Real Talk With Rocko
RTNY: How did you land your deal with Def Jam?
Rocko: It was through the buzz I had going. Before I got the deal my record was already at 300 spins.
RTNY: You’re talking about your single, “Umma Do Me”, right?
Rocko: Yeah. I was actually in the process of closing a deal with another label when L.A. Reid contacted me and wanted to sign me.
RTNY: What are the boardroom meetings like, is the label fully behind you?
Rocko: I’m feeling all the love and support from the label. I go in and they let me know what songs they like. It’s a real good feeling. I’m feeling good about everything right now.
RTNY: The single is big down in the South, has it been crazy for you since releasing the song?
Rocko: It’s been crazy. Initially when I started rappin’ I was thinking more about the money. But once I started going to these different cities and doing shows, and getting on stage telling people what I want them to do-and they do it…I was like, wow. That really made me start taking it seriously. It’s a real good feeling.
RTNY: You’ve done production for a lot of artists with your Rocky Road Productions. Can you name some of those artists?
Rocko: Franchize Boyz, Young Dro, Pastor Troy, Lil Flip and the whole Sucker Free camp.
RTNY: In the future, is producing something you want to do more of?
Rocko: I mean…for the most part, yeah. I have a few tracks that I produced for my own album. But for the most part, I want to venture off into the film industry.
RTNY: What made you want to start doing that?
Rocko: I always have felt like I could act. My album comes out March 18 and we just finished up my movie called, Self Made. It’s an album and a movie.
RTNY: So you’re hoping your rap career will launch your film career?
Rocko: Oh, yeah, definitely.
RTNY: A lot of hip-hop heads have been calling you a Jeezy clone. What do you have to say to those people?
Rocko: I just tell em’ to do them and keep hating. I’m getting paid over here, getting $12,000 for a show. I have my own label. I got a stupid deal. And I’m cashing in right now. I could care less about what a hater has to say about me.
RTNY: Do you feel as though southern artists sometimes get unnecessary backlash from the fans and the industry?
Rocko: I think its jut the broke people.
RTNY: (Laughing).
Rocko: I think they don’t have nothing else better to do than hate, feel me?
RTNY: Yep.
Rocko: If you had something else better to do with your time, you could care less about what somebody else is doing. You would be concentrated on getting your money. Believe it or not, that’s the type of thing that keeps me motivated to do what I’m doing. And on top of that, I come with a different flow on every beat. That’s why they call me “Mr. Southern Swag”, because I adjust my flow and freak it according to the beat.
RTNY: So in other words you want other people to do them and not worry about you?
Rocko: Exactly. I could care less about what a hater is saying. I’m laughing all the way to the bank.
RTNY: Atlanta is a hotbed for Southern hip-hop, why do you think that is?
Rocko: The thing about Atlanta is that we’re hungry. We’re in control, the South is where it’s at right now.
RTNY: Is Soulja Boy a correct representation of Atlanta music?
Rocko: Yep, Soulja Boy is doing his thing. Atlanta is a dance city. There use to be bass music down here…we love to dance down here in Atlanta. Soulja Boy is doing what the kids like.
RTNY: I know you have some ties to Houston producing for Lil Flip, how did you feel about the passing of Pimp C considering he’s a legend in the South?
Rocko: That really messed with me…especially since Pimp C made all those comments about Atlanta. I just looked at it like he was lashing out at Jeezy because of that situation when Jeezy didn’t want to do that song with him. So I know he was just mad. I know he really didn’t mean that because Atlanta has supported Houston music since day one.
RTNY: Right.
Rocko: From Willie D, Geto Boys, and Scarface. It messed with me because I didn’t get a chance to work with Pimp C before he passed. I really wanted to work with Pimp.
RTNY: Did you ever get a chance to meet him?
Rocko: Nah, I never got a chance to meet him. Bun B, that’s my boy. But I never got a chance to meet Pimp. Bun and I got cool after Pimp was gone.
RTNY: How do you plan on separating yourself from all the artists coming out of Atlanta and in hip-hop in general?
