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Chicago rapper and record producer, who realized early on that purpose and success are self-designated. Born and raised Nicholas Donato in Franklin Park, Illinois early on music and hoops were life. As a mixed raced child raised by a single mother he bore witness the stark inequity early in life and became as political as the city he was raised in. Releasing self produced mixtapes throughout high school he was recognized for his real world storytelling, his dense & abstract wordplay and autobiographical rhymes. After his first production credit as a teenager he also was behind the boards releasing multiple collaborative albums. He graduated from West Leyden High School and studied music at Triton College and The Recording Connection until he eventually left school to pursue his music career. In 2008 he would release his indie solo debut The Stash which led to performances with the likes of The Roots, Lupe Fiasco, and George Clinton which led to a 4 part stash album series that included 2 other solo albums along with his work from soul alliance and multiple eps.The Stash album series set the table for his critically acclaimed album 2014s Sleepless. The continued success lead to performances with Mac Miller. Ariana Grande, & Kid Cudi to name a few. 10 albums, 5 eps, & numerous collaborative projects later, he reamains one of hip hop's most prolific artists. Each step of the the way he has pushed boundaries amassing quite the catalog (these are my albums or mixtapes or albums/mixtapes/projects i have produced on, worked on, or been featured on: CHI TOWN VILLAINS Greed, Hate,and Envy dec01, MD Get Real sep01, D-TRAIN The Compromise dec02, D-TRAIN The Definition nov03, SHY THA BRUISER Shy Flip Mixtape oct03, SHY THA BRUISER Shy Flip Mixtape Part 2 sep04, D-TRAIN and SHY THA BRUISER Chi-Towns Finest apr04, KEY ALUMNI (classes of 01 thru 04 all in dec), D-TRAIN The Graduate may05, KEY ALUMNI For The City Vol.1 feb06, KEY ALUMNI In The Key We Trust Vol.1 and 2 06 and 07 all in Dec, CEO In That Order jul07, D-TRAIN Da Sawbuck aug07, D-TRAIN and BIG EAZY New Vocabulary aug07, Big Eazy U R What U R jun07, D-TRAIN and CONTAGIOUS The 7 Wonders feb08, D-TRAIN The Stash apr08, THE UNDAGROUND RAILROAD Midnight Train To Guantanamo mar08, CONTAGIOUS The Element Of Surprise jul2008, D-Train and Grandpa Ray dec2008, D-TRAIN and CONTAGIOUS Flashback jul09, D-TRAIN Six Pack Mixtape may09, CAPTAIN DESTRUCTO Mixed Messages jul09, D-TRAIN The Stash 2: Darker and Deeper sep09, KEY ALUMNI You Only Live Twice Mixtape sep2010, CONTAGIOUS The Love EP dec2010, D-TRAIN F*** Monday dec2010, CAPTAIN DESTRUCTO Ill Prepared aug2010, ALL LIVE ENT. The Rain Mixtape jan2011, CONTAGIOUS Average Man:The Plan Is aug2011, KEY ALUMNI The Lost Weekend Mixtape oct2011, SOUL ALLIANCE Rise With The Sun Shine With The Stars aug2012, THE WEEKND Trilogy nov2012, D-TRAIN The Stash 3 EP: P.P.F. dec2012, CONTAGIOUS Average Man 2: Only As Good As The Mission apr2013, KEY ALUMNI Key aug2013, D-TRAIN Welcome To The Commission (live) aug2013, SOUL ALLIANCE Sittin On A Goldmine sep2013, D-TRAIN Back On Ernst Street oct2013, D-TRAIN Eleven EP nov2013, D-Train Another Six Pack Mixtape dec2013, D-TRAIN The Stash 4 Y.O.U. feb2014, DAMANI NKOSI Thoughtful King jun2014, ARIANA GRANDE My Everything aug2014, D-TRAIN Sleepless dec2014, D-TRAIN Thing You Cant Teach aug2015, D-TRAIN 7 rings mixtape dec2015, 7 BIBI BOURELLY Free The Real (Pt. #1) may2016, FIFTH HARMONY 7/27 may2016, BIBI BOURELLY Free The Real (Pt. #2) nov2016,D-Train and JJ Weekz The Selfie Generation dec2016, SOUL ALLIANCE Once In a Lifetime oct2016, D-TRAIN Director's Cut EP feb2017, D-TRAIN twentysomething apr2017, D-Train Mo' Director's Cut bonus disc jul2018, MAC MILLER Swimmingaug2018, D-TRAIN September Born sep2018, CHAMPION ISIAH Family EP jun2019, NORTH AVE. BEATS Season One dec2019, D-TRAIN Fathers Day EP jun2020, D-TRAIN Fathers Day LP jun2020, D-TRAIN, CHAMPION ISIAH, & DASH Dancing On The Sidewalk jul2020, KEY ALUMNI Shut Up And Jam Winter nov2020, SOUL ALLIANCE Track City Soundtrack dec2020, D-TRAIN Brunette jan2021, SOUL ALLIANCE Soul4Ever Side A may2021, D-TRAIN Brunette (deluxe) sep2021, KEY ALUMNI Shut Up And Jam Summer sep2021, D-TRAIN 3 Years 312 Days 9 Hours EP oct2021,SOUL ALLIANCE Soul4Ever Side B nov2021, D-TRAIN 3 Years 312 9 Hours LP dec 2021, SOUL ALLIANCE Soul4Ever The Neighborhood Kids (demos and freestyles) mar2022, D-Train The Big Leagues Jun2022, D-Train Southern Sailing Oct2022, D-Train Southern Sailing 2 Dec2023, D-Train, JJ Weekz Late Thursday Mar 2024, and D-Train Pebbles May2024
In Chicago he paints a vivid portrait of not only his day to day but a battle against brainwashing and a corrupt system where racial tension is high. His voice is unwavering in the fight for truth, despite the consequences.
