Don Zio P

Tattooed rapper Don Zio P entered his early years with only modest ambitions toward music. An unsuccessful attempt to create an original track prompted him to abandon the pursuit and resume ordinary routines. Yet a raucous 2016 excursion to Montreal, captured in extensive detail and circulated via social media platforms, shifted attention toward his revelry, exploits, and personal magnetism. In an interview he noted that observers began remarking on his rapper-like appearance, suggesting the moment had arrived to embrace that identity. He responded by delivering the ethereal cloud-rap single “Dunk on Yo Bitch” together with its pool-party video in March 2017; the track circulated rapidly and soon drew label interest. Republic, an imprint under Universal, secured Don Zio P on the basis of that release, after which he turned to new material such as “Switch” and “Six 4.” Those recordings were slated for the six-song EP No Average Joe, targeted for late 2017. During the interim he contributed a guest verse to Brittney Crush’s single “You and I.”