During an interview with XXL magazine, Houston, Texas rapper Z-Ro didn’t hesitate in sharing his honest opinion on the current state of the Hip Hop scene in his hometown. While speaking with the publication, the rapper revealed that Houston rap hasn’t “been in a good place since 2004.”
He then attributed the scene’s decline to a lack of unity and togetherness due to everyone “doing their own thing.”
“Man, Houston rap ain’t been in a good place since 2004 in my opinion,” Z-Ro said. “Again, I’m gonna say this my opinion, but we’re not together up here. Everybody’s doing their own thing. I ain’t pointing no fingers ’cause I’m the main one doing my own thing, but there ain’t no togetherness in the music. I’ve been saying that for years. Everybody wanna be the man by themselves and there’s no synergy working. I mean, it’s cool everybody can pay they bills, but I mean, our rap scene’s fucked up. It’s not a music city anymore. We’ve got a lot of people doing a lot of good music here, but everyone wanna be the man by themselves. So really, it’s like a bunch of Crips and Bloods. In my opinion, [it’s] kill or be killed. There ain’t no unity in this muthafucka. It’s fucked up.”
Z-Ro also spoke on what now appears to be a shelved project with fellow Houstonian, Slim Thug. According to the Texas wordsmith, it was suggested that the pair divide the 42 songs they did record in half and use them for solo projects.
“To tell you the truth, your guess and everybody else’s guess is as good as mine,” he said. “Where shit stands right now, we were 42 songs into recording some shit. All of a sudden, it was brought to me that we should split the songs in half and just put them on our individual solos. Last time I visited the situation, that’s what it was. So I’ve just been focusing on getting this Z-Ro shit ready ’cause it looks like that shit is up in the air right now.”
In regards to his own new project, Melting The Crown, Z-Ro was asked what fans can expect from the album. He revealed that the project will boast more singing and will be “a refreshing product for the fans.”
“Like you said, the new album’s Melting The Crown,” the rapper said. “My hardcore fans and some of my new fans, they’re gonna appreciate the project. There’s more singing on there, but I’m still doing my thing lyrically. It’s basically me with just a lot more creative control. You know how that goes, sometimes [labels] won’t let you put out the song you want to. This is kind of like the first time I didn’t run into any roadblocks and could be as creative as I wanted. It’s gonna be a refreshing product for the fans.”
texas music as a whole has been in the shitter since 04
Houston a music city? Hahahaha. NYC’s never really considered the South a real contender in rap. West Coast yeah, but not the bastardized rap-club ish coming out from the Southern states.
yeah and new york has given us what since 2000? asap? shmurda? frenchie? azalea banks? gimme a game changer….ill wait
what game changer has the south had since UGK
Don’t read that comment like they speak for all NYC & respond to it because you’ll be the fool too. The game is following trends, not groundbreaking them because just like Houston, Detroit gets no love either. Let the clowns like the original poster keep talking that same internet story from the last 8 years because they don’t get to travel and see different states’ music scenes for their own eyes.
Houston rap always been extremely good, even compared to golden age east and west runs
wouldn’t really consider anything on rap-a-lot “bastardized rap-club ish” especially Ro
Shut yo bitch azz up #EastCoast is the headquarters for the illuminati. We got God down in the south no need for devil worship #BiggBodyKaos #SaidIt
MO CITY DON
I love Houston! We are getting a lot of $$$ down here and our houses are huge on acres! Plus we have an openly gay and progressive mayor!
Hey, the man is speakin’ from HIS point of view. He been rappin’ forever, and he FINALLY gettin’ some shine outside his city. During the “Still Tippin” era, it seems like everybody in Houston was rockin’ together, then when Pimp C came home it was even stronger. But now he sayin’ its not like that. Shit, Trae Tha Truth is his cousin and they haven’t did anything lately. I was lookin’ forward to that Slim Thug/Z-Ro album. Ro keep doing your thang and keep droppin’ them bangaz and come up to DC and do a show soon……..DC fucks wit’ The Mo City Don.
Ain’t been feeling those last few Ro albums. He needs to get off that bouncy shit and get back to spitting that shit like on Life of JWV or the Still Livin’ Leftovers.
My favorite song with Ro is Songs in the Radio with The Frontman.
My favorite song with Ro is Songs on the Radio by Tue Frontman.