Uprising rapper/songwriter Don Carlton releases his new project  ALL OR NOTHING: THE MIXTAPE, a 10-track body of work that makes use of heavy trap soundscapes and a mix of reflective and personal themes that explore Don Carlton’s life as a whole.
ALL OR NOTHING: THE MIXTAPE starts off “INTRO!<Context>”, a hard-hitting track made up of dark pads and thick 808 kicks and sees Don breaking down his experiences and where he is headed next. It is devoid of any hook and sets the tone for what is to come. “Sacrifices” is the next track and talks about the many sacrifices he had to make to get to where he is at. Over the cinematic and moody soundscape, he delivers an emotion-laden performance with an off-beat flow and garnishes it with an easy-to-follow hook. The follow-up “Chicago Pain” is as sombre as they come and it starts off with a solemn guitar arrangement underpinned by moody pads and sparsely spaced drums. Don takes time to reflect on his happiness and his attempt to connect with a certain individual who is fleeting and he revels in the emotional pain that comes with this realization.
“MINDLESS” has a dark and wobbly synth-bass and downtempo soundscape and takes listeners deep into Don’s mind and the craziness he has to cope with every day while “Just A Phase”, talks about loneliness, personal loss and the concept of constant change. Backed by a sombre pad and choral vocal-driven backdrop, Don gives listeners another glimpse into his life and the experiences that shaped him and his thoughts. This is followed by “FUKKED UP! <INTERLUDE>”, a barebones track that is hard-hitting but Don’s introspective lyrics take precedence. Tracks like “31” and “WAY TOO LOST” continues Don’s deep dive into his life with the former’s contemplative dive into the concept of self-belief while the latter’s solemn guitar-driven soundscape form the perfect backdrop for a tale of unrequited love and betrayal.
The project closes out with “LEX9CO” and “NPC FREESTYLE!” that exude vibrant aesthetics but are tied together by Don’s insightful lyrics and conformist flow. “LEX9CO” is as hard-hitting as they come in terms of its cinematic and ominous trap backdrop and memorable chorus and bravado raps. “NPC FREESTYLE!”  is another upbeat track that switches the vibe of the project and its a pure showcase of Don’s stream-of-consciousness flow and vivid lyrics that is ripe with off-kilter pop references.
ALL OR NOTHING: THE MIXTAPE is quite different for its style but while the soundscape is easily digestible, the flow could be a matter of mileage for the listener but the more you listen, the better you understand.

Stream ALL OR NOTHING: THE MIXTAPE on all DSPs here.

 

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