Don Q

A native of the Highbridge neighborhood of the Bronx, New York City, rapper Don Q emerged in 2016 delivering hard, no-nonsense verses about his life experiences on his debut mixtape, Don Season. Initially known for his collaborations with fellow Bronx native <a href="spotify:artist:31W5EY0aAly4Qieq6OFu6I">A Boogie wit da Hoodie</a>, he became part of the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Highbridge+the+Label%22">Highbridge the Label</a> crew and later signed with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Atlantic%22">Atlantic</a>. His style eschews melodic hooks and flashy delivery, instead focusing on intense, motivated lyricism. In addition to recording several tracks with <a href="spotify:artist:31W5EY0aAly4Qieq6OFu6I">A Boogie</a>, he has also worked with rappers such as <a href="spotify:artist:3q7HBObVc0L8jNeTe5Gofh">50 Cent</a> (2018's "Yeah Yeah") and <a href="spotify:artist:4O15NlyKLIASxsJ0PrXPfz">Lil Uzi Vert</a> (2020's "Flood My Wrist").

Don Q grew up listening to <a href="spotify:artist:3nFkdlSjzX9mRTtwJOzDYB">Jay-Z</a> albums and mixtapes by the likes of <a href="spotify:artist:3vDUJHQtqT3jFRZ2ECXDTi">Lloyd Banks</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3WilJWdCNLSU7fpYjiKb7v">Cassidy</a>, and started writing rhymes and battle rapping as a teenager. He released a low-key mixtape at the age of 17, but subsequently lost his focus on music until 2014, when he decided to get back on track and rap professionally. He made cameos on tracks by <a href="spotify:artist:20sxb77xiYeusSH8cVdatc">Meek Mill</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:7e10JUMF7MJmmwYpnTSMI5">Dave East</a> before releasing his Don Season mixtape in 2016, as well as Highbridge the Label: The Takeover, Vol. 1, a collaboration with <a href="spotify:artist:31W5EY0aAly4Qieq6OFu6I">A Boogie</a>.

The following year, he issued Corner Stories, a mixtape that boasted appearances by <a href="spotify:artist:2x8KDZdSONA3872CnhaAlX">Styles P</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5pnbUBPifNnlusY8kTBivi">Jadakiss</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:0YWxKQj2Go9CGHCp77UOyy">Fabolous</a>, as well as production by <a href="spotify:artist:4hadtPX6kKntrnA87Zdy01">Scott Storch</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3CbYyyd8wH3RT6t0jwpdzC">Murda Beatz</a>. Soon after its release, Don Q signed to <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Atlantic%22">Atlantic</a>, which issued Corner Stories Reloaded, a revamped, expanded edition of the mixtape. In 2018, he issued the Don Talk EP, featuring guests like <a href="spotify:artist:7pFeBzX627ff0VnN6bxPR4">Desiigner</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0ONHkAv9pCAFxb0zJwDNTy">Pusha T</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:6AUl0ykLLpvTktob97x9hO">Tee Grizzley</a>, following it up with Don Season 2, a sequel to his 2016 mixtape of the same name. Don Season 2 became his first charting release, reaching number 93 on the Billboard 200. An EP titled Underrated closed out the year. After a short hiatus, Don Q returned in 2020 with "Flood My Wrist," a collaboration with <a href="spotify:artist:31W5EY0aAly4Qieq6OFu6I">A Boogie</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4O15NlyKLIASxsJ0PrXPfz">Lil Uzi Vert</a>. Several other singles appeared throughout the year, including "Legends" (featuring <a href="spotify:artist:5Matrg5du62bXwer29cU5T">Benny the Butcher</a>) and "Vroom Vroom" (also with <a href="spotify:artist:31W5EY0aAly4Qieq6OFu6I">A Boogie</a>). ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi