TALK SESSIONS 0001: DONEARL
DECEMBER 24, 2024 | KARABO KETLHALEFILE
For the debut of TALK SESSIONS, I sat down with rising underground rap star Donearl to discuss his journey into music, the groundbreaking Oculus Tour, his EP Bon Voyage, and what fans can expect in 2025. But this conversation was more than an interview—it was a window into the mindset of an artist reshaping Southern Africa’s underground rap scene.
I had the pleasure of officially meeting Donearl the night before his Oculus Tour stop in Botswana. It was close to midnight, outside a house party in Gaborone, when we crossed paths. He remembered seeing me earlier in the year at Jaykatana’s Botswana tour, and from jump, his energy was magnetic.
The excitement of being in a new place radiated off him and the crew, a tightly knit group buzzing with creativity and ambition. Over the next 48 hours, I witnessed firsthand the spark that’s making Donearl a force to watch—turning up until sunrise, commanding meet-and-greets, and leading with a steady hand as both an artist and a collaborator.
Raw, unfiltered, and unapologetically himself, Donearl opened up about his craft, his vision, and how the underground is becoming global. He’s not just making music—he’s positioning himself as a leader in the underground.
KARABO KETLHALEFILE: Let's start from the beginning. What made you start rapping? What has your journey into music been like?
DONEARL: I grew up in a house where rap was the only thing playing. My dad’s been heavy into it—Future, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross. That was the soundtrack of my childhood. It just got to a point where I was watching rap videos and interviews and thought, 'This is what I want to do.'
Rap was always in my subconscious, shaping my perspective without me even realizing it. Everyone’s trying to rap now, but you have to do it for the right reasons. It’s about having something to say. You can’t do it for clout.
D: Music isn’t for everyone, but if a few people f*ck with it, that’s where you start. I was just surrounded by rap—seeing music videos, interviews— what we’re doing right now. That’s what inspired me. It’s a cliché, yeah, but you’ve got to have something real to bring to the table.
KK: It’s true, especially now with social media. Everyone has access to becoming a rapper or in my case — a designer, but really, it comes down to what perspective you’re bringing to it. People can always tell if you’re just in it for the hype.
D: Don’t do it for the money. You can easily get lost in the idea of fame or quick money, but that’s not why you should do it. Do it because you love it. That’s the most important thing. Everything else comes later.
KK: Let’s talk about your creative process. Do you have a set way of writing or recording? Or do you just go with whatever feels right?
D: I don't write anything. Like, I've never written one song.
KK: You just go at it?
D: I think we all do that. Me and the guys, we just go with what we feel like. That's how the best songs come out. You’ve got to trust the moment.
KK: How would you describe your sound, especially with how things are shaping up in the underground scene?
D: I’ve dropped a lot of older tracks this year, but the newer stuff is going to hit different. I’m moving away from the pitched-up voice; it’s going to be more natural, more real. 2025 is when you’ll see the shift. It’s all coming together.
KK: Let's talk about the Cybertruck. Tell me more about that and the process behind Bon Voyage.
D: That came together with my brother Slxck.93. We were talking, and I said, “We need to shoot in Dubai.” I needed someone who could understand my vision. From a videographer’s standpoint, no one was really seeing what I wanted.
So we said, “Let’s go big. Let’s shoot with a Cybertruck.” Everything just fell into place. We got the black one—not the regular one—and shot it. It turned out exactly how we imagined. Che, the editor from the Netherlands, he really understood what we were trying to do. He helped bring it to life. He’s Oculus too.
KK: It’s a global thing. You’ve got your crew everywhere.
D: Yeah, everything’s international. Right now, Oculus is what it’s all about. The connections we’re making, the people we’re working with, it’s all coming full circle.
KK: Oculus seems like the key to everything you’re doing right now. What’s next for the project?
D: You’re going to see a lot more of the international collaborations. I’m working with Thrasher, who did Bon Voyage, and we’ve got some major features lined up. Lil Wayne’s son is on the tape. You’re the first to hear that. Matt Ox is on it as well. We’re connecting with the US now.
KK: Oculus Records to the world?
D: Exactly.
KK: What’s been your proudest moment so far in your music career?
D: Honestly? Right now. The Oculus tour. Seeing everyone come together like this—it’s crazy. When I get home and see the footage, that’s when it’ll really hit me.
KK: The underground scene in Southern Africa is buzzing right now. How do you see it shifting over the next year?
D: It’s already shifting. The Oculus tour is a huge part of that. People are starting to realize we’ve got something real going on here. When the movie drops and people see what’s been happening behind the scenes, it’s going to shock a lot of people. We’re not just a local thing anymore. We’ve got the world’s attention.
KK: You’re creating a whole cultural shift. I’ve had some great conversations with almost all the artists today. Everyone’s proud of what they’ve achieved. From here on out, it’s all about momentum—pushing forward, dropping new projects, collaborating more, and just doing more.
D: Yeah, it’s all about momentum. Everyone’s moving forward. You see it with artists like Jaykatana and Brotherkupa—they’re all riding that same wave. We’re all just pushing for something bigger. 2025 is ours.
KK: Before we wrap up, any final thoughts for your fans?
DONEARL : I just want to thank all the fans. I love y'all so much from the bottom of my heart. I see everyone who’s been supporting, especially in South Africa, Botswana and Dubai. Shoutout to everyone documenting this journey—YouTubers, TikTokers, everyone. Without you, none of this is possible. Keep supporting. Keep dreaming. If someone else is doing it, why can’t you? Life’s a game, the more you keep trying is the more you’ll get to where you want to be.
★★★
Credits:
Text: KARABO KETLHALEFILE
Photography: SLXCK.93 | HAX VISUALS
Interview Coordination : HAXLEN
Editorial Direction : KULT[000]
