No Way You Can Win

From the streets of Cali-forn-i-a, comes a focused young talent by the name of Roccett. He’s absolutely and definitely 100% his own man. Yea he runs with USDA and Jeezy’s CTE label. Sure he’s recorded bangers with some of your favorite spittas. But, he stands on his own, along with his team of advisers better known as TEAM ROCCETT. Ride with us as we take you through his foundation, his passions and his burgeoning future. By the way – it’s R-O-C-C-E-T-T – b*tch!

So for those that don’t know Roccett talk to us about where you grew up? What was your upbringing like and all that?

Well you know, I’m from the West Coast man; Carson, CA. For those that don’t know I represent the West. You already know I’m down and affiliated with Corporate Thugs Entertainment (CTE), that’s Young Jeezy’s label and I go hard man. I’m just trying to do me and get it in you know?

Tell us a little bit about how you linked with Jeezy and the whole CTE situation?

I mean Jeezy’s my man. We have similar homies in the streets. He seen me a couple times I seen him. He came down to the West Coast, heard some of my music, opened up the music and he was with me on the spot.

So, if you weren’t rapping what else would you be doing?

(Laughs) I don’t know if I could say it over the phone, but it probably wouldn’t be legal…

What do you think about the current state of Hip Hop? Do you think it’s in a good space right now? What would you change about the industry?

I think Hip Hop now is more gimmick. I feel like artists don’t really put their emotions in their music. Not knocking anybody else, or knock the way they get paid. But, to me it’s menstrual. I feel you should make your music off of things you experienced, things you’ve seen, things you’ve gone through in your life. That’s what Hip Hop is to me. Everybody has their own terms and their own reasons, so I respect that. But for me hip-hop is personal.

Yea, I agree! That’s how ‘Pac did it…people would say that ‘Pac wasn’t the most lyrical. But, because of the passion he put in his music…

Right, it was real personal, it was real intimate.

So, that’s kind of the lane you’re looking to fill?

Oh most definitely, you know I feel like all the greats ran through that lane. From Jay-Z to ‘Pac to B.I.G to T.I. to Jeezy to whoever you want to talk about. They’re personal with their music and that’s why everybody has longevity in the music industry.

Every interview we do, we try to determine which artists are sneakerheads being that we’re a sneaker lifestyle mag. So do you consider yourself a sneakerhead; or just a n*gga that’s fly and rocks the dopest shit out?

I mean you know, I’ve been fly all my life. The music ain’t make me fly. If it’s hot and I feel like I can rock it, I’m a make it happen.

What brand of gear do you prefer rocking? Is it Crooks & Castles, Undefeated or the more traditional shit like Roc-a-Wear, LRG, Lexani, Akademiks?

Ah man, let me tell you I got a fresh pair of Nike’s on, a cold pair of Levi’s with a plain white tee on. That’s what I got on right now. It depends on what kind of mood I’m in. Sometimes it calls for a little dressing up. I might throw on a little Louis that I got too. I like to rock my green Nike hoodie with the crazy kicks. I’m really plain, but I know how to make it work. I feel like when you got too much going on…I don’t consider that fly, I consider that crazy. I like to keep it plain and simple, but still have a little flavor to it.

Being that you’re a West Coast dude, are you into Chuck T’s?

Ah, yea. C’mon baby! Chuck T’s…I grew up off of them. Dickies and Chucks…at one time that’s all I ever wore. I would never change my clothes. I would just buy a new pair of Dickies and a new pair of Chuck’s every day.

So I hear you used to play basketball up until you were 16. If you were still getting it in, what kind of player would you consider yourself to be like? LeBron, Kobe, D-Wade or somebody else?

I would consider myself a Chris Paul.

…aight!

Nah mean…I feel like when you’re the point guard, you run the show. It’s almost like the quarterback. You gotta get everybody else going before you get going. That was my goal! At the end of the night I just wanted to win. I felt like with all my friends, they didn’t want to win. But, I feel like me and CP3 got a lot in common. You gotta to tell him I need that one-on-one though. I’ll catch him in New Orleans or something, and we go one-on-one. You feel me? (Laughs)

So, let’s say you were in the league, who would you get a sneaker deal with for your signature Roccett shoe?

