Don Trip
- Hip hop
- southern hip hop
- Rapper
- actor
- Freebandz Godspeed
- Grind Hard
- Interscope
Christopher Donnie Wallace Jr (born August 20, 1985), known professionally as Don Trip,[1] is an American rapper. As a pioneer of the Memphis sound, he has been releasing music since the mid-2000s.[2]
Introduction
Don Trip first started to break out in 2011, with the re-release of his song "Letter to my Son" featuring Cee Lo Green.[3] This eventually led to his signing to Interscope in 2012,[4] and being named an XXL Freshman later that year.[5] After being dropped from the label, he found further success as an independent artist with his critically acclaimed series of mixtapes titled Step Brothers, in collaboration with fellow Tennessee rapper Starlito.
Early life
Don Trip grew up in the low-income East Memphis.[2] Living in a fatherless household, he watched as his mother work three jobs and still struggle to support him along with his brother and sister. At the age of 12, he began working to provide for his siblings, later saying that "all we ever had was us."[6] At an early age, Don Trip was inspired by Jay-Z, Tupac, and Jadakiss.[7] At 15, he noticed his family was falling apart, and felt the urge to do something more to help them. Inspired by the pre-teen duo of Kriss Kross, he began rapping and making music.[6]
Career
2012: Early career
Trip's career began at 15, when he started rapping.[6] After working on his craft, he began to release mixtapes and singles in the late 2000s, leading to a string of 9 projects being released between October 2010 (Crossface Crippler)[8] and February 2012 (Guerilla).[9] Releasing his mixtapes on websites such as Datpiff and HotNewHipHop, he began to amass a following as a street rapper.
His song "Letter to My Son" (originally released in 2009), went semi-viral on YouTube, fueling his transition toward mainstream hip-hop.[7] The song, which detailed Trip's struggle with being unable to see his son due to a court ruling, was lauded for its accurate depiction of a hardship not often portrayed in rap music. In 2012, hot on the heels of "Letter to My Son," Trip was named one of XXL's 2012 freshmen, alongside artists including Future, Danny Brown, and Hopsin.[5] Soon after, he was signed to Epidemic Records, a joint enterprise between production duo Cool & Dre and Interscope Records.[4]
2017–present: Step Brothers
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Don_Trip_with_Starlito_at_the_Vice_Media_office.png/220px-Don_Trip_with_Starlito_at_the_Vice_Media_office.png)
Prior to his signing at Interscope, Trip scored big with his collaborative Step Brothers mixtape with Starlito.[10] Released in 2011, the mixtape was peppered with references and in-jokes relating to the Judd Apatow movie Step Brothers, and gained a cult following among the rap community. A few months before the mixtape's release, Starlito and Don Trip were introduced to each other by Yo Gotti, with whom Trip was touring.[7] Both rappers were already familiar with the other's music, and after discovering their musical compatibility, decided to make a joint project.[11] Three studio sessions later, Step Brothers was fully recorded. Due to the success of the mixtape as well as their collaborative chemistry, Starlito and Trip continued to collaborate, releasing the Step Brothers 2 mixtape in 2013.[12] While Trip was based in Memphis while Starlito was based in Nashville, the two continued to meet up in person to record, never emailing each other songs back and forth.[13] In 2017, the two linked up again for the third installment of the Step Brothers series,[14] preceded by the Karate in the Garage collaborative mixtape.[15] Released independently, like the two previous mixtapes, Step Brothers 3 received widespread critical acclaim from publications such as Pitchfork,[16] XXL,[17] and USA Today.[18]
Personal life
As of December 2023, Don Trip has eight children, two sons and six daughters, by four different women.[19][20]
In May 2022, he married a Memphis nurse. They share one son[21]
Discography
Mixtapes/EPs
Name | Year | Notes |
---|---|---|
Surviving da Drought | 2009 | [22] |
The Threat | 2010 | [23] |
Human Torch | 2010 | [24] |
Crossface Crippler | 2010 | [25] |
Terminator | 2010 | [26] |
Free D Boi | 2010 | [27] |
Human Torch 2 | 2011 | [28] |
Step Brothers | 2011 | Collaboration with Starlito[10] |
Marvel Mixtape: Dub Edition | 2011 | [29] |
Terminator 2 | 2011 | [30] |
iHeart Strippers | 2011 | [31] |
Human Torch 3 | 2011 | [32] |
Guerilla | 2012 | [33] |
Help Is on the Way | 2012 | [34] |
Step Brothers Two | 2013 | Collaboration with Starlito[35] |
Randy Savage | 2014 | [36] |
Godspeed | 2015 | [37] |
In the Meantime | 2015 | [38] |
In the Meantime 2 | 2016 | [39] |
The Head That Wears the Crown | 2016 | [40] |
2 Clip Trip | 2016 | [41] |
Step Brothers: (Karate in the Garage) | 2017 | Collaboration with Starlito[42] |
Step Brothers Three | 2017 | Collaboration with Starlito[43] |
Free Roy, Free Fletch | 2017 | [44] |
Christopher | 2018 | [45] |
Don't Feed the Guerrillas | 2019 | [46] |
They Don't Love You | 2019 | [47] |
Lethal Weapon | 2019 | Collaboration with Criminal Manne[48] |
Pray God's Not Watching | 2021 | [49] |
Christopher Season 2 | 2022 | [50] |
Gotham City | 2023 | [51] |
iHeartStrippersToo | 2023 | [52] |
The Devil You Know | 2023 | [53] |
Shoulders of Giants | 2023 | [54] |
Die Another Day | 2023 | [55] |
Long Live Pif | 2023 | [56] |
Fireworks | 2023 | [57] |
Hell's Kitchen | 2023 | [58] |
1207 James St | 2023 | [59] |
Red October | 2023 | [60] |
Wolverine | 2023 | [61] |
Christopher Season 3 | 2023 | [62] |
Frostbite | 2024 | [63] |
iHeartStrippersTrois | 2024 | [64] |
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead | 2024 | [65] |
This Message Will Self Destruct | 2024 | [66] |
Mayhem | 2024 | [67] |
In Loving Memory | 2024 | Collaboration with Pif[68] |
Freedom Fighter | 2024 | [69] |
References
