Trey Dono Perspective on SMOKE LIKE

My name is Trey Dono a.k.a. P.Trey I am an American Rap artist and Producer.

I used to hang in Myrtle Beach, SC a lot. Main reason being it's easy to get money there. Especially in the summer. Whether it was fraud, drugs, sex workers, or uber eats I was always into something involving a fast buck. Smoke Like is inspired by the treaterous, sheisty underworld of Myrtle. If you using drugs on that beach. U had better know your shit or u could end up dead under the peer from an OD

My earliest memory of music is my mother singing "He's got the whole world in his hands". I was raised in a family of church going and God fearing people.  

As far as music that I personally wanted to listen to. I remember very specifically the first two cassette tapes I ever owned; Master P's "Ghetto Dope" and one of my all time favorite albums, " Flesh of my Flesh. Blood of my Blood" by DMX. I got them for Christmas when I was in elementary school. P was ok but that X album took position of my very soul and I immediately knew what I liked. DMX being the first artist to grace my musical palette would go on to have a profound influence on my musical tastes til this very day.

When I was in 6th grade an 8th grader named Macio Johnson moved to South Carolina from Virginia. He ended up being good friends with my cousin, Reese, who was also about to go to highschool next year. Mace was the first person that I ever seen rap his very own lyrics instead of just rapping along with whatever song was playing. This amazed me beyond all reasoning. At the time I didn't even imagine the possibility of a regular KID rapping not only his own original words but spitting fire every single bars. It didn't take long for me to appoint him to the position of being my new rap sensei. I looked up to this n**** so much, yo. He even gave me my very first rap name, "Ice-Trey" and it felt to me like I had just been crowned by this n**** or something. It would be years later before I finally felt the confidence to attempt writing a song of my own though. But the inspiration came directly from seeing Mace do it so effortlessly back then. I knew I wanted to be cool just like that n****

Hip-hop, Rap, Trap. Maybe indie? Idk. The lines between genres and sub-genres, are so blurred these days that I really don't pay attention to them much. With that in mind let's keep our answer simple. First sentence=Two and a possible. Shitty hand of this was a game of spades.

Since I've been home from prison for a few years now I would say that the main difference is the subject matter of most of my lyrics are more diverse; not to mention the increase of the amount of hoes, nurses, and all manner of female acquaintances mentioned in song; a refreshing alternative to the mind set that's reflected on most of the songs that I recorded on my galaxy A8 when I was still in the trenches. (Yep. You read that right )I'm also striving to only rap on beats I make personally. I'll collaborate wit a close friend occasionally. Type beat culture is undeniably killing at least some of the originalality in the game. Especially with up and coming artist. I've been developing my own unique style and aesthetic. The songs feel like my own children when I do everything myself. Children born of my essence with no outside influence. Just my beat slidin and me walking it. It takes longer for some artist to shop for a beat than it does for me to complete a song lyrics and all. I want my art to reflect me and my thoughts. The instrumental: My heart beating through the processor of my iPhone. (Old habits)

The theme of the music that I make is quite literally whatever I'm living through.  For example "712 INN" all about my least favorite trap spot on the beach. It's a death trap if u ain't on point. "DONUT MAN" is named after the 24 hour donut shop where the meth users liked to hang out at 3 am. Ironically, despite the name, cop never came to the donut man much. Just meth heads and me; often during the witching hour. (3:00-4:00am)  I basically write songs that either covertly or more often overtly depict random glimpses into my experience of the underworld I'm so used to navigating.

That's easy.

At present I would choose to tour with veeze and Babyface ray.

If Gucci Mane went on tour id definitely go with him. Wop is my fuckn roll model on the low. 

And lastly I wouldn't mind touring with ,like, a rock band. Eyedress is the first that comes to mind, mac Demarco, ilostché, or poorstacy or somebody fitting the general aesthetic of the aforementioned rock and roll acts. If I could score some FTP drip and a bad asian bitch off address that would be really cool.

My favorite artist changes like the directions of the breeze. At the current moment I'm fuckn wit veeze. I would explain his vocal style as, first and foremost, different as fuck but in a very subtle way. And his beat selection is always fuckn fire.  His latest project "Ganger" is the most unique collection of songs I've heard in a while. His lyrics are sometimes arrogant but you can since his humbleness too. With all the tracks that got big spacey synths and different electronic keyboard sound thoughout it sounds like something new and something from what joe buden might consider to be hiphops golden age. At age 29 he's older than most break out rap artist but this also is a factor to consider when thinking of veeze's general aesthetic of being able to mix an older vibe with lots of youthfulnesss in it as well.

