Rocko has been an entrepreneur since day one, and music is his current hustle. While first coming into the game with the goal of working behind the scenes, he worked with artists such as Young Dro. When he felt nobody was ready to grind as hard as he was, he decided to step up to the plate and take matters into his own hands. Rocko Da Don was born.

Bringing a fresh sound to the table, along with his southern twang, his music speaks to the masses. Featured on the cover of Ozone Magazine while still unsigned, only furthered his cause as it resulted in a phone call from his friend of a few years, Jermaine Dupri, a President at Island/ Def Jam. Now with nothing in his way he is looking to take himself and his Rocky Road imprint straight to the top.

I was just reading Ozone Magazine a few days ago where you were on the cover, and you were unsigned. All of a sudden you’re with Island/Def Jam, when did this happen? 

I don’t remember the exact date it’s been like a month, give or take a week.

How did the deal come about?

JD, I been knowing him for a few years and he reached out and said lets make it happen, so we talked about it and we just made it happen.

What type of situation is it?

Yeah I got a situation where it’s my label, Rocky Road. So it’s Rocky Road/Island. 

How did you make it onto the cover of Ozone Magazine as an unsigned artist?

It was like Julie [Beverly] and them, they been seeing me on my grind. I had a conversation with Julia and she said we wanna put you in the 'Patiently Waiting' section and I was like I'm tryna make this a movement. So Julia and me sat down and we made it happen. It was great, people are asking me to sign the magazine and all that it was real cool.

You’ve been in the game for a while, right?

I have been in the game for 6 or 7 years now.

You originally wanted to play more of an executive role right?

That’s correct.

What made you want to step up and be the superstar?

Because its like with the artist that I was coming across. It was like I wanted it for them more than they wanted it for themselves. It was like I was putting in 100 percent and you’re only giving me 40 or 50 percent, it didn’t weigh up. So I was like you know what, it ain't working. So I got the situation I was in cleared up, I got that straightened out, and I was like I’m gonna do it myself.

You also worked with Young Dro before he was with T.I. How did that relationship start?

We grew up around each other; we knew each other since we were kids. He reached out to me. At the time I had a furniture store and he used to come by the store and he would always be rapping and he had talent and he wasn’t even really rapping like that, so he came around and I was thinking okay he’s nice, so I said what the heck and I started working with him but at the time I didn’t know much about the music industry.

I just jumped into it head first. He was still in the streets doing what he did and we just weren’t seeing eye to eye and he wound up getting arrested, he did a lil' time and I was just like aight I can't handle all that, so it aint really work out.

Do you feel your relationships in the business helped you get to where you are today?

I would say yes, I would definitely say yes.

I know you’re involved in some other businesses. Tell us about those.

I do real estate but I’m slowing down on that though to focus on my music right now and I deal with trucks too.

Is the music business a lot different from your other businesses?

They’re a lot different. From a business man standpoint they’re all the same but as an artist I would say its a lot different because an artist gets a chance to go on the road and promote themselves and interact with their fans and get paid to do that. But like with the truck business, I just lease it out and get a check. I guess it’s just the action and the thrill of wanting to go to work everyday.

What can we expect from your music?

Its gonna be a lot of my experiences a lot of my adventures, a lot of my trials and tribulations, the good and bad times. A couple collabos. Its gonna be a lot of good music.

Being from the South, were you influenced by a lot of Southern artists?

Initially I was, I listened to the local music like UGK, Geto Boys, Scarface, 8ball and MJG, and then I got into NWA in the West Coast, Master P. Then about 1997 or 1998 I got hooked on Jay-Z and New York music. I think that’s what gives me my swag. I listen to everything; I listen to rock and roll and country music. I have friends that all they listen to is hardcore gangster rap. I think that’s what makes my music better.

What are your career goals?

I can’t narrow it down in years but I see myself like Jay-Z, like L.A Reid, how they just did what they did and cashed out. I could see myself doing that.

Did you meet Jay-Z and L.A Reid?

Yeah of course, it was great, it was a life changing experience to be in the same room with these people that you watch for so many years and you watch how they handle their businesss.

Do you feel being on a major label will get you better resources?

Yes to a certain degree as far as marketing and staff and as far as what goes on in the building, but as far as artists and stuff it’s pretty much the same because I had a lot of relationships.

Did you have a lot of offers on the table?

Yeah we had an offer from every label out there right now. All the majors.

And independents as well?

Yeah them too

Why did you decide to go the major route?

Because for me its like, I understand why certain people wanna go the independent route. But people aint buying music so I felt like I need that major label, that machine behind me. If I give it all of my muscle and they give it all they muscle its gonna be big. I contemplated all this I sat down for a while and I made my mind up and that’s what I was gonna do and I got it done

Any artists you’re bringing along right now?

Yeah,  right now I have this artist The Future and I’m developing him, he’s a young kid. He’s real talented. I got couple other artists I’m working with.

What projects do you have coming up?

I have my album Self Made, which is scheduled for a March release and I have a book I’m working on and a movie were working on From Rocks to Riches, and a lot of touring

Do you like touring?

I love it; I can honestly say I love it right now

Any favorite spots?

I can honestly say I had the best time of my life in Bermuda

Anything you’d like to say to the fans out there?

I wanna say thank you for all the support. I appreciate all the love and support, all the radio personalities, and DJ’s, anybody whos helped my movement to get me here today, I appreciate it.