Z-Ro
Encyclopedia
Joseph Wayne McVey better known by his stage name
Z-Ro, is an American
rapper, singer and producer from Houston, Texas
. He was named one of America's most underrated rappers by the New York Times.
, Texas
. When Z-Ro reached his late teens he was unemployed and resorted to drug dealing and hustling on the streets. According to Z-Ro, listening to the music of 2Pac, Geto Boys
, Street Military, K-Rino
and Klondike Kat inspired him to work harder for his goal of leaving the streets. Z-Ro discovered his talent of freestyle rap
ping and after going through a couple of recording studios to make a demo, the CEO of a local label discovered and signed him.
, an assortment of rappers from Houston. All of these things helped to escalate Z-Ro’s popularity throughout the South and by 2002 his talent and hard work caught the attention of Rap-a-Lot
’s founder and CEO James Prince
, who offered him a deal.
In 2004, Z-Ro released his critically acclaimed Rap-a-Lot debut titled The Life of Joseph W. McVey
. The record was a huge success and helped expand Z-Ro’s fan base beyond the South. In 2005, Z-Ro released Let the Truth Be Told, which was well received. Z-Ro's 2006 album I'm Still Livin'
was released while he was imprisoned for drug possession
, to positive reviews. It was called "a great album... powerful" but "relentlessly bleak" by The Village Voice
and "one of the best rap albums to come out of Houston" by the Houston Chronicle
. In 2010 he released his next album titled Heroin. In 2011 album he announced a new album called Rother Vandross Sings The Blues, an all singing album, the lead single is "These Days".
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Z-Ro, is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper, singer and producer from Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He was named one of America's most underrated rappers by the New York Times.
Early life
Z-Ro was born Joseph Wayne McVey in Houston’s notorious South Park neighborhood on January 19, 1977. At age six his mother died, and he was shuttled from household to household in search of stability, eventually settling in the Ridgemont area of Missouri CityMissouri City
Missouri City may refer to:*Missouri City, Missouri*Missouri City, Texas...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. When Z-Ro reached his late teens he was unemployed and resorted to drug dealing and hustling on the streets. According to Z-Ro, listening to the music of 2Pac, Geto Boys
Geto Boys
Geto Boys is a rap group from Houston, Texas, consisting of Scarface, Willie D and Bushwick Bill. The Geto Boys earned notoriety for its lyrics which included misogyny, gore, psychotic experiences, and necrophilia...
, Street Military, K-Rino
K-Rino
K-Rino, the stage name of Eric Kaiser, is an American rapper from Houston, Texas. He is affiliated with Horrorcore rapper Ganksta N-I-P...
and Klondike Kat inspired him to work harder for his goal of leaving the streets. Z-Ro discovered his talent of freestyle rap
Freestyle rap
Freestyle rap commonly refers to rap lyrics which are improvised through a acapella or with instrumental beats, i.e. performed with no previously composed lyrics, or "off the top of the head"...
ping and after going through a couple of recording studios to make a demo, the CEO of a local label discovered and signed him.
Career
In 1998, Z-Ro released his debut album, Look What You Did to Me. Z-Ro is also a member of the original Screwed Up ClickScrewed Up Click
The Screwed Up Click is an assortment of rappers mainly from the southside of Houston started by DJ Screw.After appearing on numerous screw tapes and spreading their name throughout southern hip hop, they have become well known. Despite the deaths of several members and the incarceration of...
, an assortment of rappers from Houston. All of these things helped to escalate Z-Ro’s popularity throughout the South and by 2002 his talent and hard work caught the attention of Rap-a-Lot
Rap-A-Lot Records
Rap-a-Lot Records is a Houston hip hop record label. Rap-a-Lot was created in 1986. Sublabels include Smoke-a-Lot Records. The label was founded by James Prince in the mid-1980s and, with its most famous act the Geto Boys, put the South on the hip hop map. Since then, it has maintained its success...
