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MyspaceINTERVIEW: ROMEY
November 12th, 2006 | Written by: Jackson Published in Interviews, Music
THE CHICAGO TAKEOVER
Chicago up & comer Romey shoots the breeze with TOUR-MAG on grinding to the top in today’s music industry.
Rap Music is experiencing a metamorphosis that takes place in any solid structure that loses its appeal. People all over the country are wondering what has happened to this street based phenomenon that reached great heights both socially and economically. Many constantly reflect on back in the day rhymes from their favorite old school artists while they wait for the next lyrical talent to hit the stage. Sometimes we have to search far and wide to find that special someone as if we’re looking for a relationship.
Every so often an artist will emerge from the underground with talent that can’t be denied. Chicago, throughout the years, has always produced songwriters and performers who have hypnotized audiences with memorizing showmanship in the music industry. Rap Artist Romey from the Windy-City just might be that element needed to re-shape Rap Music. Romey proclaimed himself to be, “The Michael Jordan of The Rap Game” and he is here to re-direct Rap Music back on track and show that his voice is what’s missing in the music industry.
TOUR: Where are you from?
Romey: I’m from the south side of Chicago and the name of my neighborhood is called Roseland also known as The Wild Hundreds.
TOUR: Did you have any role models coming up?
Romey: My role models were hustlers man! I looked up to the cats who was hustling in the streets in my neighborhood. They were like Robin Hood so to speak in the fact that they committed crimes or hustled for there money, but they also threw BBQ’s for the hood, had block parties for the hood, and they always had money. People I looked up to was not on television, I looked up to the dudes that was on the streets with nice cars, nice clothes, jewelry and having fly women hanging around them.
TOUR: Even though you lived in that environment didn’t you wish you could do something else or be like someone else outside of that environment?
Romey: That didn’t happen to me until I reached high school. Actually I didn’t want to leave my neighborhood to tell you the truth. When I left Chicago for a while, my perspective changed, my peoples was getting scholarships to college, I was playing ball, and I realized what else life had to offer.
TOUR: I understand your mom was a hustler and got locked up when you were young, what was that like?
Romey: I was about eleven years old at the time she got busted and went to jail and that forced me and my sisters to have to move too Memphis to live with our Aunt. After six months we had to move again this time we went to live with our father in Milwaukee. I attended high school and started hustling again myself. You would think since my moms was in jail I would’ve stayed away from that game but I felt that was the only way I knew how to get money.
TOUR: So how did you jump from the streets to rhyme slinging?
Romey: It wasn’t until a friend of mine at school introduced me to rap music. My partner at that time knew about my past. He thought Jay-Z and I had similar backgrounds and he had me listen to Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt album. It was from that point on I wanted to do something different with my life. I related to the music and my peoples and other classmates would always tell me I was nice on the mic, so I began to rap and develop my style as an MC. The way I see it is that I had to move into a new environment for me to change. Once I moved from Chicago I started to see things differently. Traveling and seeing the way other people were living helped me expand my mind.
TOUR: Did you attend school and when did you ?
Romey: Yeah I went to school and I played ball. I balanced being a student, an athlete, and a hustler.
TOUR: Now did you take any voice training while coming up?
Romey: No! This is all me on my own. I was self-coached. I just spent a lot of time in the booth working on my cadence, delivery, and flow.
TOUR: Just checking! How tall are you Romey?
Romey: I’m 6′7″
TOUR: Why music…why didn’t you try to play ball?
Romey: I did play ball. A matter a fact I had a division one scholarship offers. I could’ve gone to Jackson State, Alabama State, Robert Morris, and a few other schools. I didn’t put my all into my studies or even my all into being a basketball player at the time.
TOUR: Ok so let me get this straight. You moved from Chicago after your mother was incarcerated for selling narcotics l moved to Memphis to live with your Aunt. That didn’t work out so you and your two siblings were sent to live in Milwaukee with your father where you received inspiration to rap. So tell me what state do you rep?
Romey: Man I’m from Chicago. If I go to Japan I’m still from Chicago.
