RO DOLLA BIO
“I never grew up with dreams of being a superstar, Never thought of giving up so much to get this far, All I ever wanted was my parents to be happy, Drive a Coupe Deville 70s Caddi, With my music touching the worldâ€-70’s Child
It takes a certain type of man to stand confidently alone and stand comfortably beside his peers. Ro Dolla is one of these rarities a charismatic individual and a perceptive team player. He’s very humble when asked about his affiliation with the members of his crew and some of Hip Hops best-known artists. Stating “If it wasn’t for some of my crew members guidance, who knows how far I would of come or if I would have ever chased my dream at allâ€.
Yet this rapper/producer also loves basking in the solo spotlight, as proven by his acclaimed breakout single You’ve Changed (from Baby Blue Soundcrew’s Private Party Collectors Edition Vol. 1). Now Ro’s positioned to let his voice be heard by the masses armed with his lyrics, music and a guiding quote by Sir Henry Royce: “Strive for perfection in everything you do. Take the best that exists and make it betterâ€.
When it does not exist, design it. It was only a few years ago that Ro was taking (and making) complaints in the customer call center of the Ford Motor Company. I used to hear a whole bunch of complaints from people about their cars, he recalls. Then I used to call up my friends complaining that I had to get out of this and do music full time. Finally I decided to take the leap, to work hard and pursue my dream. Ro’s dream started early by listening to the sounds of Curtis Mayfield, Bob Marley, Rick James, The Jackson’s, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Al Green and Millie Jackson. His mothers gentle urging helped take his aspirations a step past wishful thinking.
Remembers Ro: My mom said: “Well, you’ve always been passionate about music, why don’t you learn an instrument?†“It wasn’t until I started practicing the piano that I became more in tuned with music. After that, I really didn’t want to leave it aloneâ€. He studied classical piano for eight years at the New Conservatory of Music and picked up the guitar in high school. It was during these formative years that Ro also joined a budding creative alliance, known as The Circle. Uniting with Kardinal Offishall, Solitair, Saukrates, Choclair, Jully Black, Tara Chase, and others, he became a member of Canada’s most successful and renowned hip-hop collective.
“I’ve always loved being around so many talented people,†Ro says. “Since we have all grown up together, we know each others capabilities and continually push each other to do better, whether it pertains to music or just becoming a better and more wiser individualâ€. Lyrically, Ro is a dynamic storyteller. He excels at observation and grounds his verses in the reality around him.
Ferociously writing his narratives on paper, napkin, skin, and sometimes even leaving ideas on his answering machine, he spins these words into concepts such as a love story (Cosmopolitan) or examining the same situation from two perspectives (N***aims) But Ro explains there’s a commonality in all his songs: “In my music, no matter what I talk about, there’s always some sort of message left behind for the listener to grab a hold ontoâ€. So far he’s contributed to three gold-selling albums in Canada: Choclair’s Juno Award-winning Ice Cold and both volumes of the Baby Blue Soundcrew’s Private Party Collectors Edition.
Ro also leaves a positive vibe with the many audiences he touches itching for more. Whether it’s rocking an intimate club setting or commanding an arena of thousands, Ro loves feeding off the energy of a hype crowd. He’s toured across Canada and various spots in the states and Europe with his fellow Black Jays Comrades Kardinal and Solitair, which has enabled his talent to shine on its own and also amongst his peers but because of his musical background, Ro knew he didn’t simply want to rhyme over music; he wanted to create it.
In ‘96 Kardinal sat Ro in front of an ASR-10 and the rest was history. Out came neck-snapping hip-hop, house music to stir your soul and deep funk that broke all the rules. Nowadays, Ro is the accomplished sound architect for his own music and has been able to co-produce tracks with Saukrates for various American heavyweights (Redman, Kurupt, Frank n Dank, J-Ro of the Alcoholiks and E3) and some of Canada’s elite (Choclair and Da Grassroots) and one of UK’s Dance music sensation “Marinaâ€.
Ro also unleashes a new breed of funk as a member of Big Black Lincoln (Saukrates, Agile of Brassmunk, T.R.A.C.K.S. and Shakari). With hits like Pimpin' Life (showcasing Ro’s Curtis Mayfield-influenced background vocals) and She Was This all culminates into a solid track record that has earned Ro respect from the industry and his fellow musicians.
Says Kardinal Offishall: “Ro Dolla is a phenomenon that can only be compared to the likes of every elite talent our country has produced. He is as equally versed in production as he is in rocking the micâ€. As Ro prepares for his anticipated solo release entitled North Hollywood, he’s realized it’s not just his peers who want to shower him with encouraging words. Since the release of the single You’ve Changed, which tells the tale of a young woman limited by the trappings of glamour and glitz, Ro’s been stopped by both males and females who has been touched by his song.
“Up to this day, I still get an overwhelming responseâ€, Ro admits. “It lets me know how much of a demand there is for my music and what I have to offer on a whole. Not only because of the songs success, but also because of how much influence it had on people’s lives. It really lets me know that there is a place for my music on this earthâ€.
