Posting something a couple years late, but enjoy ☺️

Only question: What are you putting more ambition for, your love or your life?

Ambition ft. DBS & PHRASE

MY STORY Pt 1

My Name is Steven Dorsey. In Brooklyn, I'm better known by my stage name, Top Dollar, The Mighty Thor! I was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn on May 12, 1969. I consider myself a hip hop pioneer because I was addicted to the music since the Fatback band dropped in 1979! 
I am a hip-hop artist, student, innovator and most of all, fan. Over the years, I've been influenced by many artists. LL Cool J is the reason I started writing. KRS One inspired me to use my intelligence to drop jewels, and Kool G Rap inspired me to be relentless and aggressive with the flow. Now, Jay Z, Jada Kiss, Nas, Papoose and other lyrical powerhouses keep me focused. 
I grew up in 336 Blake Avenue in Brownsville, Brooklyn. I was the youngest of 4 kids (Plus, I was the only boy). My mom (Lottie Dorsey) raised all of us on her own because my father wasn't around since before I was born. My 3 sisters, Linda, Chrissy and Margaret tried to keep tabs on me in the streets, but it wasn't easy. They were a handful themselves and with my bizarre acting out to add to the pressure of single parenthood, my mom finally sought out professional help for me. She sent me first, to a school for 'emotionally disturbed children' in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and then to a group home in Hawthorne, NY. I don't know if that helped me or not, but I sure learned alot about survival and independence. 
When I finally came home, I went to Eli Whitney Vocational High School in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. In spite of all of my wild ways, I was always academically advanced. I had been reading at a 12.9 average since the 6th grade! 
Caught up in rap music, I wanted first to be a human beat box. I was pretty good at it, too! One day, I went to see the movie Krush Groove with a friend. I was completely hooked after seeing LL in that movie. With my boy AngeI the beat box Cash, providing the sounds, I started writing Run DMC-style raps for me and my friend Duane a.k.a. Lil' Rock. Top Dollar was born! 
When my best friend, Donald Cooke was brutally murdered over a case of mistaken identity, I snapped. I abandoned all thoughts of college and I hit the streets hard! If a good person like Donald can die such an ugly death, what was the point of trying to live life by the book? Even though I let the streets swallow me up, I still used hip-hop to unburden my soul. My flow became deeper, sharper, more refined. Soon, I was battling the neighborhood rappers and leaving a trail of new believers behind me. I had gotten so cocky that I was going at 2 rappers at once!
I met 2 rappers who lived across the street from me, Hassan and James. After linking up with them, we started performing together for the block. Before long, we were 8 strong and growing. VOT was in the building! We soon grew into a large, tight knit family, and I was determined that we would become bigger than Wu Tang! 
With the help of my then manager, Flick, (who with his long-time friend, Ankhenaton, would years later create S.T.A.Y. Enterprises) and his brother Tim, I started hitting the studios hard. With the addition of Lonnie Holcombe and Renee Ye Foon, me and my management team went to work. I started doing shows wherever I could get a gig! The Days Inn Hotel, Le Bar Batt, Limelight, Wetlands, The Ark, YMCA, Rikers Island, The Brooklyn House of Detention, Willies in Harlem, The Greek Fest at Jones Beach and several others. I was having the time of my life! I had found my calling. 
After the birth of my first daughter, Tyquasia, I finally let go of the streets and started thinking about my future. Still devoted to the music, I started learning the business end of it. When Flick and Ankhenaton approached me with the blueprint for S.T.A.Y. Enterprises, I immediately saw the big picture and jumped on board. 
Through years of loyalty, perseverance, patience and hard work. We planted the seeds for a future superpower! Through all of this, my love for hip-hop and dedication to cutting edge lyricism has kept me on top the game.

Let your love, dreams, and passion hit the air
Make those who scavenge for fame play fair;
Because if you really think about whose there,
No one else will ever know that you're truly prepared.

Ambition ft. DBS & PHRASE

Cherrelle Wright