Mixtape: J.R. Donato – Why So Serious?
Taylor Gang’s Chicago Representative is on His “Movie Shit” on His Hard-Hitting New Album, Featuring Appearances from Wiz Khalifa, Sosamann and Levi Carter
10.14.2016
Critical Praise:
“…he uses his voice and flow in unique ways that only someone who’s been writing for close to a decade could pull off” – HotNewHipHop
“The future is looking type bright for J.R.” – Fake Shore Drive
“At 21-years old, the Chi town native J.R. Donato has already accomplished a lot” – GoodMusicAllDay
“Make it count and get in tune with Young Donato” – onSMASH
“J.R. Donato is poised for mainstream success” – Dirty Glove Bastard
The Mixtape:
With a radio hit by middle school, a cosign from Twista by high school, and a record deal with Taylor Gang by age 20, J.R. Donato has accomplished more in his 22 years than most do in a lifetime. Today, Donato adds to his considerable list of accomplishments with the release of Why So Serious?, his latest project out via LiveMixtapes. Inspired by Heath Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker in The Dark Knight, J.R. Donato shares The Joker’s ability to live on the edge and laugh in the face of adversity. Packed with head-nodding, percussive flows, rhythmic hooks, and clever lyrical couplets, Who So Serious? is a level up for Donato, boasting the strongest bars and song craftsmanship of his career. Featuring guest appearances from Wiz Khalifa, Sosamann, and Levi Carter, Why So Serious?, the proper follow-up to last year’s Fast Money & Freedom, equally appeals to party-starters and to the smokers.
“I love the The Dark Knight with Heath Ledger,” explains J.R. Donato. “The Joker is a very serious guy, but at the end of the day, the way he lives is on the edge: we could be here today, gone tomorrow. Why be serious? Just have fun doing whatever you want to do. I might tell a serious story but at the end of day, I want people to vibe out and have fun. Life should be fun. Everything will fall into place. I got this mentality from dealing with serious things going on with my family. I have uncles who were in the Feds and we stressed, we cried about them being there but they’re coming home soon and we’ll be able to be together again. Life experiences in general made me have this mentality. A lot of times I’m hard on myself but at the end of the day, you shouldn’t focus on things you can’t control, for real, for real. I ain’t gon’ say I do that all the time, but it’s better to think bout positive things than negative things. Keep a positive mind-state.”
Last month, J.R. Donato shared “Trap Never Closed,” a dramatic, drill-tinged single and video premiered by Dirty Glove Bastard, which was an ideal appetizer for Why So Serious? The mixtape also follows two standout loose singles from J.R., including the Fake Shore Drive–premiered loose video “All That I Need,” filmed at Chicago’s Fat Tiger Workshop, and the HipHopDX-debuted “Not For None, which dropped in May and featured the rapper flowing around Inception-horns and spiraling sine waves, finding colorful new ways to boast about his lifestyle. Born and raised on North Chicago, Illinois, J.R. Donato started rapping in his early teens and eventually caught the ear of Wiz Khalifa, who featured J.R. on hisCabin Fever 2 mixtape and later signed him to Taylor Gang Entertainment. Donato also contributed a standout verse to Wiz Khalifa‘s “Make a Play,” featured on the Billboard Top 10 peaking Khalifa album. His second release through Taylor Gang, Why So Serious? will convince the non-believers that J.R. Donato is one to be taken seriously.
Why So Serious Tracklist:
1. Back On It (Prod. by AP Kush’d Up X Steve Lean)
2. Cant Tell Me Nothin (Prod. By Mike O)
3. Movie Shit (Prod. By. Sledgren & RMB Justize)
4. The Boat ft. Sosamann (Prod. By Ricky P)
5. Trust No More (Prod. by Amp On The Track)
6. Pull Up ft. Levi Carter (Prod. By Capcom)
7. Let Me Show You (Prod. By Ricky P)
8. Trap Never Closed (Prod. By Ricky P)
9. Rotation ft. Wiz Khalifa (Prod. By Ricky P)
Download Why So Serious?: http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/41309/jr-donato-why-so-serious.html
Please contact Michelle or Dharmic if interested in speaking with J.R. Donato.
JR Donato Background:
J.R. Donato’s music can be summed up into three words; conceptual, vivid and thorough. His image, outlook on life and positivity that he brings to the hiphop community is a breathe of fresh air. His passion manifested itself early in the form of songwriting. “I always wrote about things I had been through or seen,” J.R. says. “I still do. Every song is another piece of my life and story.” Before J.R. reached his teenage years, he was already penning lyrics for himself and others. By the time he was 13, Young J.R. had a regional hit single “500 Degrees,” with a live performance presence that was unheard of for a kid who just left his teens. That led to other tracks like “Money On My Mind” and “We Be Rydin,” creating a sizeable buzz for young entertainer. He was popping up on mixtapes and performing at clubs he was too young to even attend.
Links:
official site | facebook | twitter | instagram | soundcloud | spotify
Why So Serious?: http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/41309/jr-donato-why-so-serious.html
“Trap Never Closed”: YouTube // SoundCloud
“All That I Need”: https://youtu.be/YCq12tPx_k4
“Not for None”: http://www.vevo.com/watch/jr-donato-1/Not-for-None/USUYG1100756
“Make It Count”: http://vevo.ly/9sCsmY
Wiz Khalifa – “Outsiders” (J.R. Donato Remix): https://soundcloud.com/jrdonato/wiz-khalifa-outsiders-jr-donato-remix
Vlog: https://youtu.be/VmTfASJYacw
“Don’t Go Nowhere”: https://youtu.be/t52cRJebCEI
Fast Money & Freedom: http://www.datpiff.com/JR-Donato-Fast-Money-Freedom-mixtape.735001.html
“Mad At Me”: https://soundcloud.com/jrdonato/mad-at-me
“Life So Sweet”: http://www.vevo.com/watch/USUYG1080291
“Make It Count”: https://soundcloud.com/jrdonato/make-it-count-ft-cody-blankz/
“I Suppose”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q2wlT7PxmQ / https://soundcloud.com/jrdonato/i-suppose
“Gotta Get It”: https://soundcloud.com/jrdonato/gotta-get-it-ft-laboo
“Some More”: https://soundcloud.com/jrdonato/some-more
“Gimme That”: https://soundcloud.com/jrdonato/gimme-that-prod-ricky-p
“How It Feel” (ft. Iamsu!): https://soundcloud.com/jrdonato/how-it-feel-ft-iamsu
North Pole: http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/30934/jr-donato-north-pole.html
Bio, press photos: http://audiblet