Rocko: I just let the fans decide. When I make music, I make it for me. When I go in the studio, I’m not thinking about what anyone is going to think. If you like it-you like it. If you don’t-you don’t. First and foremost, I’m a hustler. If this rap thing wouldn’t have worked out, I would have done something else. I ventured off into real estate, it was promising, but it wasn’t as promising as this rappin’. All I have to do is go to a club and perform for 30-45 minutes and I leave with $10-$15,000. It’s a no-brainer. And in a couple of months it’s about to be more.
RTNY: Let’s talk about the album. It’s dropping on March 18, right.
Rocko: March 18, the world is going to be a different place. It may take some longer to catch on, but once they catch on, they’re going to be in tuned to what’s going on in Atlanta. I’m really from Atlanta, born and raised. A lot of other people flew here, I grew up here. I’m going to give them a taste of the real Atlanta.
RTNY: I know we’re talking about the A, how has that shaped you as an artist?
Rocko: Well, I’ve seen them come and go. Like, I’ve seen all the movements. I watched Young Jeezy move to Atlanta and create his movement…
RTNY: So Jeezy is not originally from Atlanta?
Rocko: (Pauses) I don’t know.
RTNY: (Laughs).
Rocko: But I watched rappers like T.I. come in and do their thing. There’s a movement in Atlanta and when the streets appreciate what we do, I feel like that’s what we have to keep doing. When you have a rapper like Jeezy - a street hustler who came in the game and sold millions of records, that’s what Atlanta represents. Rather than us trying to commercialize our raps, that’s not what the real Atlanta stands for. The real Atlanta is gritty, raw, and uncut. And that’s what I represent.
RTNY: So, who are some of the artists and producers you worked with on the album?
Rocko: I worked with Drummer Boy, Jazze Pha, The Runners, The Justice League, and myself. I got Jeezy, T.I. and Jadakiss on the album. As for R&B I got Monica, Ne-yo, and Lloyd on the album.
RTNY: Is the album more on the lines of the gritty Atlanta, like we talked about earlier?
Rocko: Street music. That’s what I would classify it as.
RTNY: Do you have any artists coming out of your Rocky Road camp that we should be looking out for?
Rocko: J. Gutta and Goldie. That’s who I’m focused on right now. I have a couple of people from Houston I’m looking at too.
RTNY: Like who?
Rocko: I’m not going to disclose their name at the present time.
RTNY: Alright. Plug that album and let the fans know when it’s dropping.
Rocko: March 18. Rocko, Self-Made, “Mr. Umma Do Me”; Self-Made the album and the movie.
RTNY: Give the readers some of your websites so they can log-on and check out your music.
Rocko: Okay, www.myspace.com/rockodadon.
RTNY: Thanks for the interview, and good luck on your album.
Rocko: Thanks.
For more info on Rocko visit:
www.myspace.com/rockodadon
“Umma Do Me” (Video)
Suggestion Box
February 28th, 2008 at 12:08 am
i guess…
February 28th, 2008 at 12:11 am
RTNY: So Jeezy is not originally from Atlanta?
Rocko: (Pauses) I don’t know.
lol yeah betta watch it snowman is now joke in the A
February 28th, 2008 at 12:17 am
SONG IS A HIT DOWN IN THE SOUTH. BUT UP NORTH, NOT SO MUCH
February 28th, 2008 at 12:58 am
This cats music sounds just like everything else in the south move on
February 28th, 2008 at 1:06 am
ill give this dude a chance. but his new single did remind of jeezy
February 28th, 2008 at 1:41 am
next post please
February 28th, 2008 at 2:01 am
Hit down south? I’ve never heard that shit on the radio, just on the internet. Dude sounds like a fake T.I.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:42 am
I liked this interview….good line of questioning.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:09 am
this was a good interview. and i’m not even a fan of dudes music but the questions made interesting
February 28th, 2008 at 3:11 am
Rocko is doin his thing
ATL, 404, we in here.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:19 am
LOL at dude not wanting to tell realtalk who he was working with in houston LOL
February 28th, 2008 at 3:34 am
nice interview.
