Zaytoven, whose real name is Xavier Lamar Dotson, is a highly respected record producer hailing from Atlanta, Georgia.
He is well-known for his collaborations with a diverse range of artists such as Gucci Mane, Usher, Future, Young Dolph, Migos, Lecrae, Lil Yachty, Chief Keef, Young Scooter, B.o.B, Boosie Badazz, Waka Flocka Flame, and 21 Savage. He has worked on significant projects with these musicians.
REAL FACTS ABOUT ZAYTOVEN
FULL NAME: Xavier Lamar Dotson
DATE OF BIRTH: January 12,1980
NATIONALITY: American
OCCUPATION: Record Producer, Dj, Keyboardist, Songwriter
LABELs: Zaytown Motown ONErpm
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Zaytoven had a strong connection to music and religion during his early life. His father, who was both a preacher and worked in the army, introduced him to church bands, where he and his siblings learned to play instruments.
Zaytoven developed a passion for playing the piano and organ, and later on, he discovered rap while in middle school.
During his time in high school, Zaytoven dedicated his free time to improving his production skills.
He even had the opportunity to perform at football games. One fortunate encounter with JT the Bigga Figga at a game opened doors for Zaytoven, granting him unlimited access to a recording studio.
This allowed him to refine his skills and lay the foundation for his future success in Atlanta’s music scene.
CAREER
Zaytoven dedicated himself to perfecting his skills by spending every day at JT the Bigga Figga’s studio, creating beats and learning how to operate equipment.
He sold beats to JT and collaborated with well-known Bay Area artists like Messy Marv and E-40 while still in high school.
Even though his family moved to Atlanta during his senior year, Zaytoven made the decision to stay in San Francisco, finish school, and continue producing music.
He realized the importance of having his own studio, so he used the money he earned from his job as a barber to buy equipment.
He shipped it to his parents’ home in Atlanta and eventually set up his own studio there. To support his studio, he also enrolled in barber college and worked as a barber.
One of his classmates introduced him to Gucci Mane, and they started collaborating on a daily basis, creating music and selling mixtapes out of the trunks of their cars.
Their big breakthrough came in 2005 with the song “Icy,” featuring Young Jeezy and Boo.
This was followed by the hit track “Papers” with Usher in 2010, which solidified Zaytoven’s reputation as a highly regarded producer.
Zaytoven’s work on Usher’s album earned him a Grammy in 2011, which greatly enhanced his standing in the hip-hop industry.
He went on to collaborate with various artists, shaping their careers and producing hits such as Migos’ “Versace”.
He also worked on projects with Future, Gucci Mane, 21 Savage, and others, and released two independent projects in 2017.
He made the announcement of his first album, Trap Holizay, and a joint album with Lecrae in 2018.
Zaytoven also ventured into acting for the first time in the Birds of a Feather movies, starring alongside Gucci Mane.
PERSONAL LIFE
Zaytoven and his wife Stephanie got married in August 2008, and they have been fortunate to have two lovely kids, a son and a daughter.
