Don Trip
{{short description|American rapper from Tennessee}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Don Trip
| image = Don Trip cropped from Don Trip with Starlito at the Vice Media office.png
| caption = Don Trip in 2017.
| birth_name = Christopher Wallace
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|8|20}}
| origin = Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
| genre = Southern hip hop
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|songwriter|actor}}
| years_active = 2008–present
| label = {{hlist|Godspeed|
Grind Hard|Interscope|Epidemic|First Family}}
{{Infobox person
| child = yes
| children = 8
| website = {{url|mrdontrip.net}}
}}
}}
Christopher Wallace (born August 20, 1985), known professionally as Don Trip,{{Cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2012/02/don-trip-on-sharing-the-same-name-as-the-notorious-b-i-g/|title=Don Trip On Sharing the Same Name as The Notorious B.I.G. - XXL|website=XXL Mag|date=7 February 2012 |language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-16}} is an American rapper. As a pioneer of the Memphis sound, he has been releasing music since 2007.{{Cite web|url=http://mrdontrip.net/|title=Don Trip Official|website=mrdontrip.net|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-05-16}}
He is perhaps best known for his 2011 single, "Letter to my Son" (featuring Cee Lo Green).{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/letter-to-my-son-feat-cee-lo-green-single/1445147953|title=Letter to My Son (feat. Cee Lo Green) - Single by Don Trip on Apple Music|website=iTunes|language=en|access-date=2017-05-16}} Two years after a clip of him recording the song went viral on YouTube, he was signed by Cool & Dre's Epidemic Records, an imprint of Interscope Records, after which it was re-issued as his debut commercial single in October 2011. https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.17563/title.don-trip-reacts-to-recording-with-dr-dre-explains-signing-with-cool-dre {{Cite news|url=http://djbooth.net/news/entry/don-trip-in-mix-0117121|title=Don Trip Jumps "In the Mix" [DJBooth Interview Exclusive] - DJBooth Article|work=DJBooth.net|access-date=2017-05-16}} In addition, he was named an XXL Freshman the following year.{{Cite news|url=http://www.stereogum.com/962771/xxl-freshman-class-of-2012/franchises/list/|title=XXL Freshman Class Of 2012|date=2012-02-28|work=Stereogum|access-date=2017-05-16}} After being dropped from the label, he continued work as an independent artist. His 2015 album, Godspeed, narrowly entered the Billboard 200. https://elpee.jp/artist/Don%20Trip/ With Nashville rapper Starlito, he released the mixtape series Step Brothers.
Early life
Don Trip grew up in the low-income East Memphis. 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."{{Cite news|url=http://www.prefixmag.com/features/don-trip-interview/57046/|title=Don Trip: 'Help Is On the Way' (Interview) - Prefixmag.com|last=sasheezy|work=Prefixmag.com|access-date=2017-05-16|language=en-US}} At an early age, Don Trip was inspired by Jay-Z, Tupac, and Jadakiss.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2011/09/21/interview-don-trip|title=Interview: Don Trip|website=The FADER|access-date=2017-05-16}} 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.
Career
= 2012: Early career =
Trip's career began at 15, when he started rapping. 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){{Cite web|url=https://mrdontrip.bandcamp.com/album/crossface-crippler|title=Crossface Crippler, by Mr. Don Trip|website=Mr. Don Trip|access-date=2017-05-16}} and February 2012 (Guerilla).{{Citation|title=Don Trip - Guerilla (Hosted by DJ Drama) {{!}} Download & Listen [New Mixtape]|url=http://hotnewhiphop.com/don-trip-guerilla-hosted-by-dj-drama-mixtape.45857.html|accessdate=2017-05-16}} 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. 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. Soon after, he was signed to Epidemic Records, a joint enterprise between production duo Cool & Dre and Interscope Records.
