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Interview with Roc C

by size 13 / Published September 28‚ 2006 at 11:43am

"I’m the type of person to keep it moving and never really trip of the past because so much shit has gone on through my life. I really don’t dwell on the past. "
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You may have first seen his name on Oh No’s and the late, great J-Dilla produced 2005 single ‘Move Part 2’ single. Having rhymed for twenty years plus, Roc C has been on the grind, working hard at establishing a style on the mic to call his own. He came up with the CDP crew (Madlib, J-Ro, Aloe Black, DJ Romes, Wildchild, Kankick) in Southern California, has been influenced by west coast and east coast legends and has just released his debut album ‘All Questions Answered’ on ‘Stones Throw’. Never content with mediocrity and with plans for a string of further releases, Roc C is set to carve out his own path in Hip Hop. He will always stay true to the experiences, influences and lessons learnt through the environments that have shaped him both as a person and as an MC.

You grew up with the CDP crew in Oxnard.
What are the memories of these times that spring to mind when looking back?

Moving from Chicago to Southern California and becoming a member of the CDP crew, I’ve seen a lot - from never seeing anything other then blacks whites and Puerto Ricans until I moved to California, where there were mountains, good weather all year, different lingo - all that was new to me. It was like living in a different world

You said in an interview on http://www.hiphopgame.com/ that you haven’t reached your peak as of yet. What would you consider the peak of your career to be?

I guess for me, my peak would be six album’s, bringing up everyone I’m down with and helping them to stand on there own, being able to accomplish everything I want out of this journey and still have my respect for myself as a person and a artist. I’m trying to make the history books.

You went through 220 songs with Oh No when compiling the tracks on this release, before settling on the final 16 on ‘All Questions Answered’.
Looking back are there tracks in retrospect you wish you included?

Going over those 220 songs was really nothing because we have more songs then that and we do songs on the daily. For this project it was simple Oh No was like do you, whatever your feeling or where ever you want to take this, I’ve got your back.
That’s myself, Oh No in a nut – shell, regardless of music whatever he do in life I’ve got his back and vice versa.

Which track off your debut album means the most to you?

The track of the album that means the most to me personally is ‘My Life’ featuring aloe black for the simple fact its the first time I had to sit back and reflect on life from the womb to the present and me. I’m the type of person to keep it moving and never really trip of the past because so much shit has gone on through my life. I really don’t dwell on the past. However I felt that for the first time I had to tell my story my way and I think it came out just how I envisioned. It’s funny because Oh No was like ‘you need a song about your life’ and one hour later the song was created.

I know you’ve spoken about it before, however breakdown what was going through your head when you were in the studio with Chino XL for the ‘El Capitan’ remix.

First off, I’ve got to say big-ups to my big homies Chino Xl, Sway and Tech those three welcomed me to be apart of there family after my first encounter with them on ‘The World Famous Wake Up show’. I’ve been a fan of all three of those cats since the jump so doing that song with Chino was big for me to me it verified what I felt from the jump is that my CDP crew belongs, not just on a local or underground scene. Chino was chino on the song (a beast) and that’s the only way to have it

The track came together through Sway of ‘The World Famous Wake Up Show’?

The song came together because of the guys. After I left The Wake Up show for the first time they where real impressed. I’m having one of my many phone calls with Tech. I call him all day and ask questions about the business and furthering careers. He said over the phone I’m digging the ‘El Capitan’ joint I think you and Chino would be monsters on a track. You are the man on West we see as doing it big on a major plain, Chino is the man, pair you two up and see what the result is. We got a hit. Chino has taken me under his wing and looks out for his little homie. As far as I’m concerned - Sway, Tech, and Chino XL, I’ve got unconditional love for those cats like my CDP crew.

Kankick produced ‘Pop Off’. What was your aim with this track?

I was narrowing down all the producers that I wanted to mess with and I took the approach i want this album to be crew production besides the typical Stones Throw formula. Kankick is part of the CDP crew and I feel that he, Oh No, Romes don’t get the props they deserve as producers so I decided that I would keep it Oxnard and show cats my whole click got major talent. I said to Kankick ‘ I need a beat and he gave me this beat cd and the first track on there was ‘Pop Off’ and I fell in love with it my people know which beats will bring what emotion out of me so the beat came on and I just attacked it.

Ghetto is a powerful song. How did it come about?

Oh No is like a brother, I can say out of all the crew he probably knows me the best. ‘Ghetto’ was a track that made me reflect on my youth through my teenage years talking about myself living in the ghetto and making it out of that part of the Ghetto.
I still live hood but it’s on a different level now. I just felt a lot of cats that I know or don’t know have felt or feel that way. It was a song for those people.

Which verse of yours on the album are you most happy with?

I’m happy with all of them. They’re all me (100%) each rap is different and deals with a different subject. That album is my first child so to speak

Jay Dee (R.I.P.) was a good friend of yours. What are some of the fondest memories that you have of him?

Honestly the Jay Dee thing is hard for me for the fact I’ve had too many soilders taken away from me these past few years and my relationship with Dilla was unique to me because I was more into him because of the person he was. It was based on more than music. Our conversations would be over a blunt and just clowning, not even really talking music. He believed in me as a person and that means a lot to me. I remember Dilla dancing, gliding around the floor doing that Dilla dance with a Red Vine in his mouth, playing his latest shit or talking about the plan me him and Oh No were coming up with to take over this game. I talk to Dilla everyday, there are pictures all over my house my phone and I don’t hop in my car with out the homies voice on a cd, but I’m glad my brother is in a better place and getting those beat cds ready for cats. R.I.P my brother Dilla, you will be here forever big dog

You’ve got two releases you’re shopping right now. One is with Oh No and the other with Madlib, has there been any interest?

I got a few projects, but right now I’ve got this 93033rd album, which is Oh No’s and my group. We have our album done. We are just waiting on the right situation The Madlib project we are still working on it. Cats are already hitting me on it - hahaha Chino XL and I are about to do a mixtape. J-Rocc and I are our finishing our mixtape. Projects are not the problem. The problem is finding the right lane for the projects. Any labels that might be interested - holler at your boy

What do you think about people’s preconceptions of your music?

I don’t get mad if somebody says ‘oh Roc C sucks’. Who Cares? I do this for myself, everyone who has ever felt or go through the things I’ve gone through. This is therapy for me. Its funny because at first it used to bother me, then it took 30 seconds to get over and see it in the following light, everybody has got an opinion on something whether they are correct or just full of shit, I’m like this on the real. I got all kinds of raps but I stay true to myself I could be the most third eye cat around but that’s not Roc C. I take my life and put it into words and if somebody else has hate for those words, maybe they don’t live or come from where I’ve come. I refuse to be put in one lane. People grow and go through different things daily. If somebody does not like me 9 times out of 10, I probably don’t like what they’re about either. As long as no one tries to harm my people or I, then I don’t care. I mean if anyone wants to challenge me I won’t back down. It has just got to be worth it to me meaning big cash and an ill take on all comers. Then we can see how many styles a brother got.

Which MC’s on the West are inspiring you in 2006?

The West is on the move to get the respect it deserves and I’m feeling a lot of people’s music from Bishop Lamont. The way he hustles. Also, Glasses Malone, my click, Honestly, if you are on the West Coast trying to put your movement on the map and bring some respect to this coast, I’m riding with you. That’s real talk. I respect all these cats from the bay, all the way out here

What about from the Old and Mid School eras?

I think that’s why I’m a different mc. I’m a fan of Hip Hop, from Kool Herc all the way down to Mc Eiht. I studied nearly everybody from those eras and added my style to it and that is Roc C The best way to describe it is I’m a mix of Cool C and DOC. If you know of those two names and all that they’ve contributed to this music, then you can understand that music is in me and I’m trying to keep that torch burning

Which individuals outside Hip Hop have inspired you and your decisions in life?

My family and my friends have inspired me to put the bullshit on hold and put that same energy into music and see what I get

What’s next for Roc C?

Next for Roc C is pushing this album, this Oh No album that just dropped, trying to setup these shows and finish up this mixtape. Basically, keep grinding so cats can have different avenues then just Stones Throw to get our music heard. As Ii said I’m trying to make history

In your own words how would you describe your style as an MC?

Roc C as a MC is unorthodox but simple and just speaks on his life experiences. Whatever is on his mind he is not afraid to put him self on the line every time

Who did you want to thank?

I would like to thank everyone who has been a part of my life good and bad its all made me what I am today. Oh No, Dilla, Madlib, etc the whole camp. I got y’all niggas but you already know that. My moms and pops for putting up with my crazy ass. See shit happens for a reason. To all my fans and everyone who supports Roc C, hold me down and I’m going to hold y’all up.

Roc C – ‘All Questions Answered’ is out now through ‘Stones Throw’ Recordings.
For more on Roc C visit http://www.myspace.com/rocthisway

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