D. Lector (Danimal Lector)

New York is often celebrated for its raw musical talent pool. Artists from all over the world journey here to jump start what they hope is a career filled with fame, fortune and lots of Grammys. But with all these different talents in the city, it’s not impossible for someone really great to slip right under our radar.

Last night in New Haven, CT, DOWNTOWN took in the CT On Deck: Smoking Aces Mixtape Release Show. Headlining the event was rapper Jitta On The Track, who recently won OnStage’s “Rise” competition and toured with artists like Drake, J. Cole, Meek Mill, 2Chainz and French Montana on the Club Paradise Tour this summer. Jitta is already in the eyes of the rap world as an up and comer, with a swiftly growing audience.

Also headlining was Connecticut born artist Danimal Lector. Not yet peaked in terms of notoriety, he has a smaller but extremely loyal fan base. And it was easy to see why—his performance was the most impressive of the evening. It’s genuinely pleasant when someone not yet molded by the music industry manages to surprise you and make you appreciate their sound. He seemed naturally at ease and pulled the largest crowd. It was apparent that his fans were thrilled to take in his stage presence in person. He was assisted by DJ Semi, who works with rapper Chris Webby and also has an independent and impressive fan following. Danimal Lector also is a producer, songwriter and engineer; he finishes all his own tracks and masters the work of other artists. Musicians that can cover all the bases are definitely worth keeping a close eye on, it shows dedication to their craft. This is definitely not the last you’ve heard from Danimal Lector, who is trying to break into the New York music scene.

Toad’s Place has housed performances from artists like Bob Dylan, The Kinks, Bon Jovi and many others. It’s slogan “Where The Legends Play” is definitely not just smoke and mirrors. Later this season, they’ll be hosting performances from Snoop Dog, Blue October, Waka Flocka Flame and Yelawolf. Other artists that opened for Jitta and Danimal were M.A.R., Scot Double, Splat860, Peezy and PreMere. Keep an eye on these artists and Toad’s Place for more people breaking ground on all your favorite genres. To find out more, visit jittaonthetrack.com and lectorslab.com and for upcoming shows, visit toadsplace.com.
- DOWNTOWN Magazine