Zaytoven

Xavier L. Dotson, the Atlanta-based producer known professionally as Zaytoven, helped drive the mid-2000s emergence of trap music, most prominently inside his adopted hometown. Beyond securing a 2011 Grammy for his contributions to Usher, he remains chiefly identified with Gucci Mane, Migos, and Future. In 2018 he entered Christian rap and gospel through joint releases with Lecrae and Deitrick Haddon while also issuing the charting album A with Usher. His long roster of mixtapes encompasses projects with Chief Keef, Boosie Badazz, Lil Yachty, and numerous additional artists; solo material includes the 2023 EP Only One.

Born in 1980 on a military base in Frankfurt, Germany, Dotson relocated with his family to San Francisco soon afterward and later moved to Atlanta upon leaving home. Before turning to rap, he served as a church musician, shifting quickly from drums to organ and piano. In 2002 he first encountered Radric Davis, known as Gucci Mane, and the pair promptly began recording together. Dotson went on to produce Mane’s debut album Trap House and earned at least one credit on every subsequent Mane release. Over time he extended his work to other Southern rappers such as Migos, Future, Waka Flocka Flame, and Lil Uzi Vert.

His productions drew increasing notice, especially for their signature piano lines, culminating in the 2011 Grammy win for contributions to Usher’s Raymond v. Raymond. As producer visibility rose in the mid-2010s alongside figures such as Mike WiLL Made-It, Metro Boomin, and Boi-1da, Zaytoven likewise stepped further into public view. By 2017 he was touring with the artists he produced, performing on piano and keytar, and had signed with Motown while continuing to issue collaborations and mixtapes at a rapid pace, frequently via his own Familiar Territory label.

Zaytoven’s first full-length album, Trapholizay, appeared in May 2018 and reached the Billboard 200 Top 100; guests included Gucci Mane, Young Dolph, Rick Ross, Yo Gotti, and others. One month later he released the Lecrae collaboration Let the Trap Say Amen, which entered the Billboard 200 Top 50. The Usher album A followed the same year and peaked inside the Top 40. Closing 2018 was the Christmas EP Greatest Gift, recorded with gospel singer Deitrick Haddon.

In 2019 Zaytoven paired with Chief Keef for the Glotoven mixtape and issued Bad Azz Zay with Boosie Badazz. 2020 brought A-Team, recorded with Lil Yachty, Lil Keed, and Lil Gotit, along with Zaystreet alongside Young Scooter and the solo project GrinchToven Stole the Trap. 2021 yielded the solo album Been Rappin, multiple volumes of Lost Tapes that included complete projects with OJ da Juiceman, B.o.B, and Young Dro, the compilation Zaytoven Presents: Fo15, and the collaborative album Moetoven with Orlando rapper Moe; Keys to the Streets with Luh Soldier and GhostToven with Ghostluvme also appeared that year.

Streetz Got No Heart, Zaytoven’s 2022 mixtape, featured Bun B, Peewee Longway, and Trouble, while Loverz n Friendz included Elijah Blake and Tiffany Bleu; the same year saw the EP Zay1Thou with deeblack1thou. In 2023 he released the solo EP Only One.