavenportForever Everlasting
1991"Mic Contract"Ice-TO.G. Original Gangster
"Fly By"Ice-T, Nat The Cat
1995"Old School Jam"DJ Honda, Kurtis Blow, Prince Whipper WhipDJ Honda
1996"Back Up Off Me"No Doze FunkmobHooded Figures
"180' in the Shade"
2000"Hater"DJ Yutaka, Grandmaster Caz, Melle Mel, Prince Whipper WhipUnited Nations
2001"Secret Wars"Phoenix Orion, Team Eloheem, Big Foot, DK Toon, Dandelion, Darkzeid, Neb Luv, Peace, Quantum Gamma ZenithSecret Wars
2003GenerationMarco Masini.. il mio cammino
2004"Bring It 2 Me"LargeLarger Than Life
2014"Kings (Remixx)"The Impossebulls, Chuck DEverything Has Changed; Nothing Is Different (The Deluxe CeeDee)
2017"Painstaking Arranger"CarpetfaceCognitive Dis

External links

Web site: Donald D. Discogs. en.

Notes and References

  1. Book: SPIN. August 1988. SPIN Media LLC. en.
  2. Web site: Donald D. Biography & History AllMusic. AllMusic. 2017-12-19.
  3. Book: Coleman, Brian. Check the Technique: Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies. 2009-03-12. Random House Publishing Group. 9780307494429. en.
  4. Web site: The B-Boys. Discogs. en. 2017-12-19.
  5. Web site: cuttin'-herbie full Official Chart History Official Charts Company. 2017-12-19.
  6. News: Donald-D Notorious Chart History. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. December 18, 2017.
  7. News: Donald-D F.B.I. Chart History. Hot Rap Songs. December 18, 2017.