FEEL MY PAIN: DON INFA
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA | DON INFA
INTERVIEW TERRELL “REALIFE” BLACK
Philadelphia’s own Don Infa is back with his latest release, “S.A.N.E. 4” which dropped June 1st. The 12 track independent release, with lead singles “Endless Pain” featuring Reese Mula and “Take A Ride” featuring Sheek Louch of the LOX. The project also features guest appearances by Isabella Armina on “Beautiful Mess”, Iam3am on “Call Me” and fellow ShadowMobb label mate Whispers on “ShadowMobb Started Something”
The new project is available for streaming on various digital streaming platforms including Apple Music and Spotify.
Validated recently spoke with Don Infa about his affiliation with D Block, the release of “S.A.N.E. 4” and more.
“I DON’T PAINT FALSE PICTURES LIKE I’M RICH AND GOT FOREIGNS AND WATCHES I DON’T HAVE. MOST PEOPLE DON’T HAVE THOSE THINGS SO HOW CAN THEY RELATE? I TAKE PRIDE IN PAINTING A PICTURE SO VIVID MY FANS CAN ACTUALLY SEE AND FEEL IT.” - DON INFA
VALIDATED: WHAT'S YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF HIP-HOP CULTURE?
DON INFA: WOW, I HAVE SO MANY BUT ONE THING I’LL NEVER FORGET IS WATCHING “YO MTV RAPS” WITH MY COUSIN CALYTE. HE’S A DJ SO I USE TO GRAB HIS HEADPHONES AND MIC AND MIMIC WHOEVER I SAW ON TV. AT THIS TIME “CHANGES” BY TUPAC WAS IN HEAVY ROTATION. MY COUSIN PUT ME ON TO SO MANY DOPE MC’S.
VALIDATED: BEING FROM PHILLY, HOW DID IT INFLUENCE YOU AS AN ARTIST?
DON INFA: MAN PHILLY WAS ROUGH. MURDER CAPITOL AT ONE POINT, BIGGEST HEROIN LOCATION IN THE STATES AND SO MUCH POVERTY. BUT RAP WAS HUGE IN PHILLY, THAT WAS THE ONE THING THAT WOULD BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP STATE PROPERTY WAS HEAVY! THEN WE HAD THE ROOTS OBVIOUSLY AND MAJOR FIGGAS. SO MUCH DOPE MUSIC COMING OUT THE CITY. THEN THE DVD ERA STARTED, SMACK, HEADSHOTS, TOP KLASS, WE RUN THE STREETS... ALL THOSE GUYS HELPED MOLD ME INTO THE ARTIST I AM TODAY. YOU SEE SO MUCH PAIN AND YOU GO THROUGH SO MUCH PAIN THAT IT ACTUALLY ENDS UP BEING MOTIVATION FOR YOU. PHILLY IS A BEAUTIFUL MESS MAN.
VALIDATED: YOU SHARE A LOT OF YOUR PAIN WITH YOUR LISTENS THROUGH YOUR MUSIC, WHAT’S THE CONNECTION TO YOUR FANS?
DON INFA: WELL WITH ME BEING ABLE TO DISH OUT EVERY OUNCE OF PAIN I THINK MY FANS GET TO SEE ME FOR ME. I DON’T PAINT FALSE PICTURES LIKE I’M RICH AND GOT FOREIGNS AND WATCHES I DON’T HAVE. MOST PEOPLE DON’T HAVE THOSE THINGS SO HOW CAN THEY RELATE? I TAKE PRIDE IN PAINTING A PICTURE SO VIVID MY FANS CAN ACTUALLY SEE AND FEEL IT. SEEING SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS IN MY LIFE I’M ABLE TO TOUCH ON CERTAIN TOPICS THAT PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN MY CITY, CAN RELATE TOO. I TAKE PRIDE IN THE FACT I CAN TOUCH SOMEONE’S SOUL WITH MY PAIN BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT TOO.
VALIDATED: YOU’RE A SHADOWMOBB ARTIST, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE LABEL?
