Armed with energetic live performances and in your face lyricism, Mario Dones has been making waves in the Pittsburgh hip-hop scene since 2005. Fresh off the release of One to Grow On, a collaborative project with AV of their massive Sole Vibe crew, Mario's recent time has been split between performing to promote OTGO and crafting his debut album.
The Cleveland born, southern bred, Pittsburgh based MC launched himself on the scene in 2005 with the release of his Accidents Happen Mixtape. The attention generated by the mixtape put Dones in front of new audiences across the region, allowing him to build a brand on the road, rather than online. This is where he honed his instincts and began to grow into something more than just a rapper. The stage is where he thrives. Over the years Dones has performed alongside Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Pac Div, Black Milk, Masta Ace, Blu & Exile, Aloe Blacc, Emilio Rojas, King Mez, Boaz, Tanya Morgan, Buff1, Mayer Hawthorne, Formula 412, Ed OG, and many more. Mario Dones and The Sole Vibe have grown to now have one of the largest draws for hip-hop in the area.
In between solo projects, Dones has worked closely with his crew on several releases over the past few years, including The Appetizer (2007), Keelay & Zaire's Ridin High (2009) and One to Grow On (2010). While working on his own projects, the MC is also an educator, teaching hip-hop history and culture to youth across the city. Dones' debut album, California Dreaming, will be available this fall.
Contact: thefearlessfactory@gmail.com