I would say a lot of my music seems to center  around being able to thrive or at least survive iin what most would consider to be very unsavory, situations. The story of my life. Quite literally. I would explain my music as unlike anything you'll hear anywhere else. I rap a lot about dreams and seeing signs and fighting demons in the most literal since of the word. It's a story of tragedy and long suffering that will eventually lead to my utmost salvation or if I lose my focus could easily become a earthly damnation in a since. I struggle in my head and my heart every day. My music has quite a few times referenced refreshed occult teaching along with spiritual wisdom. I think the best way to sumn it up would be to look at my art as the diary I keep of the paths I've been down. That includes the good the bad and, hell yeah,can't forget the ugly. RAW AND UNCUT like how u thought that coke I sold u for $80 a gram was. (0.6 or the gram; nothing but filler) My music is honest and can be the reason yo learn something new about life in general. I try to subliminally convery life lessons in lyrics that often depict a not so pretty picture.

Fuck dude. I would definitely have to convince King Yama to let juice wrld and Mac Miller come back for a special farewell performance. Both of these men are legendary in their own right. I am of the opinion the juice wrld IS the best rapper to ever walk this earth and if allowed to live for 15 more years would have quite possibly become the most prolific musical artist, that has existed in any genre. A total pioneer of the rap scene. My nigga came in the game head first on a perc and was at the top of the lyrical food chain until his untimely demise. 

And as for my nigga Mac.. he is another literal pioneer that helped shape the way the game is today. This man started making beats under the pen name Larry fisherman. Ever Mac beat was fire as fuck. I was really really sad when juice died but I didn't cry. When Mac die I fuckn cried bc it literally felt like my friend had just died. The first Mac mixtape I ever heard was "best day ever" from DatPiff.com. I ended up with it by accident bc I thought I was download "Gucci Sosa" 2008 in Florence Darlington tech parking lot is where I was the first time I heard Mac miller after hitting play expecting Wop. But the more I listened the more I recognized his skill. I never expected to see this man rose as far in his career as he did to be honest. And that's not to say I didn't like his music bc I fuckn loved it. He was just so different and when I discovered his work he was just a nerdy white kid from PA that had fire bars . No tattoos. He heartbreak. No drugs. ( Maybe weed. MAYBE) and I always thought a big part of Mac Miller's likeability stemmed from the heir of innocence he seemed to convey.. kinda cheesey at times but also refreshing in the modern rap game. I followed his career all the way up until the time he way found on his knees before God in the prayer position. There he prostrated, abandoned by his, so call, friends. Mentally exhausted. Emotionally trying to hold it together, fear of the risk of failure always lurking in his mind right where the subconscious and conscious subconscious meet. His last words .. obviously a plea to the Lord to help him out of the personal hell he must have been going though in every single part of him except the parts that other people can see. Hell yeah I ain't shame to say I sat in my cell in front of God and my roommate balled tears when I saw the news on Instagram. 

Two of the best to ever grace the court. 

Two men I consider to be amongst my guardian angels...

Jared Higgins  and Malcolm McCormick

I hope to meet you both whenever I make it back to the light. 

RIP

Shit ain't easy as they make it look on the gram. A real boss has to take a lot of losses in preparation for that moment the moment you own it like Eminem said. I'm still waiting for my moment . I can feel it nearing though... I was prepared a long time ago. I have a theory involving the current thought train we're currently on. The longer you suffer, the more painful the painful the trail, the more tribulation you can endure with a greatful heart, The stronger you become, The intelligence gained and wisdom grown, are all necessary muscles to develop in order to be brave enough, strong enough, and wise enough to cease you moment. Greater the suffering endured the great the moment will be. Its never too late as long as u drawing breath in this warzone we call Earth. Im 36 years old which is pretty old to be considering the rap game. But all my suffering and circumstances only left me with two routes to real greatness and the other route doesn't deserve a though. My greatest asset will be all the word nobody would take the time to hear. 

It very hard to choose a favorite be here's one of my favorite babies. It's name is "Manic Depression" I have it uploaded on my sound cloud page : Dono Dudamaf

I'll type out the lyrics then find the link to leave here as well.  This is one of the many songs from the prison archives. The quality is very to from an audio clarity point of view. But to me the word are perfect. While Writing some songs I imagine that I'm exercising a couple demons. I got some shit to get off my chest type shit. Ya know 

"Manic Depression" by Trey Dono

Ayo! They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Growing up I wanted love so how I ended pimpin?

I mix the powder with the dope and then I print indentions.

She tried the bowl! She tried the bowl! You know she ended spinnin

She started doing other niggas shit and ended ended spendin.

Friend to the end from the beginning. I'm her medicine man

Bring her her prescription in them bags they put them sandwiches in

Serve her every day she with the cake like it's my damn religion

I manifest! and I manage stress! and I damage blessins!

