I've heard snippets of this album, The Daily News, and what I've heard is incredible. Donnie has a very soulful voice and the first time you hear it, the uninitiated might think they're hearing John Legend. It's all in his phrasing not in the content. His first album The Colored Section was released by GiantStep and it was a modest hit four years ago. "Cloud Nine" was probably every Neo Soul/incense chick's and dirty backpacker's favourite song. I know it was mine. Whenever I heard it, I felt amazing and proud like I was feeling audio sunshine all over me. I think it was the whole song, the timbre of his voice, the melody, Donnie's old man logic and his musicianship. On The Daily News,his long overdue follow-up, it get's personal. Man, Donnie is talking about some things no black male R&B singer is talking about, namely being black and gay. Can you imagine being raised by black parents who were both preachers; having three brothers who were also preachers and you're the gay son feeling the weight of their homophobia? I can't. In an interview with John Polly he describes his family life, his frustration with black males and their masks of masculinity, the married men who have sex with men, homophobia and the black church and the recording industry. Read the interview, it is perhaps the most revealing interview with an person you'll come across this year .What struck me was a question Donnie asked about being gay: "If it wasn’t about sex, what would gay be?" I think its a question all of us need to answer. Beyonce ain't part of the equation.Buy Donnie's new work on Amazon.com and Itunes.