DON INFA: AW MAN, SO SHADOWMOBB IS INCREDIBLE. MY BIG HOMIE WHISPERS FOUNDED IT YEARS AGO. WHISPERS IS APART OF D BLOCK BUT ALWAYS HAD HIS OWN STUFF GOING ON. HE ALWAYS STANDS FIRM ON HIS BELIEF OF JUST BEING REAL, BEING RUGGED & APPLYING PRESSURE. EVERYONE IN SHADOWMOBB IS SO CLOSE WE ALWAYS CALL IT A BROTHERHOOD BECAUSE IT’S JUST NOT YOUR REGULAR LABEL OR COALITION. SO MANY TALENTED ARTISTS AND PRODUCERS ON DECK AND WE ALL CONNECT SO WELL. MAIN THING WITH SHADOWMOBB IS JUST GOING HARD AND WORKING FROM THE GROUND UP AND LOVING YOUR BROTHERS.
VALIDATED: YOU’RE ALSO A D-BLOCK AFFILIATE, HOW DID THAT AFFILIATION HAPPEN?
DON INFA: THIS WAS AN AMAZING POINT IN MY LIFE HONESTLY. GROWING UP THE LOX/RUFF RYDERS TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING AND STILL TO THIS DAY HOLD THE #1 SPOT ON MY LIST. BACK IN 2013 THE LOX DROPPED AN EP TITLED “THE TRINITY”, JUST SO HAPPENS WHISPERS WAS ON IT. I REACHED OUT TO WHISPERS ON INSTAGRAM AND HE ANSWERED ME RIGHT AWAY. NO HESITATION, THE GUY WAS INCREDIBLE TO ME. LIKE 2 YEARS PASS & WE TALK HERE AND THERE, HE SUPPORTS ME AND GIVES ME ADVICE IF EVER I NEED IT. NEXT THING YOU KNOW WE FINALLY DID A SONG TOGETHER. ONCE THE CAMP GOT A WHIFF OF IT PEOPLE STARTED WATCHING ME. I THEN REACHED OUT TO D BLOCK AND THE LOX ENGINEER AND PRODUCER DAYZEL THE MACHINE. HE HEARD MY MUSIC AND INSTANTLY LIKED MY STUFF. HE DM’ED ME HIS NUMBER, I COULDN’T EVEN BELIEVE IT. WE CHOPPED IT UP AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW HE PRODUCED 2 RECORDS ON MY EP “S.A.N.E 3”. AFTER THAT A LOT OF D BLOCK ARTISTS GOT IN TOUCH WITH ME AND DIDN’T IN NO WAY ACT HOLLYWOOD. THEY GENUINELY MESSED WITH ME. I GOT IN TOUCH WITH SNYP LYFE AS WELL AND HE GAVE ME A STAMP, IT FELT LIKE A DREAM. ALL THAT LED UP TO WORKING WITH SHEEK LOUCH FOR MY UPCOMING ALBUM “S.A.N.E 4” WHILE ALSO ADDING VINNY IDOL AS THE PRODUCER OF THAT RECORD. DOPE STUFF MAN. SO NOW TO THIS DAY I’VE BUILT SOME RELATIONSHIPS WITH SNYP LIFE, DYCE PAYNE, DAYZEL, WHISPERS AND MORE. HONESTLY, IF NOT FOR WHISPERS IT PROBABLY WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. SO SHOUT OUT MY BROTHER!
VALIDATED: WHICH EMCEES INFLUENCED YOUR STYLE AND WHAT IF ANYTHING DID YOU “BORROW” FROM THEM?
DON INFA: WELL MY TOP 5 IS BASICALLY EVERYONE WHO INFLUENCED ME... JADAKISS, NAS, JAY Z, BIGGIE AND DMX. ALL THOSE GUYS WERE SUPER INFLUENTIAL TO ME. FROM JADA’S KNOWLEDGE OF THE STREETS AND RAW DELIVERY, TO NAS’ STORYTELLING AND LYRICISM, TO JAY’S FLASHY DRUG DEALING LIFE TO WITTINESS, TO BIGGIE’S GANGSTER WAY OF RAPPING AND FLOW, DOWN TO DMX BEING SO REAL AND RUGGED MIXED WITH AGGRESSION. MANNN, THE LIST GOES ON. THOSE 5 WERE GUYS I LISTENED TO RELIGIOUSLY. BEING BORN IN 93 I MISSED A LOT. BUT BEING THAT MY COUSIN WAS A DJ I WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO LISTEN TO EVERYTHING. HE WOULD BURN ME ANY CD I WANTED. SLICK RICK WAS AN EARLY INFLUENCE OF MINE AS WELL, MY BIG BROTHER USE TO PLAY HIS FIRST ALBUM IN THE CAR EVERY TIME I WAS WITH HIM. LISTENING TO THESE GUYS I WAS ABLE TO TAKE EVERYTHING I SEEN IN PHILLY OR WENT THROUGH AND WRITE IT DOWN. SO MANY THINGS THEY RAPPED ABOUT WE USE TO SEE DAILY IN PHILLY.