- ^ "Don Trip On Sharing the Same Name as The Notorious B.I.G. - XXL". XXL Mag. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ a b "Don Trip Official". mrdontrip.net. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Letter to My Son (feat. Cee Lo Green) - Single by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ a b "Don Trip Jumps "In the Mix" [DJBooth Interview Exclusive] - DJBooth Article". DJBooth.net. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ a b "XXL Freshman Class Of 2012". Stereogum. 2012-02-28. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ a b c sasheezy. "Don Trip: 'Help Is On the Way' (Interview) - Prefixmag.com". Prefixmag.com. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ a b c "Interview: Don Trip". The FADER. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Crossface Crippler, by Mr. Don Trip". Mr. Don Trip. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ Don Trip - Guerilla (Hosted by DJ Drama) | Download & Listen [New Mixtape], retrieved 2017-05-16
- ^ a b "Step Brothers, by Mr. Don Trip and Starlito". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Starlito And Don Trip: Writers First, Rappers Second". NPR.org. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Step Brothers Two by Starlito & Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Interview: A Discussion With Starlito and Don Trip On Independence, the Evolving Industry, and "Step Brothers 2"". Complex. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Step Brothers THREE by Starlito & Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ Starlito & Don Trip - Step Brothers (Karate In The Garage) | Download & Listen [New Mixtape], retrieved 2017-05-16
- ^ "Starlito / Don Trip: Step Brothers THREE Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Starlito and Don Trip Deliver a Dose of Reality Rap With 'Step Brothers Three' - XXL". XXL Mag. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "'Step Brothers 3': Don Trip, Starlito continue Memphis/Nashville union". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Don Trip on His 4 Kids, Relationship with 3 Baby Mothers, Shares Advice for Others". YouTube.
- ^ "Introducing Don Trip".
- ^ "Instagram".
- ^ "Surviving da Drought, by Mr. Don Trip". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "The Threat by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ "Human Torch, by Mr. Don Trip". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Crossface Crippler, by Mr. Don Trip". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Terminator, by Mr. Don Trip". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Free D Boi, by Mr. Don Trip". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Human Torch 2, by Mr. Don Trip". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Traphouse & Marvel Music Presents: Marvel Mixtape Dub Edition by Mr. Don Trip". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Terminator 2, by Mr. Don Trip". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "iHEARTStrippers, by Mr. Don Trip". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Human Torch III, by Mr. Don Trip". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
- ^ "Guerilla by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ Don Trip - Help Is on the Way | Download & Listen [New Mixtape], 31 October 2012, retrieved 2017-05-16
- ^ "Step Brothers Two by Don Trip and Starlito on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ Don Trip - Randy Savage | Download & Listen [New Mixtape], 24 January 2014, retrieved 2017-05-16
- ^ "Godspeed by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ Don Trip - In the Meantime | Download & Listen [New Mixtape], June 2015, retrieved 2017-05-16
- ^ Don Trip - In the Meantime 2 | Download & Listen [New Mixtape], retrieved 2019-07-05
- ^ "The Head That Wears the Crown by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ "2 Clip Trip by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ "Step Brothers: (Karate in the Garage) EP by Don Trip and Starlito on topmixtapes". topmixtapes.com. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ "Step Brothers THREE by Don Trip and Starlito on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ "Free Roy, Free Fletch by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ "Christopher by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
- ^ "Don't Feed the Guerrillas by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
- ^ "They Don't Love You by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
- ^ "Lethal Weapon by Don Trip and Criminal Manne on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
- ^ "Pray God's Not Watching by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
- ^ "Christopher Season 2 by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
- ^ "Gotham City by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ "iHeartStrippersToo by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "The Devil You Know by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
- ^ "Shoulders of Giants by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
- ^ "Die Another Day by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
- ^ "Long Live Pif by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
- ^ "Fireworks by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
- ^ "Hell's Kitchen by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ "1207 James St by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
- ^ "Red October by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- ^ "Wolverine by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ "Christopher Season 3 by Don Trip on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
- ^ "Frostbite EP by Don Trip on Amazon Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
- ^ "iHeartStrippersTrois EP by Don Trip on Amazon Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead by Don Trip on Amazon Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
- ^ "This Message Will Self Destruct EP by Don Trip on Amazon Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
- ^ "Mayhem EP by Don Trip on Amazon Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
- ^ "In Loving Memory by Don Trip and Pif on Amazon Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
- ^ "Freedom Fighter EP by Don Trip on Amazon Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2024-07-26.