How to Be Outside, Inside feat. Donwill

This week, we’re catching up with Donwill, rapper, DJ, and Brooklyn-based master of laid-back city adventures. Whether he's posted up at a park soaking in the vibe or wandering into an unexpected DJ set, Donwill knows how to let New York take him on a journey.

Okayplayer: Where do you go in NYC when you want to be outside without being “outside”?

Where do you go when you want to be around people but not with people?

Again, the park is top-tier for being around people but not with people. For the sake of not being redundant, I'll say a cafe like Cafe Cotton Bean, Corto, or just walking around. One of the coolest things about NYC is that you are almost never alone, so everyone has figured out how to be alone together. It's a delicate balance of minding your business and knowing when to say something about what you are seeing. For the most part, though, just walking around is my jam.

What would your perfect NYC day look like?

A perfect day in NYC is one of those days when you just kinda wander out of the house and let the day take you on a journey of discovery. Like planning to go to the museum and stumbling upon a record sale at Black Star Vinyl, or a storefront art show, or a new local shop. Trying out a new restaurant after the museum, and maybe bumping into a friend you haven't seen in ages and just reconnecting right there on the spot.

Popping into Dick & Jane’s later to catch a DJ set or some live music at Bar Lunático and being home by midnight. There’s another version of this day that is just biking around Brooklyn for hours and ending up somewhere to catch the sunset as well. In the winter, though? I don't go outside unless I have to, so a perfect day when it's cold is one where I can just play with all the things I've collected over the years or watch some movies with friends.