Born Jeffrey Johnson Jr. Dash Grew Up In Atlanta’s Capitol Homes Projects Under The Watchful Eye Of His Mother And Great-Grandmother. The Baby Of The Family He Has An Older Brother Two Half-Sisters And Two Step-Brothers Dash Was An Inquisitive And Bright Child Who Learned About Hip-Hop From His Older Brother Erik. "My Brother Used To Make Beats In The Basement ” Says Dash. “When He’d Leave The House I’d Steal The Beats Off Of His Computer And Record Them On A Karaoke Machine.” Dash Began Writing Raps At 12 Years Old. By High School He’d Taken On The Name “ATL” As Part Of A Four-Man Rap Group Called The Blackout Boys. In 2006 The Group Which Included Dash’s Brother Released A Mixtape Recognition Which Generated Significant Buzz Around Mill Creek High School. The Following Year The Already Popular Dash – A Basketball-Playing Heartthrob – Released A Solo Mixtape Entitled My Turn Further Boosting His High School Profile. However The Aspiring Emcee Didn’t Begin To Take His Music Career Seriously Until He Became A Father At The Age Of 16.