M-R DOT = Made Real Period

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When you ask other Memphis rappers about M-R Dot, the debut hip hop artist for his EMG label, the praises fall as a torrential rain. Many entertainers in the Memphis cipher describe the Memphis-born entertainer as “the realest nigga”, which is probably the reason for the translation of his moniker: Made Real Period. What is apparent is M.R. Dot’s link with his audience, as evidenced by the response to his debut single, “Too Clean”. An intense party anthem, you can find it spinning everywhere from high school dances to white fraternity parties—alongside Ciara and Kanye West records. Although well-received, the single is not entirely representative of the highly anticipated mixtape Street Politics Vol.1 Hosted by Gangsta Boo featuring her Smash HIT Chillin N Da Club and debut album Street Politicians. While the disc definitely has its lighter moments, overall the album makes you think. About your environment. About life. M-R Dot explains that he “felt like [music] needed a change. With the way it was going’ it was going to die or become something that was no longer part of the culture of struggling folks. It needs leaders who are not consumed with the negative aspect of life, who can show people a different way to be.” His demeanor and voice display a conviction usually reserved for activists, not artists. Of course, these labels are one and the same in his mind. M-R Dot’s interest in music began early. His influences include Aerosmith, Prince, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. When deciding if he wanted to be an artist himself or not, the music of Tupac definitely tipped the scales. He recalls, “I was 13 and he was speaking on Dan Quayle ‘n’ shit. I was like ‘He has some shit on his mind.’ I never looked at music as a way of reaching people before. Then Strictly 4 My Niggas came out…that put me on. He inspired me to do music.” Wearing an “I Am Hip Hop” t-shirt, M-R Dot boasts that music courses through his veins, with cousin Gangsta Boo, formerly of Three 6 Mafia. Barely out of his adolescence when the group made their initial impact on the industry, M-R Dot remembers the effect that had on his drive to succeed: “that was when I knew that if they could [make it], I could too. I was already writing poetry by then. [Rapping] was the next logical step.” When probed about his other activities, M-R Dot simply replies “Ask me what I’m not working on!” The artist is helming his own project, searching for other artists to develop and headlining The Coming (a migrating hip hop freestyle night in the Mid-South). He takes his role within the hip hop community seriously, explaining “My music is bigger than me. It’s a representation of my people and all the ones who died for my people. I’m out to change somebody’s life, their way of thinking.”