Don Dotta/ Pope Dotta
CEO, Producer, Engineer, Photographer/ Videographer, Hip Hop Artist
Don “Pope Dotta” was born on September 19, 19??, in Philadelphia, PA. He grew up in the ‘90s when hip hop was staking its claim on the music industry. His early genre influences included, but were not limited to, Rakim, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Biggie, Jay-Z, Drag-On, and Peedi Crakk. He is an artist and entrepreneur with advanced knowledge of the music industry beyond his ?? years. He is a walking, talking music production package as he writes, produces, promotes, and distributes his own music. He has personally financed his own budding music career over the years and even founded his own label and publishing company.
Music and the art of performing were imprinted on his soul at an early age. He comprehended the relevance of stage presence acting with the MITCHELL CENTER ALL STARS as a youth. When he was nine years old he was given an alto saxophone that had once belonged to his great, great uncle. Dotta taught himself to read, play, and decode music to the most trivial of notes. At 12, he wrote songs for and sang with a church based group called J.A.S. (Joyful and Sanctified). Dotta has never been afraid to speak or act on his own unique perspective on life, which led to him attending seven different schools within a 12 year span.
Dotta’s parents separated when he was nine years old, causing a back and forth existence between split homes. Despite the separation, his parents managed to instill a collaborative set of values and skills that he still embodies today. His mom stressed the importance and personal strength faith provides in life by encouraging his regular attendance in church. His dad advocated his participation in sports, from which he learned the role perseverance and dedication play in achieving goals and overcoming obstacles in life. Perseverance, dedication, and strong faith are the driving forces that have enabled Dotta to pursue his lyrical, musical, and business talents in the competitive world of hip hop.
Dotta wrote his first rap when he was 10 years old, after hearing a group of older kids on his block in a rap cypher. He went home and rapped his lyrics for his mother only to be redirected to rap about what he knew, not what he thought he knew. Dotta abided by the lesson his mom imparted to him by continuing to write and freestyle his own life experiences and feelings, rather than just repeat what he heard about from others. That’s why Dotta is so relatable to his fans…he’s real. He didn’t have the opportunity to compose and distribute his music until he attended Mansfield University in 20??. He released his first mix tape, Why I Should Be Signed, to the Mansfield public when he was 18 and sold over 200 copies. It was a lyrical masterpiece consisting of songs he wrote when he was a mere 16 years old. He released his follow-up, Intro 2 Logic, in 20?? when he was 19, doubling his sales from the previous mix tape.
Unlike many other artists in the hip hop industry, Dotta saw the importance of having an education and graduated from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania in May 20??, with a B.S. in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Broadcasting and a minor in Philosophy. After graduating, Dotta returned to Philadelphia and focused on building up his finances for his next album. By this time Dotta was a professional at marketing himself and his work, so when he released The Presentation in 20?? at the age of ??, his sales tripled his first mix tape.
At ??, Dotta has recently completed and is promoting his first album courtesy of his record label School Boi Ent., which he founded in 2010. Multifaceted is a composition of 15 songs of pure Dotta lyrical genius set to all original beats. His beats are tight and his lyrics relatable. Dotta takes pride in the evolution his music has taken. “I want to flirt with people’s brains by making their ears anticipate with curiosity which sound will come next.” His lyrics continue to be based on his own personal life experiences, and everyone can find something to relate to in his words.
So few today still write their own lyrics, which sets Dotta apart from the hip hop pack. He is a top-notch lyricist and an artist who expresses his creativity and imagination through his lyrics, photographs, videos, and music. He is a solid combination of lyricism, hip hop and new age interpretation. He continues to pursue his dream because he loves music and enjoys creating sound tracks to life. His goal is to not only influence and inspire his fans and future artists, but to also bridge the gap between underground and mainstream hip hop.
Dotta wrote his first rap when he was 10 years old, after hearing a group of older kids on his block in a rap cypher. He went home and rapped his lyrics for his mother only to be redirected to rap about what he knew, not what he thought he knew. Dotta abided by the lesson his mom imparted to him by continuing to write and freestyle his own life experiences and feelings, rather than just repeat what he heard about from others. That’s why Dotta is so relatable to his fans…he’s real. He didn’t have the opportunity to compose and distribute his music until he attended Mansfield University in 20??. He released his first mix tape, Why I Should Be Signed, to the Mansfield public when he was 18 and sold over 200 copies. It was a lyrical masterpiece consisting of songs he wrote when he was a mere 16 years old. He released his follow-up, Intro 2 Logic, in 20?? when he was 19, doubling his sales from the previous mix tape.
Unlike many other artists in the hip hop industry, Dotta saw the importance of having an education and graduated from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania in May 20??, with a B.S. in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Broadcasting and a minor in Philosophy. After graduating, Dotta returned to Philadelphia and focused on building up his finances for his next album. By this time Dotta was a professional at marketing himself and his work, so when he released The Presentation in 20?? at the age of ??, his sales tripled his first mix tape.
At ??, Dotta has recently completed and is promoting his first album courtesy of his record label School Boi Ent., which he founded in 2010. Multifaceted is a composition of 15 songs of pure Dotta lyrical genius set to all original beats. His beats are tight and his lyrics relatable. Dotta takes pride in the evolution his music has taken. “I want to flirt with people’s brains by making their ears anticipate with curiosity which sound will come next.” His lyrics continue to be based on his own personal life experiences, and everyone can find something to relate to in his words.
So few today still write their own lyrics, which sets Dotta apart from the hip hop pack. He is a top-notch lyricist and an artist who expresses his creativity and imagination through his lyrics, photographs, videos, and music. He is a solid combination of lyricism, hip hop and new age interpretation. He continues to pursue his dream because he loves music and enjoys creating sound tracks to life. His goal is to not only influence and inspire his fans and future artists, but to also bridge the gap between underground and mainstream hip hop.