D.O.M of DnD, the Canadian rapper who hails from the vibrant city of Calgary, Alberta, has been making waves in the music industry for the past eight years with his impeccable skills in rapping.
Influenced by some of the greatest rap artists of our time, such as Eminem, King Iso, Lupe Fiasco, and Royce da 5'9", D.O.M has successfully integrated their styles into his own music, resulting in an exceptional sound that captures the essence of the golden era of hip hop.
D.O.M first found his passion for rap music in middle school in 2015, when he began covering Eminem's songs. However, he soon realized he needed to create his own music to make a name for himself in the rap scene. In 2018, he released his first project, "Just Delete This," which showed his potential but did not quite meet the expectations of his audience.
Undeterred by the setback, D.O.M. used the pandemic as an opportunity to improve his craft. He participated in Cyphers on the subreddit "r/makinghiphop" and other song contests through Discord, which allowed him to hone his skills and showcase his talent. Through consistent contributions, D.O.M gained recognition and began working with prominent artists such as Joell Ortiz of Slaughterhouse, Kurupt, and Krizz Kaliko, and joined forces with the Reddit Rap Supergroup known as Splinter Faction.
"The Simpleton's EP 2: Jewelz Blu-Galoo," D.O.M's latest project, is a testament to his dedication to his craft. The EP is a carefully curated collection of tracks that showcases his witty and provocative lyrics. The beats are boom-bap and drill-inspired, which perfectly complements his rap style, resulting in a mesmerizing listening experience that is both nostalgic and fresh.
One standout track from the EP is "DTW/DTL” for "Downtown Winnipeg/Downtown Los Angeles” and features fellow rapper Krizz Kaliko. D.O.M's raw and unapologetic lyrics, the unique style of Krizz Kaliko, and the production mastery of Wyshmaster perfectly complement the song's theme with its hard-hitting drums, sinister synths, and pulsing bassline. The production creates a sense of tension and unease that perfectly complements the rawness of D.O.M's lyrics and Krizz Kaliko's unique flow.
The first and second verses of "DTW/DTL” showcase D.O.M’s witty lyrical skills, with lines like "Being paranoid makes a man smarter, Being petty makes a man smarter," adding to the song's quirkiness. The incorporation of Australian references, such as "This Melbourne not for beef to be squashed," adds a unique touch to the track, setting it apart from the sea of typical rap songs.
Krizz Kaliko's hook adds to the song's overall appeal, with his catchy and memorable lines of "Hold it, I'm reloading, King of the world miss quoted I'm a monster," staying in the listener's head long after the track has ended. The chorus, coupled with D.O.M of DnD's clever verses, creates a harmonious blend that will leave a lasting impression.
Welcome back to BuzzMusic D.O.M of DnD. Congratulations on your latest drop, "DTW/DTL” with such a unique set of bars and rhyme schemes; we’d love to know what inspired the quirky and creative lyrics in "DTW/DTL"? Were there any specific experiences or influences that shaped the writing process?
First of all, thanks for having me on again. I appreciate the opportunity. As for how DTW/DTL, the song was mainly inspired by a popular ASMR channel I follow who goes by the moniker "Dude That's Wholesome," aka "Dude That's Lewd," whom I wanted to emulate by flipping the acronyms they go by, into my own iterations, namely "Dude That's Loved," and "Dude That's Winning." As a result, I centred all the verses around being a dude loved by the masses and winning the respect of his compatriots regardless of how they feel.
What inspired you to write "DTW/DTL?" Can you talk a little bit about the creative process behind the song?
I got inspired by Dude That's Wholesome because of her ability to be consistent with her content and constant collaboration with other people in her field. Because I've noticed a good portion of people complimenting me for similar aspects, primarily that of being consistent and constantly posting content, I thought I could use the comparison to DTW and sample her work to hammer that point home. In addition, this track serves as one of the lead singles for my Valentine's Day project, "The Simpleton's LP 2: Jewelz Blu-Galoo," where I sample and base songs around adult performers' and ASMRtists' catalogues as a way of indicating how I can relate to them, so this one fit in smoothly by centring it around now because I've become consistent with working on my music, that I've become more and more respected by people. As for making the song itself, I put on Dude That's Wholesome's audio in the background while the beat was playing so I could focus on my verse and, thus, decided that ASMR was a good sample to flip.
The production of "DTW/DTL" is unique and stands out. How did you work with Wyshmaster to create the distinct sound and vibe of the song? And how does the sound incorporate the sonic tones you’ve built throughout your career?
Regarding the production side, I contacted Wyshmaster because he was making a beat pack in partnership with Krizz Kaliko for American Thanksgiving. I got my hands on it and decided that it would work for the project it was intended for, as it could change up the pace of the project to finish on a strong note. With respect to the rest of my catalogue, it's a departure from most of my sounds, as it's a harder, orchestral trap as opposed to the more Griselda-y or Central Cee-type sounds that I specialize in.
The second verse of "DTW/DTL" contains several clever word plays and references. Which lines or moments in the song are you particularly proud of, and why?
"Being Paranoid makes a man smarter, being petty makes a man smarter" is a line that I think would resonate with people. I've learnt that I failed to succeed at my goals whenever I took people's word when they stated I was overthinking my decisions or my rationale was petty. Thus, to succeed at executing my plans, I had to ignore this rhetoric and keep in mind that not overthinking means you may fail to think long-term about how to act, and not being petty can turn you into a pushover. As a result, this line summarizes the entirety of a) how I've functioned as an artist with the experiences I've had, and b) also depicts the primary point as to how someone can be successful.
How does "DTW/DTL" fit into the larger theme or concept of your upcoming album/project? And what do you have planned for the future?
As I've stated before, DTW/DTL fits into Simpleton's LP 2 by supporting the ASMR side of the project, where I sample Dude That's Wholesome's audio and flipping it on its head to emphasize how I parallel their work ethic and also become a successful and respected person. My plans for the future are to do feature verses for other artists I have close connections to, namely for previous collaborators. Speaking of which, I will be part of my rap group, the Splinter Faction's next EP, "Sepia Tones," released on March 3rd. This EP is mainly Jazzy and Chill in timbre, and I appear on two songs on that EP.
