Today we’d like to introduce you to Davontea Scott.
Hi Davontea, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m Tay No Tee, an independent hip-hop artist born and raised in Austin, Texas. I’ve been making music since 2014, but my journey started long before I ever stepped into a studio.
Growing up, life wasn’t always easy. I was raised by an incredibly strong mother, and not having my father around left me with questions, pain, and emotions I didn’t always know how to express. Music became that outlet. What started as a way to vent eventually became my purpose. Ironically, I struggled in English class growing up, but when teachers asked me to write poetry, I found my voice through rap. That’s when I realized music could say everything I had a hard time putting into everyday conversation.
After graduating high school, I attended Boise State University before ultimately realizing my heart and my purpose were back home in Austin. I came back determined to build something bigger than a music career. I wanted to build a legacy.
Since then, the journey has been filled with victories, setbacks, lessons, and a whole lot of faith. I’ve learned that success isn’t always measured by streams, followers, or awards—although being named the 2026 Austin Hip Hop Awards Artist of the Year was an incredible honor. For me, success is using my platform to genuinely impact people.
That’s why I created F3—Family, Fans & Friends—and why I live by #SLGL (Show Love, Get Love). Whether it’s through music, community events, random acts of kindness, or simply encouraging someone who needs it, my mission is to leave people better than I found them.
Today, my faith in God is the foundation of everything I do. I still make music because I love it, but more importantly, I make it because I believe God gave me a story worth sharing. If my journey helps even one person keep going, then every obstacle along the way has been worth it.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. If anything, the obstacles have shaped me into the artist and person I am today.
Like many independent artists, I’ve faced financial challenges, balancing a full-time job while investing in my music career out of my own pocket. I’ve experienced rejection, empty rooms, songs that didn’t perform the way I hoped, and plenty of moments where it would’ve been easier to quit.
But one of my biggest struggles wasn’t external—it was internal.
For a long time, I wrestled with my identity. I found myself chasing acceptance, trying to fit into what I thought the industry wanted or what people expected from me. I wanted to be successful, but I also didn’t want to lose myself in the process. That tension forced me to ask a hard question: Am I building a career, or am I building a life that reflects who God created me to be?
As my faith grew, so did my understanding of my purpose. I realized I wasn’t called to chase validation—I was called to serve. That’s where F3 (Family, Fans & Friends) and #SLGL (Show Love, Get Love) truly came to life. They became more than slogans; they became reminders that success means very little if you lose your character trying to achieve it.
Personally, growing up without my father also left wounds I didn’t fully understand until I got older. Music became the place where I could process those emotions, and over time, it became a way to help others process theirs too.
I’ve also learned that God’s timing is always better than my own. Some doors didn’t open because they weren’t meant for me, while others took years because He was preparing me before He prepared the opportunity.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change any of it. Every setback taught me resilience, every disappointment strengthened my faith, and every obstacle brought me closer to the person I’m meant to become.
Now my vision is bigger than my own success. I want to use music and community initiatives to bring people together, showcase everything Austin has to offer, and create experiences that make people want to be part of this city. If my journey encourages someone else to believe in themselves, strengthens our community, or inspires someone to experience Austin through the people and culture that make it special, then every challenge has served a greater purpose.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an independent hip-hop artist, but I don’t see my work stopping at music. I see music as the bridge that brings people together.
Everything I create is rooted in my faith, my love for Austin, and my desire to leave people better than I found them. Whether it’s a song, a live performance, a community event, or a random act of kindness, my goal is to create experiences that remind people they’re seen, valued, and connected.
Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to perform across Austin, collaborate with incredible local artists, and was recently honored as the 2026 Austin Hip Hop Awards Artist of the Year. While I’m grateful for those accomplishments, I’m most proud of the community that’s growing around the music.
Through F3 (Family, Fans & Friends) and our message, #SLGL (Show Love, Get Love), we’re creating more than supporters—we’re creating a movement centered on encouragement, unity, and giving back. From organizing community events to partnering with local organizations and highlighting fellow creatives, my vision is to use music as a catalyst for positive change.
What sets me apart is that I’m not simply trying to build an audience; I’m trying to build an ecosystem. I want Austin to become a destination where people come not only for great music, but for genuine community. My dream is to create events that showcase our city’s incredible artists, local businesses, culture, and heart—giving visitors a reason to experience Austin while creating more opportunities for the people who already call it home.
At the end of the day, if someone remembers me only as a rapper, I haven’t accomplished my mission. I hope they remember me as someone who used music to bring people together, strengthen his community, and represent Austin with authenticity, faith, and love.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’ve learned that the biggest risk isn’t failing—it’s never becoming the person you’re capable of becoming.
I’ve taken plenty of risks over the years. Every dollar I’ve invested into my music, every performance I’ve accepted, every event I’ve organized, and every opportunity to put myself out there came with no guarantee of success. Like many independent artists, there were times I spent money I could’ve used elsewhere because I believed in a vision that hadn’t become reality yet. That’s a risk most people never see.
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken has been choosing authenticity over acceptance. There was a time when I found myself chasing validation and trying to fit into what I thought the industry—or people around me—wanted me to be. Eventually, I realized that success doesn’t mean much if you have to sacrifice who you are to achieve it. Choosing to stay true to my values, my voice, and the kind of impact I want to have has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
I’ve also learned that meaningful growth is built through relationships. One example was taking a chance on Rhythm and Rise Live, a brand-new platform with a mission that aligned with mine: bringing people together through music and community. There were no guarantees, but I believed in what they were building. That leap turned into one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, thanks to the vision and leadership of Mr. Durite. It reminded me that when people believe in each other, incredible things can happen.
The same is true for my team. One of the best decisions I’ve made has been investing in people and growing together from the ground up. Jayreels, my videographer, took a chance on my vision, and together we’ve been building the visual identity of my brand one project at a time. Shattow, who leads my social media marketing, also took a leap of faith by believing in what we’re creating. Together, we’ve been laying the foundation brick by brick instead of chasing shortcuts. I want to publicly thank both of them for trusting me, believing in the vision, and being willing to build something lasting together. Their success is part of my success.
That’s how I approach risk today. It’s not about chasing the biggest opportunity—it’s about making intentional decisions that create something meaningful and bring others along with you. Every collaboration, every community event, and every partnership is another opportunity to showcase Austin’s incredible talent, culture, and hospitality. My hope is that the work we’re doing continues to give people a reason to visit our city, support local businesses, discover amazing artists, and experience the sense of community that makes Austin unlike anywhere else.
At the end of the day, I’d rather take a chance on something meaningful than spend my life wondering, “What if?” That’s a risk I’ll continue to take every time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://taynotee.bandzoogle.com/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tay_notee?utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GbqWMn2Kn/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Twitter: https://x.com/tay_notee?s=11
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@taynotee?si=EwLuIh3Zfh6YGXP2
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/Or8wSPEcfqbeFZKwaw