I’d have to go with Nike. I feel like if you’re gonna do it, you gotta do it all the way big. They’re the biggest shoe brand…they’re so out there. I wouldn’t want to get under the Jordan Brand; and it’s nothing wrong with Jordan’s. I would just want to create my own name and have my own lane. I feel like when you’re representing somebody else’s, even though you’re representing yourself, you’re still representing them also. So, I just want to represent me and let the world know that I’m my own man.

So some of your jawns give me that classic West Coast, hard body feeling. But you seem pretty versatile as well. So when the public talks about Roccett, what lane are they putting him in?

Let me tell you…I would never let a label, or any individual dictate my lane. They could never do that to me. I’d make independent music before I let that happen. I’m a make my music from my heart. So, when you hear me, and I got a song and I feel it ain’t hitting…I’m a just go hardcore. That’s what mood I’m in at that time in my life. If I make a song for a movie, that’s because of the mood I was in at the time. So when you hear my album, you’re getting an album from all perspectives of life. Everyday you’re still dreaming about something. Some days you wake up and you don’t wanna go to work, but you go. Some days you wanna hang your boss. Some days you like your boss. So, everything’s different and I’m gonna give you a variety of things on my album.

How’s the solo project coming along? When can we expect that?

It’s going crazzzzy! You know, I done worked with almost every major artist in the game. A lot of people! I haven’t had the luxury of working with Dr. Dre and Jay-Z yet. But, as far as the Jeezys, the Fabs, the Rick Rosses and the heavyweights of the game. Those are my guys! But, I don’t wanna give you a lot of features on my album. I need you to learn a little about me. If I got an album full of features I might as well be a DJ. Nah mean? So, I need to give you all of me. The full and uncut Roccett man, and I hope the fans love it.

What about the USDA album, how’s that going? When can we expect that?

It’s going real right now. We’re in the lab working on that. That should be coming out hopefully in the summertime. It’s a lot of variety on there. You got southern artists, west coast artists, and we’re doing our thing. We’re going in!

What producers and artist’s have you worked with already other than the obvious?

Jeezy, Young Buck, Akon…me and Jada supposed to do a record that’ll come out soon. I’m in with the heavyweights a lot man, and I’m glad they like my music. I basically collabed with everybody. But, hopefully Dre and Jay soon though.

What do you think of the new wave of cats coming out of Cali like CurT@!n$, Fly Society, Pac Div, U-N-I, Dom Kennedy, etc.?

I love it! I think it’s beautiful. I think everything needs a “breath of fresh air”. You know everybody loves the OG’s and respect the OGs. But, that’s why they’re OGs. They did this already. Everybody coming out man, I respect them and I wish everybody the best.

Some rappers say they want their first album to be classic like Dre’s Chronic, Nas’ Illmatic and Jay’s Reasonable Doubt. Others say they just want to introduce themselves to the world. How do you want your album received?

It’s gotta be a classic! But, not just my first, my second too…and my third, and then my fourth, and then my fifth. All of them gotta be classics. I’m in it to win! And I’m in it to make to incredible music. I want my fans to love every one of my albums like it’s my last or my first. That’s my goal man. I wanna make incredible music and I want my fans and the world to love it.

So, what’s next for Roccett; touring, mixtapes, movies, blogs, websites?

I’m a be touring with my boy Jeezy, getting around the world, getting it in. I got the Another Day, Another Dollar mixtape with DJ Scream. I got my Chronic 2009 mixtape coming out soon (for the summer). I got my social networking website www.Iamroccett.com. My twitter @Iamroccett; you can Google me, You Tube me. You can hit me on Myspace – myspace.com/roccett. So that’s what I’m doin’. If you’re lookin’ for me it’s R-O-C-C-E-T-T.