This is what I do. I write. I record. I perform. At a young age I decided making quality rap music would be my contribution to hip-hop culture (for all of you still lost in that rap vs. hip-hop battle), not necessarily because I have a particular message to get out, or for the competition, but because this is what I love to do. Like most people will tell you, rap is a team sport. But to my benefit (and disadvantage) I had to learn a lot on my own. There were no neighborhood ciphers. There were no early rap groups. There were no neighborhood dj’s, no beatmakers. Actually, there may have been…maybe I was just too stuck on being a fan. But when I started rapping, at 14, I was in the midst of a move, packing up from right outside of Atlanta, heading to Charlotte.
That wasn’t the first and wouldn’t be the last time I had to pack my bags. As some of you may understand, there isn’t much a single mother won’t do to improve the lives of her children. After 11 years hoping around the Atlanta metro, we did a two year stint in Charlotte, NC. After Charlotte came Memphis. After two years in Memphis I packed it up and headed to the University of Pittsburgh. This isn’t my life story. This is my vantage point. There’s no glamour and glitz. There’s no rags to riches. There’s no city to put on my back. I’ve been doing this on my own from the beginning. I was fortunate enough to link up with my crew The Sole Vibe back in ’04, but in many ways I’m still on my own. A solo mixtape (Accidents Happen 2005) and crew mixtape (The Appetizer 2006) later, here’s the current status:
I record in a big closet. I have no manager. I have no engineer or much other support behind me. I’m back in Memphis living with my family while I prepare to head back to Pittsburgh early ’09. It’s time to utilize the team around me. Team Donezilla. It’s no machine – it’s a monster. As grim as things have been over the past year or two (staying in school when I wanted to leave, slumlord issues, rising debt – I know yall feel me on this) I’m ready as ever to push music into the forefront of my life. This is your introduction to me. I didn’t introduce my music purposefully. At no point in my life have I been able to describe it. That’s your job.
Also, I have a monthly column in JENESIS magazine (www.jenesismagazine.com), the "Dirty Mic," be sure to chek that out....
And now you can keep track of my movements and those around me at my new blog, click below:
Blaow!
mariodones@gmail.com AIM - mariodones
Keelay & Zaire - The Times featuring Blu, Fortilive & Nino Moschella: ..
Freestyle (yes, freestyle) @ Blu & Exile show, Pittsburgh, PA
Meet [most of] The Sole Vibe, and a few stragglers. @ The Sole Ides video shoot, San Francisco, CA
The Sole Vibe - The Apptetizer - Introduce yourself to us. Click the cover to download.
TIME TO "BRING THAT BEAT BACK"! TIME FOR A REAL HIP HOP EVENT YOU CAN FEEL! HITTIN' PITTSBURGH WITH THAT REALLY REAL SHIT! REAL MC's/DJ's/GRAFFITTI ART/BREAKDANCING--THE 4 ELEMENTS REMAIN! EVERYBODY GET THERE EARLY IT'S GONNA GET CRAZY FROM THE GATE ALL MC's MUST SIGN IN BY 10 PM FOR THE MC COMPETITION SO MUCH TALENT IN THE BUILDING--ALL KILLER NO FILLER 412 BANGER!!
Whats up! Just wanted to let you know that we are having an event on June June 19th. For all my friends that would like purchase tickets before hand, I could give you VIP enterance and a discount. Text me your name and I will hit you back. 503.974.1559
Online Now!![SIKES! [NEW NEW BLOG!]](http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/66/s_c1097ffd9dd44543bc11d97e9b51476f.jpg)
