Off the stage, she is Bello Rasheedah Dolapo the timid girl next door,but when the rostrum beckons she wears a new verve look and becomes Dolly-Pee, the dynamic talent.
Born 21 years ago in the eccentric, but alluring city of Lagos, Nigeria’s Economic capital, Dolly-Pee emigrated alongside her parents to the United States at the age of 16.
Music to her has always been innate, ever since she was born, the talent in the making has unconsciously trained her voice box to produce musical notes that cools frayed nerves and serves as a soothing balm. Quite an irony for someone born in a family, where strict Islamic values are adhered to.
Dolly-Pee describes herself humbly as an amateur musician, but listen to her first unreleased track “Far-Away”, and you are sure to say “wow” that’s a Whitney ready to blossom. Faraway is an inspiration from the usual frenzy that surrounds Valetine’s Day. The music duels on the theme Love.
According to her, “Far-Away was a song she did for Valentine’s day. “I was up one morning, couldn’t sleep and decided to write. I thought about the idea behind Valentine and how much people erase so many other facts about Valentine’s day but acknowledge only the lover’s part of it. Yes, it is about love but it is not just for the love of two strangers, it could be the love of a mother to her child or vice versa. I decided to write the first verse of the song to relate to two lovers faraway from each-other while the second verse is about a mother and her child who is away. I went into the studio the next morning and after 2 hours,Far-Awaywas ready.”
After listening to this song and you are already thinking this music starlet is only going to carve a niche for herself in the world of R n B, then you will have a rethink when you listen to a second effort, Lovy Wiky, here she delves into another genre of music, bringing out the “Africaness” in her. With a rich velvety voice fused with good beat, she makes you sway your waist and dance to a unique rhythm all the way.
At this juncture you are convinced of her versatility and ready to acknowledge that just like a chameleon she is comfortable changing her musical colours.
Although Dolly-Pee is taking her musical career in strides, she is however a burgeoning force, her prowess and talent is already being recognized, recently on an impromptu prompt a music promoter coaxed her into performing a surprise birthday song for Ghanaian actor John Dumelo at his birthday and fashion launch in Dallas,Texas. She so much wowed that the A-rate celebrity asked for an encore at a later bash organized for him in Houston, Texas. Again she left the crowd in awe.
She is no flash in the pan, Dolly-Pee later showed her dexterity at J’martins Concert in Houston, Texas, recording another sterling performance and leaving the crowd saying “Qui est cette merveilleuse chanteuse.”
Eager to take the music world by the storm, she is forging alliance with music producers in the United States and also in her native country Nigeria.
However, despite all the positive reviews that her songs are getting from friends and those who have listened to her, this upcoming music act is not forgetting that education is the best legacy.
Bello Rasheedah Dolapo recently graduated from Houston Community College with an Associates degree in Criminal Justice. She plans to enroll by fall for Pre-Law at the prestigious University of Houston. Dolly-Pee the budding talent is definitely destined to take the world of music by the storm, and reach and if not outshining her role models Christina Aguilera and the late Whitney Houston.
Lovy Wiky (prod by Beatz Kitchen)
Watch her performance at Dumelo’s Birthday Bash/Fashion Launch