= 2017–present: ''Step Brothers'' =
File:Don_Trip_with_Starlito_at_the_Vice_Media_office.png office in 2017]]
Prior to his signing at Interscope, Trip scored big with his collaborative Step Brothers mixtape with Starlito. 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. Both rappers were already familiar with the other's music, and after discovering their musical compatibility, decided to make a joint project.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/microphonecheck/2014/01/15/262088432/starlito-and-don-trip-writers-first-rappers-second|title=Starlito And Don Trip: Writers First, Rappers Second|work=NPR.org|access-date=2017-05-16|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/step-brothers-two/id720272062|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016034709/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/step-brothers-two/id720272062|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 16, 2013|title=Step Brothers Two by Starlito & Don Trip on Apple Music|website=iTunes|language=en|access-date=2017-05-16}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/10/starlito-don-trip-interview|title=Interview: A Discussion With Starlito and Don Trip On Independence, the Evolving Industry, and "Step Brothers 2"|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=2017-05-16}} In 2017, the two linked up again for the third installment of the Step Brothers series,{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/step-brothers-three/1211484765|title=Step Brothers THREE by Starlito & Don Trip on Apple Music|website=iTunes|language=en|access-date=2017-05-16}} preceded by the Karate in the Garage collaborative mixtape.{{Citation|title=Starlito & Don Trip - Step Brothers (Karate In The Garage) {{!}} Download & Listen [New Mixtape]|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/starlito-and-don-trip-step-brothers-karate-in-the-garage-new-mixtape.116852.html|accessdate=2017-05-16}} Released independently, like the two previous mixtapes, Step Brothers 3 received widespread critical acclaim from publications such as Pitchfork,{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/23047-starlito-don-trip-step-brothers-three/|title=Starlito / Don Trip: Step Brothers THREE Album Review {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-16}} XXL,{{Cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2017/04/starlito-don-trip-step-brothers-3-album-review/|title=Starlito and Don Trip Deliver a Dose of Reality Rap With 'Step Brothers Three' - XXL|website=XXL Mag|date=3 April 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-16}} and USA Today.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/04/05/step-brothers-3-don-trip-starlito-memphis-nashville/99829178/|title='Step Brothers 3': Don Trip, Starlito continue Memphis/Nashville union|work=USA TODAY|access-date=2017-05-16|language=en}}
Personal life
In May 2022, he married a Memphis nurse, who gave birth to his second son.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/mrdontrip/?hl=en | title=Instagram }} As of December 2023, Don Trip has eight children, two sons and six daughters, by four different women.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38ZoAMiXQBE | title=Don Trip on His 4 Kids, Relationship with 3 Baby Mothers, Shares Advice for Others | website=YouTube }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.memphisflyer.com/introducing-don-trip |title=Introducing Don Trip }}
Discography
=Mixtapes/EPs=
| class="wikitable"
!Name !Year !Notes |
| Surviving da Drought
|2009 |
| The Threat
|2010 |
| Human Torch
|2010 |
| Crossface Crippler
|2010 |
| Terminator
|2010 |
| Free D Boi
|2010 |
| Human Torch 2
|2011 |
| Step Brothers
|2011 |Collaboration with Starlito{{Cite web|url=https://mrdontrip.bandcamp.com/album/step-brothers-2|title=Step Brothers, by Mr. Don Trip and Starlito|website=Bandcamp|access-date=2017-05-16}} |
| Marvel Mixtape: Dub Edition
|2011 |
| Terminator 2
|2011 |
| iHeart Strippers
|2011 |
| Human Torch 3
|2011 |
| Guerilla
|2012 |
| Help Is on the Way
|2012 |
| Step Brothers Two
|2013 |Collaboration with Starlito{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/step-brothers-two/1596086144|title=Step Brothers Two by Don Trip and Starlito on Apple Music|website=iTunes|language=en|access-date=2017-05-17}} |
| Randy Savage
|2014 |
| Godspeed
|2015 |
| In the Meantime
|2015 |
| In the Meantime 2
|2016 |
| The Head That Wears the Crown
|2016 |
| 2 Clip Trip
|2016 |
| Step Brothers: (Karate in the Garage)
|2017 |
| Step Brothers Three
|2017 |Collaboration with Starlito{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/step-brothers-three/1211484765|title=Step Brothers THREE by Don Trip and Starlito on Apple Music|website=iTunes|language=en|access-date=2017-05-17}} |
| Free Roy, Free Fletch
|2017 |
| Christopher
|2018 |
| Don't Feed the Guerrillas
|2019 |
| They Don't Love You
|2019 |
| Lethal Weapon
|2019 |Collaboration with Criminal Manne{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/lethal-weapon/1486657435|title=Lethal Weapon by Don Trip and Criminal Manne on Apple Music|website=iTunes|language=en|access-date=2019-11-29}} |
| Pray God's Not Watching
|2021 |
| Christopher Season 2
|2022 |
| Gotham City
|2023 |
| iHeartStrippersToo
|2023 |
| The Devil You Know
|2023 |
| Shoulders of Giants
|2023 |
| Die Another Day
|2023 |
| Long Live Pif
|2023 |
| Fireworks
|2023 |
| Hell's Kitchen
|2023 |
| 1207 James St
|2023 |
| Red October
|2023 |
| Wolverine
|2023 |
| Christopher Season 3
|2023 |
| Frostbite
|2024 |
| iHeartStrippersTrois
|2024 |
| Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
|2024 |
| This Message Will Self Destruct
|2024 |
| Mayhem
|2024 |
| In Loving Memory
|2024 |Collaboration with Pif{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8B9HXBS|title=In Loving Memory by Don Trip and Pif on Amazon Music|website=Amazon|access-date=2024-06-27}} |
| Freedom Fighter
|2024 |
| Que Sera Sera
|2024 |
| Revenge of the Fallen
|2024 |
| Your's Truly
|2024 |
| Behind Enemy Lines
|2024 |
| Christopher Season 4
|2024 |
| Gladiator
|2025 |
| King of Hearts
|2025 |
| The Devil You Know (Deluxe)
|2025 |
| Step Brothers 4 Life
|2025 |Collaboration with Starlito{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F67HGL1Z|title=Step Brothers 4 Life by Don Trip and Starlito on Amazon Music|website=Amazon|access-date=2025-05-09}} |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
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Category:Musicians from Memphis, Tennessee
Category:Rappers from Tennessee
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:21st-century American male musicians
Category:African-American male rappers
Category:20th-century American male rappers