February 28th, 2008 at 7:33 am
LOL A NOBODY HAS SURFACED YET AGAIN !!!
February 28th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Good interview Prince.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Don’t sleep on rocko
he’s been putting it down in the ATL for a minute. shout out to the whole ATL!
February 28th, 2008 at 11:27 am
make a blog in 6 months about this nigga and see if anyone remembers him…………….one hit wonders killin the game
February 28th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Fuck a rocko or wateva his name is he copied his whole style from sum1 else i rather listen to the original jeezy need to come wit a new albulm
February 28th, 2008 at 11:41 am
what a clown.. i just feel like beating his fuckin ass after i read this
February 28th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I neva leave comments & shit but y’all mufuckas sound stupid. How the fuck U don’t like Rocko??? Y’all must be some lame ass back pack type niggas im from up north now im in Ga (East Side) and I aint met 1 Mufucka that said they dont like Rocko Y’all betta get cha mind right its Swag Season bitch. and O yhea Nas commin out with a Save the Whales Album sumthen 4 U lames to bump on the way to your piano lessons.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
LOL @ Mr. Fishscale
They stay hating on the south on this site. I’m from ATL but live in NY, and I can appreciate music from all regions. Folks on here are just angry for no reason.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
FIRST OF ALL…Didn’t T.I and Jeezy record that “Imma do me” song first or a song with almost the same beat and lyrics???? At least that’s what my homie said. I wouldn’t know cuz I don’t listen to Jeezy and only like Urban Legand from T.I so…..
SECOND OF ALL….He ain’t nothiN but Monica’s good for nothiN “Fiance”(after 2 kids, yeah right girl, keep lookin). He will never marry her and she will keep him caked up for as long as she can, just to say she has a “man”. TO some women, that’s all that matter. Her career has taken a back seat to stayin’ knocked up to keep that wana-be EXTRA short piece of shit.
LASTLY….Most of this article sounds like it was cut and pasted from his article on Allhiphop.com that he did with Illseed last month!!! SMDH on the lack of origionality and exclusives on this site…..
February 28th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Considerin Only Hearin . That One Song Frum Him . i Think he Nice . Yall Should Give em Uh Chance and Copp His album .And See What He Has To Offer Before You Start Callin Em Whack ..Lmao@MrFish Scale .
February 28th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Rocko is a real dude straight hustla and anybody who can appreciate good music knows hits when they hear them. Yall negative folks keep tryna hate on the south and the south keeps puttin out hits. THATS WHY THE NORTH FELL OFF. REAL TALK. WHO IN THE HIP HIP GAME FROM UP NORTH IS REALLY PUTTIN OUT HITS? HMMMMMMMM Everybody I Know bangs out to Rocko and Im from The North. HIS SHYT IS OFFICIAL
We Upnorth Cats nead to take lessons from the South and learn how to BUILD
February 28th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Nice interview..
sounds like anything else outta tha south doe
not surprising
February 28th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Damn this was a detailed interview unlike the short snippets you see in other interviews…Good stuff..
#25 is wanna be gangsta who is so ignorant as to call someone a nerd like that is a bad thing…
Bill Gates is the biggest nerd. I’m fine with that being a smart billonaire is not a bad thing..
His ignorant ass thing “CLIPS” [reference to guns obviously is cool]
Don’t worry I’ll defend you in court someday, I’ll do it for free I doubt you will be able to pay.
ttyl Clipz lol lol
February 28th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Definitely a good interview.
But as for all new artists, its hard for established veterans to sell records, so it’s going to be even more difficult for a newcomer to do it.
A regional hit isn’t going to do it.
February 28th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Lmao someones mad!
Glad to see i could git under ya skin dat much
February 28th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Lmao chuuch
February 28th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
For once I agree wit Clipz about this song sounding like everything else outta the south. T.I AND Jeezy did kill the remix tho.
February 28th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Mr.FishScale get the fuck outta here u gay ass faggot bitch kill urself.. the south is fuckin wack and the whole region should be taken off the USA. u dumb ass southern cocksucker
February 28th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Lmao cats feelings actually get hurt on here ^^^
and Slim, when have you ever disagreed?
