24: Lets begin with you telling our readers your name and where you come from.
RoGizz: My name is RoGizz and I’m from Chicago, IL.
24: How long have you been working in your profession?
R: I’ve been making music about 15 years. I always knew I had a gift for detailing stories, creating rhythms, relating strong emotions and writing poetic lines about it.
24: Who are some of the people you have worked with in the past?
R: I’ve worked with a diverse group of folks from Marquis of 2 Live Crew to Ice-T’s producer Marc Live to Cappadonna from the Wu. I also collaborated with a lot of interesting people during my time at Dreamworks as well.
24: Who would you like to work in in the future?
R: I would enjoy working with Common because he is a lyrical genius. He has no fear of discussing controversial topics with quick wit and brutal honesty. As an artist, there is nothing to compare with that. He is in a league of his own…a living legend!
24: Who was your inspiration for you when you decided to peruse a career in entertainment?
R: To be honest, my inspiration was my life. It started to feel like a movie at times just being me. The good and the bad! It inspired me to write about it. It was an outlet. At the same time, I was getting praise and acclaim by being able to turn these poems into high-powered song verses. This made me go even harder with my music.
24: In your Bio you mentioned that you once had a deal with DreamWorks. Tell your fans the story about how you got that deal.
R: I was in a negative state of mind at that time because I had a few women who certain guys would spend their money for some personal company. I took that same business concept and created a song called “I’m a Pimp”. After I performing the song at Howard University Homecoming for the late Jheryl Busby, my manager and I were flown out to L.A. that next week. Being in Cali is where I learned about all the high and lows of the music industry.
24: How long have you’ve been writing music?
R: Since I was a kid, I have always liked writing poetry and short stories. Music is a more expressive way of saying it. I have relished reading a good novel, writing and debating current events in the world.
24: What is the newest material you’re working on now?
R: My current album I am promoting features my vengeful alter ego, Black Blago. It is called “RoGizz vs. Black Blago” and is available via itunes and amazon. My issue with Blago is trying to help him understand that pimping poor people is just plain wrong. He’s greedy, sneaky and has a weird infatuation with his hair. On the album, I basically discuss love, hope and understanding. These are all the key elements necessary in becoming the perfect you. I also have a special project I’m working on for black history month. Slave mentality is coming soon.
24: Tell your fans where they can find out more information bout your next project?
R: You can go to my official website: www.rogizz.com. I am also developing a new site called Imtheperfectme.com where I will be blogging and ustreaming about what’s important to me and different things I can share to inspire someone to be a better person too. Positivity is life in its abundance. It is about being healthy, happy, focused and excited about each and every day.
24: Want to give any shout outs?
R: Shout out to my in-house producers Sherm2thaizzo, 110% Pure, Streety Wonder, Ekim, S.C. and Tree G. Oh yeah, shout out to a couple other cold wordsmiths my homie Paypa of Project Mayhem and Qwik Witts from Milwaukee.
24: Elaborate on how you decided to title your work as such and the connection you have to it in your life.
R: Well, Black Blago is the ugly side of me that I have found difficult to control. I live and love very deeply. But sometimes, it is only natural to get played by a golddigger or just people in general. I can usually tell when Blago is agitated because I might feel the urge to concoct a new money-making scheme or wanna recruit some sexy new meat to put on the street and make that gwap. He is the polar opposite of what I represent as a person. Kids killing each other for gym shoes. Black men selling drugs, robbing, killing or being pimps are the only way to be successful. Black women living on welfare and not wanting education. Folks living in debt. No jobs and losing their homes. The album depicts us battling back and forth over whose value system would benefit people the most in today’s society.
24: How do you feel about piracy on the web and how do you plan to address it in your business model?
R: I think people pay for the person. They have to believe in you and want to support you. I have 2 different personalities so I always have to reassure people that love / virtue in music will always win. Pirating music is just like somebody coming to your house and stealing a plate of food right off your dinner table. I am sure that a lot of Wall Street protestors can relate to this. But, we also live in a society where if you can get something for free you are gonna take it! In the end though, I always believe good quality music prevails.
@rogizz
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