VALIDATED: WHICH KNOWN HIP HOP ARTIST AND PRODUCERS HAVE YOU WORKED WITH?
DON INFA: HONESTLY I HAVEN’T WORKED WITH MANY BECAUSE I’M STILL BUILDING. BUT I’VE GOTTEN TO WORK WITH WHISPERS, SHEEK LOUCH, DAYZEL THE MACHINE, VINNY IDOL, SPADE O FROM PHILLY. WHILE ALSO GETTING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM CROOKED I, GHOSTFACE KILLAH, GILLIE DA KING, OT THE REAL, NH FROM PHILLY. I’M STILL BUILDING THOUGH.
VALIDATED: YOU DROPPED YOUR FIRST OFFICIAL ALBUM TITLED “S.A.N.E 2” IN 2017, WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE TO THE PROJECT?
DON INFA: THE RESPONSE WAS PRETTY DOPE. IT WAS THE 2ND PROJECT I DID WITH ALL ORIGINAL BEATS. ME AND MY TEAM PUT IT OUT IN BANDCAMP AND SOLD IT FOR $7.99. I ENDED UP MAKING $1000 OFF OF IT. OVERALL THOUGH ME PERSONALLY I WASN’T A HUGE FAN BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFERENT FOR ME. I WAS ALSO GOING THROUGH DIFFERENT THINGS AT THE TIME WHERE I COULDN’T FOCUS HOW I WANTED TOO.
VALIDATED: IN 2019 YOU RELEASED “S.A.N.E 3”, WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF AS AN ARTIST ON THIS PROJECT?
DON INFA: THIS PROJECT WAS 1 FOR THE AGES MAN. I WORKED ON THIS FROM 2017-2019. I DID 2 DIFFERENT VERSIONS BEFORE I ACTUALLY RELEASED IT. THIS WAS THE PROJECT WHERE I WAS MOST COMFORTABLE WITH MYSELF. DAYZEL PRODUCED 1 OF MY BIGGEST SONGS TO DATE “BEEN A LONG TIME” WHICH FEATURES WHISPERS. I WAS ABLE TO TAP INTO A MORE AUTHENTIC SIDE OF ME AND GIVE ALL THAT BUILT UP PAIN I HAD TO THE PEOPLE. DEFINITELY MY MOST PERSONAL PROJECT. IT MOLDED ME INTO A MORE VERSATILE ARTIST AS WELL. THE RECEPTION WAS AMAZING WITH OVER 10K STREAMS IN A WEEK. PEOPLE RELATED TO THIS PROJECT SO MUCH BECAUSE IT WAS SO REAL. THIS TAUGHT ME TO JUST BE SUPER AUTHENTIC AND DON’T HOLD BACK.
VALIDATED: YOUR UPCOMING ALBUM “S.A.N.E 4” DROPS JUNE 1ST, WHAT’S THE FIRST SINGLE OFF THE PROJECT?
DON INFA: THE FIRST SINGLE WAS TITLED “ENDLESS PAIN” FEATURING MY HOMIE FROM PHILLY, REESE MULA. PERFECT RECORD TO SET THE TONE. IT SHOWS PEOPLE THAT I’M STILL THE SAME ME AND I STILL GOT SOME PAIN TO GET OUT. ALTHOUGH PAIN IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE, PAIN IS ALSO ENDLESS. THE LYRICS ARE SO RELATABLE WHEN IT COMES TO BACKSTABBING, HATING, AND JUST EVERYDAY STRUGGLES. PEOPLE LOVE THIS RECORD.
