Z-ro was born Joseph Wayne McVey IV on January 19th, 1977. The 45 year old rapper, songwriter, and record producer was named one of America's most underrated rappers in the history of hip hop by New York Times in 2007. He grew up in the streets of Houston, Texas which shaped him into the man he is today. Z-ro’s talent has given him the ability to stand out amongst some of the greatest rappers in the industry. Anyone can make a hit record but few can make an impact on society like Z-ro has. In his early career he was affiliated with DJ Screw and the Screwed Up Click (SUC) and also a original member of the Screwed Up Click, to working with Slim Thug, Z-ro’s accomplishments easily rival that of mainstream artists. His influence can be seen from coast to coast whether it be from his collaboration with UGK or being performed on New York radio. The fact that he has stayed so true to his roots shows us that he will always remain an important part of hip hop culture.
Before there was astartedn S.U.C., there was Rap-A-Lot Records, and before there was an S.U.C, Z-ro was in the rap game. He started his music career in 1994 with Fisherboy Records, but soon left to pursue other options in his career. In 2000, Z-ro released his first solo album titled "Z-Ro vs. The World", which is his best selling album of all time and is considered one of the best rap albums of all times. Although he has released over 15 studio albums since then, he still hasn't received the appreciation he deserves.
If you've never heard of Z-ro, it's time to get familiar. He's also known as the "Mo City Don" because he's a member of the historic South Park Coalition (SPC) rap group. He has collaborated with some of the most notable rappers in hip hop including: Scarface, Big Hawk, Jay'Ton, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Guerilla Maab, Tanya Herron, Lil' Flip and more.
Z-ro released five albums from 2001 to 2005 before his debut album "Let the Truth Be Told" made it to number 79 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2009 he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for his appearance on UGK's song "Still Ridin' Dirty". He has also received three nominations from BET Hip Hop Awards and three from Ozone Awards throughout his career.
Z-Ro released his first EP under The Mo City Don named tripolar in 2013. Then in 2015, releasing his first proper studio album in three years, named "Melting the crown." 2017, Z-ro announced his retirement and released "No Love Boulevard" in June, his final album. He came back out of retirement 6 months later following a release album named "Codeine", which was released later that same year. He went on to release six more albums throughout 2018 from 2022, with the most recent being titled "Morpheus Dream".
Z-Ro is a true Houston legend. In his long career, he’s solidified his place in the hearts of Houston music fans and paved the way for other great artists to come out of the city. On top of that, he’s been able to bridge the gap between the older and younger generations of rap artists. His passion for music shines through in everything he does, whether it’s rapping or teaching. If you have any interest in rap as an art form, his body of work is a must-listen.
Go check out his website and hear everything new Z-Ro drops first hand @
www.Themocitydon.com
Instagram @ https://instagram.com/z_ro?utm_medium=copy_link
