Meet Outside Don | Hip-Hop/R&B Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Outside Don and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Outside, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risks are necessary if you want to pursue your dreams. Not taking risks guarantees failure, and eventually life will be filled with a lot of “what ifs” and “I should’ve just”.

This reality hit me not too long ago when I was still living in El Paso. As a creative, the small city environment can only help you grow so much. Often times I felt ignored and overlooked, had me asking myself “Am I just not good?” “Am I the problem?” This question wasn’t answered until I took my music to a bigger city, the result, an amazing reaction.

The answer to my questions were answered, and after 8 years of struggling to get on the local scene in El Paso, I decided it was time to make the move to Dallas and take my craft serious. Obviously there were some nerves and anxiety, but in the end I knew it was gonna be a decision I wouldn’t regret.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The name Outside Don is pretty much a description of the art I produce. I make music for outsiders like me. People who feel as if they’re unheard or overlooked but still outwork and outperform anyone in their way. Being an outsider also means that you can do whatever you want since you’re not restricted to rules or norms of an insider social circle, and that translates into the art.

While most of my catalogue is Hip-Hop centered, there are songs that stray away from the genre, take my song Liar, acoustic guitars and melancholic melodies provide the listener with a more intimate soulful sound. Another example would be my song Follow Through, a jersey club banger that features singing throughout the entirety of the track.

I choose to be different with the sounds, the themes, and my image. Many people don’t embrace different, so to say that this journey has been easy would be the biggest lie of my life. People back home wouldn’t listen to me because I made different music, unless you were talking about trapping or singing like Drake, no one in El Paso really cared.

Often times I did find myself discouraged, I couldn’t tell you how many times I wanted to quit, but at the end of the day I knew my worth, and the worth of my music. I decided to keep believing in myself, and through that self belief I was able to make the best music of my life so far, but it’s only getting better.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Dallas is just great, there is so much do to!

The first place I take people to when they visit is downtown, more specifically the AT&T discovery district. The giant led screens and beautiful art pieces usually leave a lasting impression on people.

As far as eats, I haven’t had a chance to try much, but one thing I do know, you can never go wrong with in-n-out burger. It’s cheap (well sorta), it’s fast, and it’s always good.

Time for drinks eh? Deep Ellum it is. There’s just so much culture down there, from Cajun to Mexican to urban, it’s just a very vibrant place.

The people that know me can tell you that I have a deep love for sports and entertainment, so best believe I’ll be taking them to Arlington. You got Globelife Field, AT&T Stadium, Texas Live, heck even a Six Flags! It’s hard to be bored at a place that has a lot to do and see.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The biggest shoutout of all goes to my mom. She’s been my number one supporter from the beginning and still is. Without my mama, I’m certain that I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Website: https://linktr.ee/outsidedon

Instagram: Instagram.com/theoutsidedon

Twitter: Twitter.com/outsidedon

Facebook: Facebook.com/theoutsidedon

Youtube: YouTube.com/@outsidedon

Image Credits
All images were taken by: Emily Autumn Velasquez