Today we’d like to introduce you to Donyai Heartfelt.
Hi Donyai, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey started at just two years old when my mom moved us from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Atlanta, Georgia. She later married my stepdad, an independent rap artist, who heavily influenced my early love for music. By the age of three, I already wanted to be a rapper. By five, I was spending nights in my Uncle Mike’s studio, soaking up the creative process.
Growing up in Atlanta, I was constantly tuned in to Hot 107.9, V103, and 95.5 The Beat. My mornings started with MTV music videos, and my evenings ended with 106 & Park. During middle school, I attended Camp Superstars, where I met artists like T.I. and Soulja Boy and won dance competitions. That momentum carried into high school, where I started a dance team at Baldwin High.
Even through challenges and personal trauma, the arts remained at the center of who I was. I performed in church, school, and even auditioned for films at age 12. Around that same time, I began building websites like krumpkidz.com and was inspired by Soulja Boy’s sodmg.com to dive deep into social media and digital culture.
I’ve always loved storytelling—whether through dance, music, or tech. That passion led me to eventually launch my own edtech company, Social Hearted EDU, where I help schools curate and manage their online presence. As the company grew, I was finally able to reinvest in my first love: the arts.
Today, I co-founded Astro Global Productions alongside my manager, Astro. Through this creative agency, we help artists grow their social media, produce events, and develop their brands from the ground up. My story is rooted in creativity, resilience, and purpose, and I’m just getting started
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No road worth riding is easy—and I stamp that. Regardless of the path, I’m rooted in Christ. Every struggle I’ve faced, I’ve taken it to God, and He’s guided me through. For me, the toughest battles weren’t just external—they were internal. I’ve been on a deeply introspective journey since 2022, when I experienced extreme postpartum preeclampsia. My blood pressure reached ICU levels, and in that moment, everything paused. I remember listening to AllStar JR’s Through the Wire, and I made a promise to God: if I made it out alive, I’d live for Him.
From that moment forward, music became my mission. I experimented with different names, sounds, and genres until I found a flow that felt divinely aligned. It wasn’t instant—there were financial struggles, health scares, divorce, homelessness, and seasons of survival with babies on my hip. But like the wise Black woman once said, “Still I rise.” Through it all, God has been faithful. And that faith has been the fuel for every blessing that followed.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work bridges the worlds of creativity, tech, and faith. Professionally, I specialize in Information Technology, with a strong focus on digital marketing, AI, and social media strategy. That expertise has been a game changer in how I’ve been able to promote not only my brand, but also my music. I’ve learned how to use tech tools to tell powerful stories and reach the right audiences in meaningful ways.
Right now, I’m incredibly proud of my latest project, “Adonai,” which is now streaming on all platforms. That song is more than just music it’s a message. Shooting the video in my high school town, Baldwin, Michigan, where my grandmother still preaches, made it even more personal. To see it on a billboard, headline shows, and reach so many hearts is a blessing I don’t take lightly.
What sets me apart is that I’m not here to compete—I’m here to build. I’m always learning, always evolving, and most importantly, I use my gifts to build God’s Kingdom. I’m proud to be one of the few doing something different, blending tech, music, and ministry in a way that’s authentic, spirit-led, and purpose-driven.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about Grand Rapids is the sense of belonging and identity I’ve found here. When I lived in Atlanta, I always felt different, whether it was how I talked or how I dressed. And in smaller towns, I still didn’t quite fit in. But in Grand Rapids, my personality, style, and love for the arts feel perfectly aligned with the city’s vibe.
I love how diverse the city is, and how it still has that “big city energy” while giving you a small-town feel. I can drive across the city without getting lost, recognize familiar faces, and even know the names of people in the homeless community. There’s a closeness here that makes it feel like home.
What I least like is the competitive spirit that sometimes overshadows genuine collaboration. I’d love to see more people come together to uplift one another, without hidden agendas or ill intentions. There’s so much talent in Grand Rapids, and we’d all go further if we moved in unity.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartfeltinspires/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/socialhearted4u/?_rdr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donyai-heartfelt-8b7823268
- Twitter: https://x.com/donyaiheartfelt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Heartfeltyai
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/socialheartededu-flint?osq=Specialty+Schools
Image Credits
David Jones Photography.
