Zaytoven
Xavier Lamar Dotson (born January 12, 1980), known professionally as Zaytoven, is an American record producer from Atlanta, Georgia.[1][2][3] He has released collaborative projects with artists including Gucci Mane, Usher, Future, Young Dolph, Migos, Lecrae, Lil Yachty, Chief Keef, Young Scooter, B.o.B, Boosie Badazz, Waka Flocka Flame, Jack Harlow, and Deitrick Haddon.[4]
Zaytoven | |
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 Zaytoven in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Xavier Lamar Dotson |
| Born | January 12, 1980 Frankfurt, West Germany |
| Origin |
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| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 1997–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | zaytovenbeatz |
Zaytoven signed a deal with rapper Gucci Mane to become 1017 Brick Squad's in-house producer and then went on to win a Grammy Award in 2011 for his contribution to Usher's album Raymond v. Raymond,[5][6] as a co-producer and writer for the single "Papers" along with Sean Garrett.[7][8]
Early life
Dotson spent a lot of time at church growing up, as his father was a preacher when not working for the army.[9] He learned to play instruments through the church bands along with his three younger siblings. He gravitated toward playing the piano and organ.[10]
Dotson was introduced to rap in middle school by a friend. He learned to produce music while attending high school in his spare time between school and basketball, Dotson played the keyboard during halftime at his high school football games. While he was performing one day at the game, rapper JT the Bigga Figga liked what he heard, and invited Dotson to his studio, where Dotson had unlimited access to his keyboards.[10] He truly began to utilize his skills as a producer while making beats in JT's studio before he started making a name for himself in Atlanta.
Career
Career beginnings
Zaytoven started going over to JT the Bigga Figga's studio every day to make beats and learn how to use the equipment. He began to sell beats to JT and went on to collaborate with Bay Area artists such as Messy Marv and E-40 while still in high school.[9] During his senior year in high school, Zaytoven's family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, due to his father's retirement. Zaytoven decided to stay in San Francisco, California, finish his senior year, and continue his producing for local rappers. He realized that he needed a studio of his own where he could produce with his own equipment and work at any time of the day.[11]
Having saved up money from his day job as a barber, Zaytoven began to buy equipment for producing. He would ship this to his parents' house in Atlanta, to which he eventually moved, and set up his own studio there.[11] He enrolled in a local barber college in Atlanta and got a job as a barber to help finance the rest of his studio. While attending barber school, a classmate of his introduced Zaytoven to Gucci Mane, who would become his right-hand man in his career as a producer.[10] Zaytoven and Gucci Mane began to work together every day after meeting each other. Zaytoven said in an interview with Fader that Gucci Mane would call him at 7 a.m. asking if he was ready to start making music for that day.[10] Zaytoven and Gucci Mane spent the majority of the early 2000s making music together and selling mixtapes out of the trunks of their cars in Atlanta. It wasn't until 2005 that the two gained mainstream recognition from their hit song "Icy", with features from Young Jeezy and Boo.[9] This recognition gave Zaytoven's career the boost it needed to take off, landing the hit song "Papers" with Usher in 2010 on Usher's certified platinum album Raymond v. Raymond.[12]
Rise to fame
Zaytoven's work on Usher's album Raymond v. Raymond earned him a Grammy Award in 2011 and a serious reputation in the hip-hop world. He started to work with more artists as his popularity grew in the Atlanta rap scene. He helped shaped the careers of artists such as OJ da Juiceman, Yung L.A., Yung Ralph, Shop Boyz, Lil Scrappy, Jagged Edge, and Gorilla Zoe.[12]
Zaytoven collaborated with hip hop trio Migos. He produced several tracks on their 2013 mixtape, Y.R.N. (Young Rich Niggas), including the hit track "Versace", which peaked at 53 on the Billboard chart.[9] Zaytoven's collaboration with Migos continued; he helped produce their followup mixtape No Label 2, released on February 25, 2014.[13]
In 2015, Zaytoven provided exclusive production for ten mixtapes, including Future's Beast Mode, released on January 15. He also worked on Future's album DS2, which debuted on July 17.[14]
In July 2016, Zaytoven produced or co-produced seven songs on Gucci Mane's first album since being released from prison, Everybody Looking.[13] In the same month, Lil Uzi Vert's The Perfect LUV Tape was released, containing the Zaytoven-produced songs "Money Mitch" and "SideLine Watching (Hold Up)".[13] In 2017, Zaytoven contributed to projects such as Gucci Mane's Mr. Davis, 21 Savage's Issa Album, Migos' Culture, Moneybagg Yo's Heartless, and Yo Gotti's I Still Am. Zaytoven also released two independent projects, Wake Up & Cook Up and Where Would the Game Be Without Me.[13]
Zaytoven was scheduled to release his debut album Trap Holizay on May 25, 2018,[15] and a collaborative album with Lecrae titled Let the Trap Say Amen on June 22, 2018.[16]
Acting career
Zaytoven made his acting debut in the 2012 film Birds of a Feather, co-starring with Gucci Mane. The sequel Birds of a Feather 2 was released in 2018.
