Bio
Ramel Gonzalez was born in apartment #4D in millbrook projects in the
Bronx, NY. He had to be delivered in the house because the ambulance didn't
make it in time. The second oldest of 5 he grew up in Taft Projects on the
East side of Harlem. Growing up in that 2 bedroom apartment his mother
struggled with supporting all of her children the way she wanted to.
If nothing else Ra loved to play basketball, he actually had dreams of
going to the league. He always loved school and his mother was very hard on
him being that she worked in his elementary school. (Public School 101)
Once he went on to Jr. high,(Isaac Newton Middle School) he started to find
himself. It wasn't until high school( Manhattan Center for Science and
Mathematics) when Dollas showed his lyrical talent. Originally he went by
the name "Mells" for a long time until he made a drastic residence
change.
Thanksgiving 2004 Dollas had to move upstate to Albany, NY to live with his
dad. Although he didn't agree he felt his chances of playing college ball
might be a little better upstate. Attending Albany high school he had some
basketball highlights, but basketball was no longer the career he wanted to
pursue.
Living with his dad was completely different from Harlem. They didn't agree
on a lot of things but one thing Ra learned from his dad was how to
survive. In his senior year of high school Ra's dad kicked him out! With a
heart full of pride Ra finished high school with honors and drove straight
to Harlem on his graduation day to show his mother his cap and gown.
If you ask Dollas how he got his name he would tell you that the name " Ra
Dollas " has some sentimental value to him. He had to stay with his friend
his senior year and sleep on the floor. He said his friends who he
considers family now would offer him a bed but his pride kept him on the
floor in a blanket and his Marmot winter coat. In school Dollas would sell
candy bars, skittles, snickers, M
