Exposed Vocals just interviewed Rocboi (Hood.Metal.R&B)

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

I’m originally from the Virginia areas of Norfolk and Newport News. I got my start in the music business as a teen in an R&B /Pop boy band working with legendary producer Leon Slyvers III  in the late 90’s. We created a regional buzz and ended up touring with R&B artist Lorenzo and did an appearance on the B.E.T show Teen Summit. It was good times but we never got the big break although the rumor was we had a deal with Artista but things fell through. I eventually to moved on to Georgia an later found out that one of our songs called “Everybody” ended on R&B artist Big Bubb of the 90’s group called Today. Bubb was connected to Leon through the New Jack Swing legend Teddy Riley and the rest was history.

Moving to Georgia would ultimately lead me to becoming the artist Rocboi (Hood.Metal.R&B) but I stayed in the R&B lane for a while and worked with a ton of major producers but I could never find my sound. I even got a lucky break in the early 2000’s as a songwriter for r&b artist Bobby Brown on a song called “I Refused” produced by Midnight Black. I met him and Whitney Houston including their families in Atlanta at Zac’s recording and how everything went down was crazy but the dream fell through again when Bobby went to jail a few weeks later.

It took a ton of soul searching and being real about what I wanted the world to know about me as an artist. I wanted everyone to understand my whole story and realistically it would take a featured film to see that vivid life experience. I would just say that coming from Virginia I’ve experienced what most growing up in poverty went through, loss. That loss consisted of my mom and father to drug addiction and ultimately my father dying of HIV/Aids. I was on my own at 12 years old and went through hell living from group homes to foster care until I just gave up and did it totally alone at 16. The experience exposed me to so many cultures and types of people that I connected with through the struggle and rage that formed my sound. The type of music that I grew up on was everything from R&B (Micheal Jackson, BoyzIIMen, Jodeci, Blackstreet, Usher) to Gangsta Rap (NWA, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg) and to top it off, Thrash Metal.

“I’ve been full of rage since 12 of age and when I listened the bands like Suicidal Tendencies or DRI, that shit made me want to break something.”

Understand that I was exposed to all types of music throughout my life. That led to who I am today and the journey of developing the Hood Metal sound. Connect the dots in my Bio | .PDF, it tells the rest of the story.

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

I’ve had more opportunities as an indie artist to do shows with many major artists and one of my favourites is Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. I toured with them on the South-eastern leg of their UNI5 tour back in 2010. It wasn’t just about the gig it was the connection to the group and the song “Cross Roads” that made me want to be apart of that and fortunately I had a good connect that made it happen. The week my father died I played that song the entire drive from VA to GA. Think on that and it’s impact at the time and you’ll understand why I’ll roll with those guys forever. Layziebone was the closest to me on the tour and they showed love before anyone knew me. All these other gigs were just that but this one was special. Do everything you can to do shows and make connections regardless of the pay out. The experience is more important on your journey.

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

Hell, I got booed at a show in my hometown in Atlanta with Bone on my last night. Talking about a “what the hell” moment when everything from the mic not being cordless to the sound being ridiculous. It was tragic but I pulled it off. All I can say now is when I get back on the road I absolutely have to fix that. Look out for me at Masquerade, it’s war baby.

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

I refer to my last question. Ha…ha…(

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

I’m releasing two singles back to back.

December 1st one of my singles called “Freak Flag” in which is an R&B/Rap/80s-Retro club banger for the ladies that are let’s say “Sexually Adventurous”. \m/ The track pays homage to one my favourite pop rock bands Duran Duran, where in the middle of the song I throw in a rocked verse inspired by “Hungry Like The Wolf”.

January 1st 2018 I’m releasing my main single to kick off the year called “All W’s”. I originally wrote the track for Jeezy but I just couldn’t get my connects to come through fast enough so I was like “Screw it, I’m just going to put it out”. Jeezy is one of my favourite rappers and we’re connected directly through producers, engineers, a label and other industry folks but we never met. Crazy world but that would be a sick record with him on it.

I also have another one of my songs called “MindFuk” that came out a few years ago that got placed in the 2018 film release titled
“Under the Silver Lake” directed by David Robert Mitchell (It Follows, 2014) starring Andrew Garfield
(Hacksaw Ridge, 2016 – The Amazing Spider-Man, 2012/2014) and Riley Keough (It Comes At Night – 2017)(Mad Max (Fury Road) – 2015) and Topher Grace (Interstellar, 2014 – Predators, 2010).

It’s only a few seconds in the film but it’s all part of the bigger dream.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

Promotions by any means necessary and that includes social media or music services. The truth is it takes deep pockets and the right connections to get to the majors. I know the business better than some new artists signing their first major deal. Sometimes it’s not the best way to go until you have all your business taken care of first.

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

Crazy as it sounds I would rock out as a guest artist doing a couple covers with another favourite, Linkin Park, R.I.P. Chester Bennington. That dude inspired me to screamo. Afterwards, I would do a throwback with Metallica on something like “One” then jump on a song with new artists like Lil Jon, Waka Flocka, XXXTentacion, OG Maco etc. They know how to Rage and kill it. Then end the show with a few of my bangers.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

I have a huge project in the works with a grammy nominated music producer of the one of biggest music television shows on the planet right now but I can’t say anymore.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Geeking out on the internet, skill winning. All W’s!

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?

I’m just going with what the universe allows. I love music and I absolutely I’m in love with writing songs and spoiling the hell out of wife and family. It’s that full circle thing.

Exposed Vocals: Any Shout-outs?

The list would be endless but for starters every single artist that has directly influenced me in which is a picture posted on my Instagram page up on the wall. Those who know me directly and always have been a support. Down since day one.