Artist Spotlight

The heavy bass and the call-and-response of Atlanta’s signature sound is clearly evident in Dose’s breakthrough single, ‘Where They Do That At?!’ featuring Rick Ross and Fabolous.  Dose’s brash, crystal-clear delivery also makes notice of some of the 21-year olds key assets: passion, duality, and ambition. “In Atlanta, it’s harder to get on, since they’re so much bubble gum shit going on right now. I’m the voice of the people, the young people, the old people; from the streets to the booth, I’m the new South.”

It was Dose’s unlikely partnership with NY based Desert Storm Entertainment though, that led to his first major push.  A few chance meetings with the entertainment company’s co-founder, Webb and Dose finally got the support he needed to take his career to the next level. “Webb said he had seen me six months before we met, and I had a record out called “Don Dada” featuring Rich Boy, says Dose. “He heard it, but it just sounded like an average record to him. But It just so happened that I bumped into him again…at a gas station. So I just went in like, ‘Look, you need to get yo ass to the studio, man!” “Webb’s an aggressive talker, and I’m the same way. So we’re just laughing and kickin’ it; he came over and listened to three records before he said, ‘I’m fixing to get you a deal.’ Within days DJ Clue, Skane Dolla and the rest of the Desert Storm Crew came down to Atlanta and Dose was signed to his first major imprint.

Life wasn’t always easy for Dose, especially growing up in Atlanta and he did what he had to in order to survive. “As a young’n, I seen a lot of stuff that young people shouldn’t see…street life, basically. My mother washed her hands of me so I began selling candy in school to make some extra money, and that led to other things. I caught my first case at 13, so to be where I’m at now, it’s a blessing.”  

Dose was recently released from prison in October of 2008; he served one year out of a ten year sentence.  “Through the grace of God and lawyers, my case got overturned.” Dose seized the opportunity to start over and take more progressive steps, ones that landed him into a studio and eventually onto the radio. 

 Off the success of his first single, ‘Where They Do That At?!,’ Dose reflects on his recent strides into the mainstream: “I don’t let it get to my head; I’ve got bigger dreams. Until I go ‘plat, I’m not satisfied. And when I go ‘plat, I wanna go diamond. I’m for longevity.”

 What’s next for Dose? “Honestly, I feel like we [Atlanta] ain’t as hot as we used to be,” says Dose of his hometown. “I’m definitely going to bring the ‘A’ back; I want to make it where someone mentions the ‘A’, they mention Dose. This summer, we’re gonna bring the ‘A’ back to where it needs to be at.”