Atlanta, GA- October 20, 2009- From the controversial and buzzed about Usher single “Papers” to Young Jeezy’s blazing new joint “Trap or Die 2”, Atlanta beat slayer Xavier “Zaytoven” Dotson is at the helm of crafting the new sound in music. He can effortlessly transition from R&B to Rap, a true testament of his remarkable talent. The California-raised military brat, like his music is multi-dimensional- he’s a producer, songwriter and performer. The man behind the magic learned to play the organ, piano, drums and guitar as a hyperactive kid who was placed in the church choir as a means to channel his misguided energy. Yet, what started out as a control mechanism turned into a full-fledged career that spans over a decade.
Zaytoven can even be considered an instrument himself, expressing his passion and poetry through keys, strings and drumheads. While he wears many hats, he wears them all well, constantly re-inventing himself and his sound to become a crucial force in the entertainment industry.
Zaytoven copped his name from the German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven because of the many similarities the two musicians share. Both were born in Germany, both mastered the organ and piano at a young age, both boast a genuine interest in music and most notably possessed the same good foresight to align themselves with key people who could help further their careers. With Beethoven, it was the dignitaries of Vienna, for Zaytoven it was Gucci Mane, king of the streets of east Atlanta.
The multi-layered genius exploded onto the southern music scene in 2005 as the architect of Gucci Mane’s sound. With a crazy chemistry and relentless work ethic, the producer and the street prophet made their mark with the hood anthem “So Icey” featuring Young Jeezy, which peaked at #23 on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart. The duo went on to score a number of hits together, including “Bricks”, “Stoopid,” ”First Day Out,” “I’m A Dog,” and “Shirt Off,” with Zaytoven serving as Executive Producer of the album Hard To Kill.
In addition to his mega-success with Gucci Mane, Zaytoven has had the streets on fire crafting hits for Gorilla Zoe (“What It Is”), OJ Da Juiceman (“Make The Trap Say Aye”, “I’m Gettin’ Money”), Yung Ralph (“About A Chick,” “I Bought That”) and Shop Boyz (“Ball”, “Up Thru There”), to name a few amongst many.
Zaytoven is on a quest to expand his boundaries while simultaneously taking the traditional elements of his church heritage to create a distinct sound that continuously provides him with inspiration. With placements on Brandon and Brian Casey of the Grammy winning R&B quartet Jagged Edge and Plies new albums respectively, Zaytoven counterbalances his marriage to Hip-Hop with his love affair for R&B and Soul music. And unlike the many trends in music that are ushered in just as quickly as they leave, Zaytoven’s artistry and creativity are timeless, which in addition to longevity, is what he consistently strives for.
