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“I feel as though I’m a vessel giving back knowledge and keys of what I learned to the world,” says Baltimore artist Don Dawson. Dawson’s approach to the microphone is filled with poetic talent and verbal gymnastics but Dawson also slows down and provides music about his experience as a Black man in this world and what that means. Don Dawson provides energy and presence that we don’t see often in this day and age. He is not one to be boxed in by “mainstream” or “underground” labels because he can do both. Over the course of the last two years Don Dawson has flexed his versatility with a few projects under his belt and is looking for more. With 2022 right around the corner, Don Dawson has more music planned including two music projects along with his debut poetry book.

From the beginning Don Dawson was immersed and entrenched in the music. Everyday our young hero would come home and watch cuts like 106 & Park, Rap City and the like and absorb all the art he was met with. “When I found songs I liked, I’d learn them and pretend I was having my own concert,” Dawson recalls. While learning up on the modern side of music, Dawson was also privy to going back and learning about the art that shaped today’s landscape, Michael Jackson, The Temptations and more all shaped Dawson’s outlook on music. The whole time, Don Dawson also assumed responsibility in the household as he grew up in a one parent household. “When reality finally hit, music became my escape...I was (also) learning life lessons through music which helped me navigate through my growth and survival.” Dawson says. Don Dawson’s life experience and willingness to venture through different eras of music, is what brings us the multi-faceted emcee we hear before us today.

You can hear the 90s and early 2000s influence in Don Dawson’s music but boxing him into the “conscious” category is a disservice to the versatility Dawson is constantly exuding. In one track he’ll present the pain and questions he has as he watches the daily news, in the next he’s “Snappin’” over a beat with other rappers, bringing back the elements of the cypher, in the next he’s rhyming over hi-hats and more mainstream production speaking directly to his people and motivating them to keep on with the fight. The commonality in all of these circumstances is that Don Dawson always presents things in the most honest manner. It’s not about chains, women or money, it’s about educating his people, protecting our Black women and creating art that will last generations. Dawson’s debut album “Until I’m Forgiven” touches on all these beats and has Dawson waxing poetic over a plethora of sounds. Dawson’s music is not meant to be lightning in a bottle but rather a poignant snapshot of his life and the war going on outside. 

Don Dawson is using his platform for good and entertaining crowds while doing it. 2020 started with Dawson releasing “The Manumission” a surprise project of sorts given the pandemic. “I was actually working on my project...originally coming out in 2021 which at the time was named “Don”, Dawson says, “Due to the quarantine...I wanted to make something fun, quick & experimental.” Originally produced by DJ Ridd, Dawson took the word “Manumission” and give it his own definition and expresses it in this project. If you look closely enough you can find a Deluxe Version of the album on Bandcamp. The world is catching onto Don Dawson too as he’s featured on ThisIs50, Good Friday Radio Show, Miss Lissa Knows Podcast and a variety of other mediums. All of this said, Don Dawson is just getting started as he works on two projects including the sequel to “The Manumission”. Dawson is also taking his step into authorhood with the upcoming release of his book “Couldn’t Let You Tell It”. The Baltimore artist has more content planned for fans in 2022, now’s the time to press play.