’s founder and CEO James Prince
James Prince
James Prince is the CEO of Houston-based Rap-a-Lot Records.Prince, who for 20 years has worked to promote Houston's rap scene and rap artists, is now working to promote underprivileged neighborhoods and communities...
, who offered him a deal.
In 2004, Z-Ro released his critically acclaimed Rap-a-Lot debut titled The Life of Joseph W. McVey
The Life of Joseph W. McVey
The Life of Joseph W. McVey is the 8th solo album by Z-Ro. This album also spawned the only charted single by Z-Ro with I Hate U Bitch which charted number seventy-five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.-Track listing:...
. The record was a huge success and helped expand Z-Ro’s fan base beyond the South. In 2005, Z-Ro released Let the Truth Be Told, which was well received. Z-Ro's 2006 album I'm Still Livin'
I'm Still Livin'
I'm Still Livin is the tenth solo album by Houston rapper Z-Ro, which was released on November 7, 2006. This album was the 2nd of his 3 Rap-A-Lot albums he's been in prison on the released dates. The "screwed & chopped" version of the album was released on November 21, 2006...
was released while he was imprisoned for drug possession
Drug possession
Drug possession is the crime of having one or more illegal drugs in one's possession, either for personal use, distribution, sale or otherwise. Illegal drugs fall into different categories and sentences vary depending on the amount, type of drug, circumstances, and jurisdiction.A person has...
, to positive reviews. It was called "a great album... powerful" but "relentlessly bleak" by The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
and "one of the best rap albums to come out of Houston" by the Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
. In 2010 he released his next album titled Heroin. In 2011 album he announced a new album called Rother Vandross Sings The Blues, an all singing album, the lead single is "These Days".
Discography
| Year | Title | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
U.S. R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
||
| 1998 | Look What You Did to Me | - | - |
| 2000 | Z-Ro vs. the World Z-Ro vs. the World -Track listing:#"Nigga from the Hood" – 4:16#"World Wide" – 3:43#"Dirty 3rd" – 3:42#"Hustlin' All I Can Do" – 4:15#"Swang on 4's" – 4:28... |
- | 90 |
| 2001 | King of da Ghetto King of da Ghetto King of da Ghetto is the 3rd solo album by southern rapper Z-Ro.-Track listing:# "I Found Me" - 4:16# "Block Bleeder" - 4:23# "Wonder If I'm Blessed" - 4:18# "Gripping Grain" - 3:44... |
- | - |
| 2002 | Screwed Up Click Representa Screwed Up Click Representa Screwed Up Click Representa is the 4th solo album by rapper Z-Ro.-Track listing:... |
- | 58 |
| 2002 | Z-Ro Z-Ro (album) -Track listing:... |
- | - |
| 2002 | Life Life (Z-Ro album) Life is the 6th solo album by Houston rapper Z-Ro. The track "Lost Another Soldier" is dedicated to late fellow rapper Big Mello. On June 15, 2010, the album was reissued in a collector's edition 3 disc box set, including the regular, and chopped and screwed versions of the album, and bonus DVD... |
- | 57 |
| 2003 | Z-Ro Tolerance | - | - |
| 2004 | The Life of Joseph W. McVey The Life of Joseph W. McVey The Life of Joseph W. McVey is the 8th solo album by Z-Ro. This album also spawned the only charted single by Z-Ro with I Hate U Bitch which charted number seventy-five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.-Track listing:... |
170 | 27 |
| 2005 | Let the Truth Be Told | 69 | 14 |
| 2006 | I'm Still Livin' I'm Still Livin' I'm Still Livin is the tenth solo album by Houston rapper Z-Ro, which was released on November 7, 2006. This album was the 2nd of his 3 Rap-A-Lot albums he's been in prison on the released dates. The "screwed & chopped" version of the album was released on November 21, 2006... |
- | 14 |
| 2007 | King of tha Ghetto: Power | 197 | 32 |
| 2008 | Crack | 48 | 12 |
| 2009 | Cocaine | 147 | 19 |
| 2010 | Heroin | 142 | 29 |
| 2011 | Meth | 90 | 12 |