TOUR: We have some strong influences in the music business that emerged from Chi-town. As a new artist in the game do you feel any pressure on you as far as trying to measure up to the success of those artists before you?
Romey: No…not at all! The beautiful thing about it is Kanye is Kanye! Common is Common and Twista is Twista! We have all these great, talented artists from Chicago and they all bring something different to the table. With me I believe I bring that smooth hustler type story to the table. So I believe I’m creating my own little niche from the mid-west, Chicago area, I deliver the message from my experiences from the street game to the rap game. So to answer your question…No I don’t feel any pressure! No pressure at all!
TOUR: Do you have representation?
Romey: Of course I do. I have my legal reps and I have my manager, Rick Edwards, who is holding me down even while I sleep.
TOUR: Why is it important to have a manager?
Romey: Choosing your manager is one of the most important part of your decision making. He or she is your first line of defense from everybody. Against shady lawyers, against people who try to give me shady deals. Rick is like my older brother, business partner and everything else. Rick believes in me because he understands the vision and he sees how passionate I am about my career. We are trying to build an empire.
TOUR: Are you an Emcee who entertains or are you an entertainer who Emcees?
Romey: I’m a Emcee who entertains because my music is 100 percent real, no gimmicks, no formula, and no tricks.
TOUR: Do you write your own lyrics?
Romey: Yeah I write every single word! All of it!
TOUR: What message do you what rap fans to get from your music?
Romey: A sense of truth, sincerity and originality.
TOUR: In your opinion what’s wrong with the rap game right now if anything?
Romey: In my opinion there are to many people in this business just out to get money and not for the art of making music.
TOUR: What do you like most about the music industry?
Romey: It feeds families and creates many other business opportunities.
TOUR: You’ve been called The Michael Jordan of the Rap Game. Do you consider yourself to be the best Rap Artist coming out today?
Romey: I feel like I am bringing a whole lot to the table. I do feel I am within the elite as far as NEW ARTISTS in the game. I have too much respect for the MC’s that pathed the way for me to say I am the BEST ARTIST in the game. However, I am here to make history and my goal is too end up on the list of Top Hip Hop artists ever before I leave the game.
TOUR: Hold up - so Romey it is safe to say that you’re gonna set the Hip-Hop World on fire with your lyrical skills….this is what you’re telling me?
Romey: Yes, I want to make history.
TOUR: Ok! Ok! I look forward to your performance. So that means you think you can make a difference in the rap game?
Romey: Yes, My music is going to be food for thought and it’s gonna be delivered to you in a clever way. The power of my tongue is more powerful than a gun. I am gonna educate and inspire through my music.
TOUR: Lets take a minute to talk about DJ Sickamore. How did you meet him?
Romey: I met him through a business partner in New York. He heard the music and liked it and we worked on a project together.
TOUR: What role has he played in your music career?
Romey: We did a mix tape/DVD together, The Chicago Takeover. He co signed the project and my music.
TOUR: For music lovers who just heard of you for the first time where can they go to checkout your music?
Romey: People can check me at: /www.myspace.com/getrichrecords
TOUR: Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Romey: I see my company in the same light as BADBOY, ROC-A-FELLA and other music greats in the game. I have other artists under the GET RICH RECORDS umbrella and the focus is to make great music for years to come.
TOUR: You have alot of work ahead of you but with Rick Edwards in your corner your dream can become a reality. Now what advise can you give to someone trying to break into the music business?
Romey: Keep God first and keep good people around you that will be honest and truthful. Work hard and pursue your dreams
Thanks for the Interview Jackson and Shouts to the Entire Get Rich Records family… Make Sure you check out my newest projects: THE MIDWEST VERSION OF CHICAGO TAKEOVER, HOSTED BY DJ G SPOT, ROMEY: G MIX HOSTED BY DJ CHUCK T, CHICAGO GANGSTERS HOSTED BY DJ SEAN MAC…
TOUR: I believe you will have a long career ahead of you!
HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS
