Dooney Reflects On Growth & Pain With “Chosen 1”

Dooney’s new album Chosen 1 officially dropped March 22nd, and honestly, it feels like one of those projects that’s gonna keep getting bigger the more people tap in. If you’ve been following his movement for a minute, this album sounds like the result of somebody really putting time into their craft and figuring out exactly who they are as an artist.

What stands out about Dooney is how real his music feels. A lot of artists can make turn up music, but not everybody can make records that actually stick with you after the song ends. On Chosen 1, he balances both. You get motivation, pain, confidence, reflection — all of it. The project feels personal without trying too hard, and that’s probably why it connects so easily.

Originally from Phenix City, Alabama and now based in Abu Dhabi, Dooney has a different type of story compared to most artists coming up right now. According to his EPK, he started making music back in 2016 using BandLab after football practice before eventually taking music seriously a few years later. You can hear that growth all over this project. Nothing sounds rushed. Everything feels intentional.

My favorite song on the album is definitely “B.I.B.L.E.” because it’s one of those tracks where the lyrics hit harder the more you listen. The line, “All glory be to God but the mistakes I made were mine / Elders come with wisdom guess it’s true that somethings just take time” really stands out because it feels honest. It’s not just rap for the sake of sounding cool — it sounds like somebody reflecting on life, accountability, and growth. That kind of transparency is what separates artists from people just making songs.

The production throughout Chosen 1 also deserves credit because it gives Dooney space to really talk his talk while still keeping the music smooth and replayable. Fans of artists like Young Dolph, Larry June, Money Man, and Johnny Cinco will probably connect with his style immediately, but Dooney still manages to sound like himself instead of a copy of anybody else.

With Chosen 1 finally out, it feels like Dooney is entering a whole new level in his career — and this might end up being the project that makes a lot more people start paying attention.