Discography
Collaborative albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [18] |
US R&B/HH [19] |
NLD [20] | ||
| Let the Trap Say Amen (with Lecrae) |
|
49 | 26 | — |
| A (with Usher) |
|
31 | 19 | 135 |
| Lost Tapes (with B.o.B)[21] |
|
— | — | — |
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Zaytoven Presents: Fo15[22] (with Fo15) |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| GucTiggy (with Gucci Mane) |
|
| Greatest Gift (with Deitrick Haddon) |
|
| Drip & Zay (with Kountry Wayne) |
|
| Only One |
|
| 24 the EP (with Damon Fletcher) |
|
Mixtapes
| Title | Mixtape details | Peak chart positions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [18] |
US R&B/HH [19] |
CAN [26] |
FRA [27] |
NLD [27] |
UK [28] | ||
| World War 3 (Lean) (with Gucci Mane) |
|
— | 33 | — | — | — | — |
| Beast Mode (with Future) |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| Juggathon (with Young Scooter) |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| For Trappers Only (with Shy Glizzy) |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| Trapping Made It Happen[29] |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| Trapholizay |
|
78 | 43 | — | — | — | — |
| Beast Mode 2 (with Future) |
|
3 [30] |
3 | 13 | 130 | 49 | 55 |
| 6Toven (with Foolio)[31] |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| GloToven (with Chief Keef) |
|
153 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Camp GloTiggy (with Chief Keef)[32] |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bad Azz Zay (with Boosie Badazz) |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| A-Team (with Lil Keed, Lil Gotit, and Lil Yachty) |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pack Just Landed Vol. 1[33] |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pack Just Landed Vol. 2[34] |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| Zaystreet (with Young Scooter) |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| GrinchToven Stole The Trap |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| Moetoven[35] (with Moe) |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pack Just Landed Vol. 3[36] |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| Keys To the Streets[37] (with Luh Soldier) |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| GhostToven[38] (with Ghostluvme) |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| Streetz Got No Heart[39] |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| Loverz n Friendz[40] |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — |
Production discography
Charted songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B/HH |
US Rap | |||
| "Icy" (Gucci Mane featuring Jeezy and Boo) |
2005 | —[upper-alpha 1] | 46 | 23 | Trap House |
| "Pillz" (Gucci Mane featuring Mac Bre-Z) |
2006 | — | —[upper-alpha 2] | — | Hard to Kill, No Pad, No Pencil |
| "I'm a Dog" (Gucci Mane featuring DG Yola) |
2008 | — | —[upper-alpha 3] | — | Chicken Talk 2, Bird Money, The State vs. Radric Davis |
| "Bricks" (Gucci Mane featuring Yo Gotti and Yung Ralph or OJ da Juiceman) |
— | —[upper-alpha 4] | — | EA Sportscenter, The State vs. Radric Davis | |
| "Make tha Trap Say Aye" (OJ da Juiceman featuring Gucci Mane) |
—[upper-alpha 5] | 22 | 13 | The Otha Side of the Trap | |
| "I Don't Love Her" (Gucci Mane featuring Rocko and Webbie) |
2011 | — | —[upper-alpha 6] | — | The Return of Mr. Zone 6 |
| "Versace" (Migos) |
2013 | 99 | 31 | 23 | Y.R.N. (Young Rich Niggas) |
| "3500" (Travis Scott featuring Future and 2 Chainz) |
2015 | 82 | 25 | 18 | Rodeo |
| "Guwop Home" (Gucci Mane featuring Young Thug) |
2016 | —[upper-alpha 7] | —[upper-alpha 8] | — | Everybody Looking |
| "No Sleep (Intro)" (Gucci Mane) |
— | —[upper-alpha 9] | — | ||
| "Waybach" (Gucci Mane) |
— | —[upper-alpha 10] | — | ||
| "Too Much Sauce" (DJ Esco featuring Future and Lil Uzi Vert) |
50 | 21 | 15 | Project E.T. | |
| "Used to This" (Future featuring Drake) |
14 | 5 | 4 | Future | |
| "St. Brick Intro" (Gucci Mane) |
—[upper-alpha 11] | —[upper-alpha 12] | — | The Return of East Atlanta Santa | |
| "What the Price" (Migos) |
2017 | —[upper-alpha 13] | 41 | — | Culture |
| "Get Right Witcha" (Migos) |
72 | 29 | 19 | ||
| "Big on Big" (Migos) |
—[upper-alpha 14] | 47 | — | ||
| "Brown Paper Bag" (Migos) |
—[upper-alpha 15] | 40 | — | ||
| "When I Was Broke" (Future) |
—[upper-alpha 16] | —[upper-alpha 17] | — | Future | |
| "Feds Did a Sweep" (Future) |
— | —[upper-alpha 18] | — | ||
| "Famous" (21 Savage) |
94 | 41 | — | Issa Album | |
| "Nothin New" (21 Savage) |
—[upper-alpha 19] | —[upper-alpha 20] | — | ||
| "Wifi Lit" (Future) |
2018 | 53 | 26 | 23 | Beast Mode 2 |
| "31 Days" (Future) |
64 | 34 | — | ||
| "Cuddle My Wrist" (Future) |
70 | 38 | — | ||
| "Racks Blue" (Future) |
76 | 42 | — | ||
| "Red Light" (Future) |
—[upper-alpha 21] | —[upper-alpha 22] | — | ||
| "Some More" (Future) |
—[upper-alpha 23] | —[upper-alpha 24] | — | ||
