The Spotlight on Larell: Hip Hop Male Artist with a Mission

For Virginia singer and rapper THEDONRRRM, it’s all about the three Rs: real, raw, and rare.

As his name suggests, the music of THEDONRRRM keeps it real, with lyrics that tell stories from his life. His songs are raw: he doesn’t pull punches or hide from the ugly side of life. And his sound is rare, from the contrast between his singsong melodies and gruff rap vocals, to rhythmic experiments from hip hop/R&B to Brazilian funk.

All these elements can be heard on the new single, “DON’T GO.”

Over the catchy Latin bounce of the Brazilian funk beat, the hook showcases THEDONRRRM’s melodic singing. The lyrics, based on the real pain of a fading relationship, paint a picture of two hearts drifting apart.

She said please don’t go
You can’t leave me laying here alone
Keep telling me that she been hurt before
She feel like I don’t love her no more

The melodies are soft and catchy, and seem to fit the youthful image of THEDONRRRM. But soon, his alter ego appears, represented by deep baritone rap lyrics explaining that he can’t be home because he’s “chasing the cheese.”

I know it hurt when I’m out on the road
I’m missing your love but I’m stuck in that mode
She running to me when I walk in the door

“DON’T GO” is the sixth track off of the album, Call Me After You Hear This. While THEDONRRRM has been releasing music since 2016, this record marks his first full-length release. It may have been a long time coming, but something real is worth the wait.

Born and raised in Richmond, VA as Donovan Bennett, THEDONRRRM was introduced to music by his father, a DJ who helped him build his first home studio in middle school. By high school, he was recording, mixing, and mastering records for himself and others.

Building on that experience, THEDONRRRM is now a sought-after mixing and mastering engineer. With credits including the 4x platinum single “Party Girl” by StaySolidRocky, THEDONRRRM runs his music production business out of his personal studio, 3R’s Studios in Richmond.

But despite his talent at making other artists sound good, his current focus is primarily on his own career as a genre-bending artist. With upcoming appearances on the east coast (including New York City) and music videos in the works, the message is clear: THEDONRRRM is busy making honest, well-produced, and unique music that is well-worth repeated listening. Real. Raw. And rare.

“DON’T GO” and is out now with promotional support from Starlight PR. Listen everywhere, and follow THEDONRRRM at the links below.

Spotify | YouTube | Instagram | Apple Music | TikTok | Tidal | Amazon Music