VALIDATED: WHICH PRODUCERS DID YOU WORK WITH AND ARE THERE ANY FEATURES?
DON INFA: I GOT SOME DOPE PRODUCERS ON HERE. DAYZEL THE MACHINE PRODUCED THE INTRO WHILE ALSO MIXING AND MASTERING IT. THAT WAS SUPER DOPE FOR ME! THIS IS THE GUY WHO MIXES ALL THE LOX RECORDS... INCREDIBLE. I GOT THE LEGENDARY VINNY IDOL, SHADOWMOBB PRODUCER THE E. THE E IS SUPER SLEPT ON, HE REMINDS YOU OF LIKE A YOUNG SWIZZ BEATZ. DUDE’S TALENT IS ENDLESS. I GOT BIG JEEZY WHO’S A DOPE PRODUCER AS WELL, SPEEDYBABYY FROM NEW YORK, ANT CHAMBERLAIN AND THAT’S PRETTY MUCH IT. FEATURES, I GOT WHISPERS, SHEEK LOUCH, REESE MULA, ROYCE DIOR AND MY HOMEGIRL ISABELLA ARMINA. THIS IS HER FIRST TIME ON AN ACTUAL RECORD AND SHE DID HER THING. SO MANY DOPE VIBES!
VALIDATED: HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU’VE GROWN AS AN ARTIST SINCE THE RELEASE OF YOUR INITIAL ALBUM “S.A.N.E 2”?
DON INFA: I THINK I’VE GROWN IN A CRAZY WAY. I’M BEING MORE OF MYSELF. I’M WRITING MORE HOOKS NOW, I’M MORE AGGRESSIVE & ALSO WAY MORE LYRICAL. IF YOU LISTEN FROM THEN TO NOW YOU’D BE LIKE “WOW, THIS KID REALLY PROGRESSED.” IT’S CRAZY BECAUSE WHEN “S.A.N.E 2” DROPPED I HAD ALREADY BEEN RAPPING FOR LIKE 7 YEARS BUT NOW I THINK I’M AT MY PEAK.
VALIDATED: WHEN IT COMES TO THE MUSIC BUSINESS, WHAT MAJOR PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
DON INFA: LOVE THIS QUESTION. I WOULD DEFINITELY TELL MYSELF NOT TO BE SO LOYAL TO EVERYBODY. EVERYBODY DON’T WANT YOU TO WIN. YOU GOTTA KEEP IN MIND PEOPLE WANNA GET TO WHERE YOU’RE TRYNA GET TOO, SO THEY USUALLY DON’T HAVE YOUR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART. I’D ALSO TELL MYSELF TO BE MORE HUMBLE AND LET THE WORK SHOW. I USED TO BE SO OUTSPOKEN AND THINK I WAS THE HOTTEST KID ON THE PLANET. THAT STOPPED A LOT OF BUSINESS FOR ME. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, JUST STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF. DON’T TRY TO FIT IN OR MAKE MUSIC BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT’S WHAT’S POPPING AT THE TIME. YOU CAN NEVER GO WRONG JUST BEING YOU!
VALIDATED: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM DON INFA FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2020?
DON INFA: 2020 IS GONNA BE HUGE I THINK. I’VE ALREADY BEEN ON SHADE45, WORKED WITH SHEEK LOUCH AND VINNY IDOL AND BEEN GAINING ENDLESS RECOGNITION OFF THE CHALLENGES ARTISTS KEEP PUTTING OUT. ALL IN ALL I HAVE 2 MORE PROJECTS LINED UP BEFORE THE YEAR IS OVER. SHADOWMOBB DROPPING TOO! IT’S GONNA BE A YEAR TO REMEMBER.
VALIDATED: WHAT’S YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACTS AND WEBSITE?
DON INFA: MY INSTAGRAM IS @REALDONINFA AND MY TWITTER IS @REALDONINFA215. I DON’T HAVE AN OFFICIAL WEBSITE YET BUT MY SOUNDCLOUD IS WWW.SOUNDCLOUD.COM/DONINFA215. WEBSITE AND MERCH COMING SOON THOUGH, WORD!