Long Live Lotto!
On October 7th 2025 we lost my brother and Co CEO Mr. Von Lotto Jones (Shavon Smith).
In the summer of 2025 Lotto and I had planned to return to the studio together in Raleigh, North Carolina. We had both been away from music for about seven years and also haven’t seen each other so plans were huge. The plan was for me to travel to North Carolina in October, we party, bullshit, record, and film.
Unfortunately this did not come to fruition as Lotto passed away before he could set the date for me to arrive as the ball was in his hand. Amongst the plans; we planned to release a new joint project as well as new solo projects with us bouncing features back and forth.
In the new plans set for 2026, I planned to release Lotto’s album on his birthday this year on September 14. The album will feature unreleased solo and feature tracks. The album’s name is still currently under review for approval between TMF Records and Lotto’s mother.
Also set to begin for Lotto is the writing of his biopic. A biopic of Lotto and I entitled “From the Bottom to the Top” began production in 2010. A promotional trailer was released but production was later canceled due to scheduling conflicts with actors and the production team.
Lotto is survived by his two daughters Cami and Chloe, his mother, grandmother, cousin James McLean and family, Tim, friend Kiara Grace, and myself his kindred spirit brother, Benjamin Seven Ellis. Lotto will live on through us, his music, his fans, and will always be remembered as his legacy shall continues!
More on Lotto to come on the new and upcoming TMF Records website.