| "Doh Doh" (Future featuring Young Scooter) |
—[upper-alpha 25] | —[upper-alpha 26] | — | ||
| "When I Think About It" (Future) |
—[upper-alpha 27] | —[upper-alpha 28] | — | ||
| "Hate the Real Me" (Future) |
—[upper-alpha 29] | — | — | ||
| "Problems" (Lil Wayne) |
57 | 33 | — | Tha Carter V | |
| "Moana" (G-Eazy and Jack Harlow) |
2020 | —[upper-alpha 30] | — | — | Non-album single |
| "RIP Luv" (21 Savage and Metro Boomin) |
76 | 32 | — | Savage Mode II | |
| "Real Baby Pluto" (Future and Lil Uzi Vert) |
54 | 17 | 16 | Pluto × Baby Pluto | |
| "Million Dollar Play" (Future and Lil Uzi Vert) |
67 | 25 | 23 | ||
| "Roadrunner" (Migos) |
2021 | —[upper-alpha 31] | — | — | Culture III |
| "Better Believe" (Belly, The Weeknd, and Young Thug) |
88 | 31 | 25 | See You Next Wednesday | |
Notes
- "Icy" did not enter the "Billboard" Hot 100, but peaked at number five on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[42]
- "Pillz" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number three on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[43]
- "I'm a Dog" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number eight on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[43]
- "Bricks" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 19 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[43]
- "Make tha Trap Say Aye" did not enter the "Billboard" Hot 100, but peaked at number eight on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[44]
- "I Don't Love Her" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number two on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[43]
- "Guwop Home" did not enter the "Billboard" Hot 100, but peaked at number 23 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[42]
- "Guwop Home" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[43]
- "No Sleep (Intro)" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number four on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[43]
- "Waybach" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number eight on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[43]
- "St. Brick Intro" did not enter the "Billboard" Hot 100, but peaked at number seven on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[42]
- "St. Brick Intro" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number two on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[43]
- "What the Price" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number two on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[45]
- "Big on Big" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number eight on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[45]
- "Brown Paper Bag" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[45]
- "When I Was Broke" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 22 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[46]
- "When I Was Broke" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number six on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[47]
- "Feds Did a Sweep" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number seven on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[47]
- "Nothin New" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number nine on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[48]
- "Nothin New" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[49]
- "Red Light" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number six on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[46]
- "Red Light" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number three on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[47]
- "Some More" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number seven on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[46]
- "Some More" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number four on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[47]
- "Doh Doh" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number eleven on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[46]
- "Doh Doh" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number six on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[47]
- "When I Think About It" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number fifteen on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[46]
- "When I Think About It" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number seven on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[47]
- "Hate the Real Me" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[46]
- "Moana" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, but did peak at number 23 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
- "Roadrunner" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number sixteen on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[45]
References
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