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Music Type: Hip-Hop, Rap
Where are you from? Cleveland, Ohio
Many artists do other things to support their music careers. Do you have a “day” job? I serve tables as my hustle with the thought that: A good is a father is not a father who is in prison….
How did you get started in the music industry? I was locked up in Philadelphia and my cellmate used to turn my poetry into flows. With the love I had for music, it was just a matter of time before I started rapping. Hence the name R.o.X–Reason of Xistence
What makes you unique as an artist? The fact that I didn’t choose to do music, music chose me. I go to sleep thinking of lyrics and wake up the same way. I simply can’t control it!
What are you working on now? My first mastered complete album, Writer’s Block, dropping April 10th and getting our label, Killa Beatz Entertainment the exposure needed to do great things.
Is there anything else you’re passionate about besides music, and if so, how does this influence your music? As stated previously, being a father is all that matters to me. After growing up with no parents I can’t imagine my son not having a dad.
Inspirations: Tupac will always be my biggest musical inspiration but my sister is my biggest motivator. Seeing that she made it through the storm lets me know that nothing is impossible.
Born September 22, 1984 it was said he was given birth to by his mother, who at the time was asleep and had no knowledge it was happening. Life would soon show that this event was the only thing that would come easy for him.
A mother burdened with many medical problems made it hard to raise one child, let alone two. His sister being a couple years older, assumed the responsibility of raising him. His father started the path of pain he would endure, beating his sister and him for no apparent reason. By the age of 3, he and his sister were put into foster care, and moved once or twice a year. Eventually the system separated the siblings creating even more anger within him. He’s quoted saying “I remember hearing DMX flow on Slippin and thinking how much it related to my life”. He was referring to how group homes and institutions prepared him for jail by age 15.
Throughout his rough childhood he never lost his passion for music and poetry. Whether listening to Boyz II Men or Tupac, he escaped his surroundings by focusing on music and dreaming of the day that things would change for him. At the age of 18, he was finally released from incarceration. With all of his experiences thus far, he felt that the world was against him and quickly fell into the street life of selling drugs, fighting and going back to jail for small stints.
Not long after he was released, he was shot numerous times and left for dead. He was life flighted to the hospital just in time to be revived. When the doctor walked in the room and leaned over him, he looked confused. He said “Son, someone has a plan for you.” He was referring to the fact that he was shot in the chest, legs and spine with no permanent damage. This was a life-defining moment, he knew that he was here for a reason and wanted everyone to know his story. (This moment triggered his name R.o.X: Reason of Xistence).
Nowadays he has let the street life go and has a son who he adores with all his heart. He serves tables instead of drugs, yet still making music his main goal. He isn’t concerned with the money as much as he is the fame. He only wishes his son never experiences the struggle he went through, even if it made him who he is today.
