RESPECT. Interview: Donnie B Makes His First Year Worth It, Rare Breed, and Organization

Donnie B or “Donnie B the Promoter” is in his first year on the music scene and is not an amateur to the nightlife . Raised in Detroit, he moved to Atlanta, Ga. in 2008. Since then he has stacked a steady resume that ranges from event promotions, management, marketing and music.

Donnie released his debut single “I Ain’t Playing” at the beginning of 2018 and since then has been growing his brand, Rare Breed Nation. Aiming to become an elite entertainment company in Atlanta, Donnie shares his story as inspiration for young hustlers to lead by example.

RESPECT.: With A3C wrapped up for this month how you feeling with the outcome, what’s your recap?

Donnie B: Man you know, we was properly prepared and this was my first A3C as an artist. Everything went well. I was in the places that I needed to be. I was in the right mix and was able to put together my own showcase and the artist that I’m working with. We had a successful turn out for that. We got a lot of promo material out. We were able to promote ourselves and put our brand out there. It was epic, man.

 

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A post shared by Donnie B. ? (@_4donnieb) on Oct 10, 2018 at 5:36pm PDT

RESPECT.:  What’s the Atlanta night life like? You were raised in Detroit and then moved to Atlanta, starting out as a party promoter and being a party promoter, how does that fit into your brand?

Donnie: My brand is built off the hustle, you know what I mean? One thing that I feel Detroit instilled in me was a hustle. I pretty much utilize that hustle in whatever it is that I’m doing whether it’s music or promotion. My hustle is what gets me going and what gives me the motivation and drive to do what I’m doing.

RESPECT.: We have the Internet now compared to when back in the day you had to promote in the streets to get out there and get your brand out. How do you feel like that fits in with you being Donnie B. the promoter and the artist?

Donnie B: Like I said I came out here and I’ve been doing promotions for years. I came up on the wave of getting out there, street teams, and t-shirts. Everybody wearing the same t-shirts, with the bullhorns, everybody with making the scene, and hand-to-hand flyers, s**t like that. I grew up in that era because it allows you to interact with people. Then when the social media era came it’s like you can hit a button and expose you are to like a 1,000 of friends or however many followers you have.

The fact that I got to experience the hand to hand promotions side of things, the street side  of   promotions in this social media era. Most people in the social media era don’t know how to do the street promotions. I’m fortunate to say that I’ve done both. Doing both is going to get the job done. Take advantage of the social media and take advantage of the street promo.

RESPECT.: After recaping the weekend I can see there’s a lot of respect in how people look at you as far as the one. What keeps you balanced you know that you need to grind hard for your team?

Donnie B: I believe there’s wisdom out here and there is a lot of people going through what I’m going through right now. It might not be the exact same thing, but it’s people who’ve been through the same stuff that I’m going through. I’m not going to be the person that’s not humble enough to listen to some OGs. I listen and that’s what makes me an effective leader. I’m a good listener, first. I’m always looking for game.

I’m always looking for wisdom or knowledge on something. How can I make this better? If I see you doing something that I want to be doing, I’m going to see what’s up. I’m going to go holla at him. That’s just what it is and that’s why I get a lot of respect because I’m humble and I understand. Even if you’re older than me, I’ve always been a dude that always brought something to the table. They just respect how I move. I don’t ask anyone for nothing. I don’t need nothing but I’ll definitely sit around and if you willing to give me some game, I’ll listen,  that’s why they respect me.

RESPECT.: What’s your end game with the music?

Donnie B: It’s to be able to tell my story and being able to inspire the world. My story, I am really like living proof of somebody who came from the bottom of the bottom who made it happen with no handouts, all off my decision making and the  hustle. I’m a living proof that the shit can be done. I’m living proof that the shit can be done. I’m doing this shit everyday by myself bro with no mommy and daddy, without any family giving me any money. It’s been this way since I was 18 out here in Atlanta. I grind for my shit and do what I gotta do, by any means necessary. I got to make it happen because if I don’t make it happen, it ain’t go happen. It’s a mindset thing bro.

RESPECT.: What is Rare Breed?

Donnie B: Rare Breed is a label and an entertainment company. It’s a lot of things, Rare Breed can be whatever my mind can envision it. Right now, it’s an entertainment company and it’s a film company. It’s also a marketing and a management company. It’s a lot of different things. That’s how I feel, it’s rare coming from my circumstances and coming here while still growing and still evolving. That shit is rare. I had the opportunity to get exposed to shit you know what I’m saying. I took advantage of it. I feel like I’m rare.

RESPECT.: What’s three ingredients of a hustler?

Donnie B:  I believe in family, organization, and faith. I believe in building an empire and infrastructure and family like the mob. The mafia, everything is family but everything is business. Business has to be handled and people have to be held accountable.

We are creating a family infrastructure with everybody about their business and everybody is held accountable. Iron sharpens iron. We ain’t here for no feelings. Are you pulling up a seat up to the table and you are trying to bring something to the table or are you pulling up a chair to the table because you are trying to just eat? There’s a difference. I’m trying to put myself around people that’s understanding and we all bring a little bit to the table and we have a feast then n***as trying pull up and just eat.

Everybody can do something. That’s what makes the perfect hustler. Somebody that can gather up other people and put them on some money.

RESPECT.: What does RESPECT. mean to you?

Donnie B: Respect means a lot to me. I am who I am because i’m respected. Respect is a big deal to be taken serious. If people can’t respect you it’s like how can you win? How can you get support if you not even respected? People revolve around me, I’ve only been doing music for a year. It’s not like I’m the most fire person that they’ve heard. They revolve around me because they respect me. They respect my hustle and they respect how I move. They respect that he ain’t no selfish nigga and he really want to see me win. I can congregate and have all these people around me.

 

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