February 28th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
“LOL wrote on February 28th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Mr.FishScale get the fuck outta here u gay ass faggot bitch kill urself.. the south is fuckin wack and the whole region should be taken off the USA. u dumb ass southern cocksucker”
Wow. Someone is mad at life.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
is it me or does this dude look like MURDA MOOK…I THOUGHT IT WAS HIM WITH A NAME CHANGGE LOL
February 29th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Wait, did Pimp C wanted to do a song with Jeezy and Jeezy denied him?
February 29th, 2008 at 2:45 am
Hold fast!! He has the hottest single in rap right now and should do a decent number on the drop date….He doesnt sound like no one else and has his swag right……Stop hatin’ and cop that Swag Season and listen to the Artist before you write something about em’!!!!!…………1
February 29th, 2008 at 5:13 am
im in NY and i aint hatin on shit, aint no reason to hate, i got my paper and its still comin. but shit man, rocko is wack. wtf…..why do niggas always think niggas from NY gotta hate on somebody else? your favorite rappers favorite rapper is from NY, nigga if u want your music to be official that shit gotta come thru here. we got a right to be critics….if it wasnt for us this rap shit wouldnt be shit. it took niggas like run dmc and big daddy kane to get this whole shit off the ground, respect that shit. this nigga rocko is fuckin wack, and ill give u 3 reasons why
1. he’s gonna sell more ringtones than albums and thats part of the reason he got a deal
2. the nigga is not original at all…. not even a little
3. and the beat is helping him, he aint helpin the beat. if the “umma do me” (lol) song didnt have a such a dope ass beat, nobody would even give a fuck about dude
February 29th, 2008 at 5:37 am
I stay down South & I’ll tell u Rocko song iz…..drumroll plz……………..TRASH!!!! His lyrics is weak,He look like Dro and tryna sound like TIP & Jeezy…….thumbs down!
February 29th, 2008 at 6:10 am
Even for a german girl, umma do me is it…
Im digging his music!
February 29th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Damn what I wanted to say way “Umma do me is a hit”!!!!
February 29th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Rocko is doing his Thang.Do you nigga watch 106&Park. This nigga Rocko is peaking out up to the #1 spot. All you Haters need to stop heteing and start congradulating success when you see it. Reconize the real. All you Back Pack ass niggas need to go cop the Lupe Fiasco or Common album on ya way to ya ballet lesson while sipping on ya laatte or however you spell that weak ass shit and have a good day. Stop hateing on the A.Dont get mad cause all the money is down here. We run this Bitch.Go Hard or Go Home. Peace Up A-Town Down
February 29th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Big up to the whole campbellton rd and every body gettin money in zone 4 n around the whole A!!! Big up to Rocko for keppin this thing 100 n reppin for the REAL a town!!! I Can vouch 4 that!!!!
February 29th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Stop hatin on my city n get ya sum REAL MONEY!!!!
February 29th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
wow…ur pretty dumb with all of ur ignorant rants and accusations.
NEW YORK AND THE EAST LOST.
^^^^^^^^^
1.I’m from Cali so I don’t give a fuck what you say about that shit
2. Co-sign #37
3. I try HARD not to make generalized statements about people whether it be about their race, religion, or background but I can’t help but say…..people down south claim everyone is “jealous of them” cuz they are “on top” (whatever THAT means), but how come when they FINALLY got on top, they ruinned everything that everyone before them had molded hip-hop into being? Don’t you guy see that? Someone handed yall the batton and yall dropped in into a pile of hot, steaming ringtones. There is more to music than ya 50 year old mama “droppin’ it like it’s hot” on her myspace page and fake dope prices!!!!
June 13th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I think Rocko hot, he doing his thing for the South. I feel Rocko Joint “Umma Do Me”, that’s a anthem for them haters (and theres alot of them). His Album “SELF-MADE” Is very motivational, and that’s what’s up. He got the Sawg Of Jeezy but he still doing his thing. I hope he hit the world with me hit’s and Albums In the future to be honest!