The Life and Rhymes of Twiz - RIP Donnie 1974-2009

Donnie “Twiz” Black, age 34, of Lynn, died suddenly on Saturday, October 24, 2009.
 Born in Melrose, Donnie was a lifelong resident of Lynn.
 Twiz enjoyed writing and performing rap music, going to concerts, RC Car Racing, and fishing. He was an avid Star Wars fan (and Juggalo!!!!!), and loved his 2 dogs, Gia and Choo Choo. (from 

Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home Memorial)

Everybody who worked with Twiz knows how much of a team player he was. He supported all his friends’ goals, dreams, and efforts to make their mark in the field of music. I personally, have not collaborated with anybody else more than I have with Donnie; and I can say that his ability to buckle down and see a project through to the finish was/is inspiring.

Twiz has always produced his songs so quickly and effortlessly (not really, because labors of love are worth the hard work, and he DID put in work!) and his tracks were always solid masterpieces. Every one of them produced like wicked ear candy from beginning to end. Twiz was a self-made independent artist. He had such a prominent, unique, and recognizable voice and persona in his music.

As far as the realm of underground music in the digital age, to me Twiz represented how a real underdog thrives on his creativity and turns a deaf ear to any notions of negativity. He knew what sounded great and he had an ear and an eye for the wicked shit, in every sense of the genre. He also had the nerve to put his raw emotions into his music, lyrics and beats alike.

Everything he produced was fresh as hell! Every sound he created gave him the same tingles of enjoyment juggalos feel when they get immersed in that Dark Carnival vibe ICP creates. He made music because of the feeling that drew from it, both the creative process and the act of sharing it with anybody who would listen.

Listening to his songs, one can sense the honesty in his rhyme scheme and the pain that he felt, which influenced his artist expression. And besides being an extremely talented lyricist and music producer and graphic designer, Donnie made even more of an impact on the people around him with his desire to make people happy in general.

Twiz was always excited to be around his family and friends. The Gatherings and Juggalo shows that he attended over the course of more than a decade have afforded him the luxury of meeting and befriending an uncountable number of people. Donnie was 100% sincere about making everybody feel as if they were his new best friends within one meeting.

All Donnie ever did was bring people together to create a positive energy. He was always the first in line, the first inside and usually wouldn't leave the party until the last possible minute (sometimes kicking and screaming) His presence is going to be noticeably missed in several circles the next time the underground is drawn together in Massachusetts.

I feel like if this is the card that is being dealt to us, it might be easier to accept Donnie's death knowing that, as in life, he has just beat us to the punch in death and will forever be excited to see his homies... whenever they happen to meet up with him in Shangri-La.

Sincerly,
TJL (BstMstR)

Donald W. Black Jr. "Twiz" Guestbook