Yeah karma real but we making deals at my damn discretion!

Got manic depression. He cross me gone teach that man a lesson!

Leave em dipping dressing. Been stressing with life and n***** testing.....

°Fin°

I had a homeboy named Kode Red who lived in the cell right beside mine when I was at Kirkland reception center, which is the initial intake facility for all SCDC inmate.  After we met we found out we were both from the same area. And it also turn out I know two of his cousins from back on the streets. We both rapped so we use to sit in the cell and write then when they popped the doors for us to go to the cafeteria we would share what we had been working on. Long story short; he had a lil skid bid for a petty crime and was going to go home before they got a chance to ship him anywhere. Of course I stayed to finish serving the, fresh, new, 25 years nonviolent sentence I recently received from the good folks over at the state solicitor's office of South Carolina and he went home. I don't remember when, but apparently i told him about the EP I put out before I got locked up called "Trey Point Five EP" I made a song about two girls fighting drug abuse called "#FML" which surprisingly enough people ask me about til this day. Not really one of my top picks but it's apparently a fan favorite. 

Anyway

Fast-forward a few years and who do I see while washing trays and my kitchen job!? Fuckn Red! He unfortunately got into some more trouble later own down the road and ended up with me again way over in McCormick correctional. We dapped up and gave each other a huge hug. I hadn't seen my doggy dog for at least three years. 

After the hug this nigga stepped back and then blew my mind completely out of whereever it had been when this n**** proceeded to say. "I went home and downloaded yo CD. I was playing that shit every day!" Right after he said that he started reciting "#FML" word for word... Perfectly to the very last syllable of the verse... I couldn't believe that shit! I was so overwhelmed with joy, appreciation, happiness, light confusion, and was wrestling with disbelief all in the same moment. That memory is worth more than gold to me. I looked at it as God (whom at the time I was trying to force myself to believe didn't even exist) sent a simple message to keep going. One of my favorite memories. My dog Kode Red doing good last time I checked. Free as a bird out in Kansas building a life with his new family. 

Hope. And I know it's wishful thinking but I really really wish I could erase a lot of fear from people's minds. So many paper tigers and toothless sharks in the world today and people are more scared than ever.  Scared of literally of threats; scared of places they'll never be and monsters they'll never see. that shit really gets under my fuckn skin. I take alot of risk in person or bigger rewards. People treat me like I'm just some crazy person. People full of fear can watch me pull a finesse move (no need to get specific) 100 times a never fail only accomplish what I set out to accomplish and still be scared. Shit makes me sad on a deeper level bc I know where it comes from. Lack of knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of things and fear of repercussion that most times doesn't even exist. .. a lot of n**** will never grow past that generational curse of ignorance and fear that was put on us way back when they cranked up the slave trade. No matter how much people jump up and down in church. Fear is a devil they won't be able to shake of in this life time. It really does break my little frozen black heart muscle

Juice wrld bc you'll never run out of songs to choose from. 

Teejayx6 bc he could just fuckn rap a working green fraud method at any given time and u know I love free shit

Lastly me! Fuckn duh!

Trey Dono aka P.Trey how the fuck im gone make music if I can't hear the shit?? I ain't Hellen Keller!

Profound

Prolific

Perfect

Pastor Troy and I could respawn my fallen hero, Dark Man X (DMX)

Intelligence, wisdom, patience, and intensity. I wanna make songs that can awaken lions in the hearts on the timid. Assurance to the self doubters. Im just a regular guy at least as far as society can see but in the deepest darkest part of my heart I understand that I am very special and I realize I am really one of the people who is simply of a greater yoke than most people. I want to move a million bodies into action with word alone. Words of truth. Truth is light but the world plunges into the darkness still yet. Not wanting to face the truth bc is so bright their eyes can see it without hurting and instead of choosing the warm embrace of the sun they choose the poisonous comfort of the dark . I want to use my music to challenge people's thinking. Like a kind of reverse mind control. 

As you read this you're most likely thinking about every brain fart reason you can poot out of your mouth to reject this truth

Holy shit! What's with this guy! He's nuts! Who does he think he is?

Im just a man with some questions and some ideas I wish I could share. And some fire music too. Don't forget that.

In closing I'll just say this... The state of the world has always been a major cause of my depression since childhood. Everybody says the same thing. "aint nothing you can do about it. Why waste your energy worried about problems you cant solve alone... And to that I used to say(nowadays I say it in my head as I walk away from yet another failed rescue.) you're absolutely correct I can't do a damn thing but WE meaning the world's meek could do anything we all agreed to do and take the entire earth back from those who would rather let it all burn that share a crumb with you

Fuck yeah. My mind set and world view fundamentally different from the average American.  

I fix it by abusing drugs. That the American way right?