HipHopEntrepreneurs.com with DJ Rock T

 

The Hip Hop Entrepreneur sits down with DJ, nationally syndicated radio personality, and tv host; Rock T in an exclusive interview covering his journey in the entertainment industry. DJ Rock T has made an easily recognizable brand for himself covering his personality, humanitarianism, and style. Rock T’s story began in an unusual way and has skyrocketed tremendously since then. The man himself will also share his empowering outlook on personal life with a successful career and give up the secret for his popularity.

 

 

 

 

Kitty Katana: Rock T is a household name now, who is DJ Rock T?

Rock-T: rock-t is a very humble and blessed man who appreciates life.

 

 

Kitty Katana: Often times people have much more respect for certain careers when they know how much effort is put into the occupation. Is there more to being a DJ than meets the eye?

Rock-T: Yes, a dj is more than just a person who plays music at clubs and on the radio. A dj has the opportunity to influence many people through music. Good Dj’s also spend many hours researching music and new artists. As a dj, you are PRAISED when ur correct about picking a future HIT record, but CRITICIZED when ur wrong about a record.

 

Kitty Katana: Where did your career start?

Rock-T: My radio career started at K104fm in Dallas ( 6 years @ K104) and (6 years with 97.9 The Beat)

 

Kitty Katana: Who in the hip hop industry has been an inspiration to you, and has motivated you to grow as large as you have?

Rock-T: Russell Simmons, Kevin Liles, Entertainment Attorney Ward White

 

Kitty Katana: So you’re a member of Core Dj’s. What is Core Dj’s and how did you become a member?

Rock-T: CORE is the center. CORE DJ’S represent the center of the music industry. Dj’s are probably the most important ingredient in the music biz. To become a Core DJ – A Dj has to be recommended or recruited by another Core Dj.

Kitty Katana: What is a day in the life of a nationally syndicated DJ?

Rock-T: Wake up at 3:30am, on the air from 5am – 10am, meeting to discuss tomorrow’s show from 10am – 12noon, visit schools to speak, more show prep for the next day: News, Sports, etc…, traveling from city to city; for most of us – we do all of this while raising a family.

 

Kitty Katana: How much of a challenge was it to become a radio personality on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show and Deez Nutz?

Rock-T: Actually, that was the biggest blessing of my radio career….Rickey requested for me to be a member of his Team. Of Course, I graciously excepted.

 

Kitty Katana: What is your ultimate goal with your career?

Rock-T: To build an Entertainment Empire and continue to help others fulfill their dreams.

 

Kitty Katana: How do you balance having beautiful children and a wife and a full fledged entertainment career?

Rock-T: I Prioritize my life around my Family…Family is first, then everything else comes after that…..

 

Kitty Katana: How did you get to be the host of Dance Club 21, were there any classes you attended to fully project your hosting skills?

Rock-T: This was another Blessing for me…..Dance Club 21 asked me to be the Host and once again i graciously excepted….lol…i’ve never taken any acting or hosting classes. I just go with the flow.

 

Kitty Katana: Why did you make the switch from playing 4 years of professional baseball with the New York Mets, to join the world of Djing, television hosting, and being a radio personality?

Rock-T: In the world of being a Pro Athlete u eventually come to a cross roads when u have to make a decision to move on to a second career….mine came a lil earlier than most.I had a great radio opportunity that was offered to me that was hard to turn down so i went for it…..i’ve been rolling ever since.

 

Kitty Katana: How much of DJ Rock T’s promotions are done by DJ Rock T himself?

Rock-T: 90% – but i do have a Team that contributes to the DJ Rock-T Brand…I follow the old proverb: NO ONE CAN PROMOTE YOU BETTER THAN YOU!

 

Kitty Katana: For someone who is just coming up in the industry and wants to become a national or international DJ, what game can you give up?

Rock-T: You have to make yourself a very popular Brand……You have to be Everywhere, doing everything at All Times…..it sounds crazy but u can’t sleep in this business if u wanna succeed.

 

Kitty Katana: Many don’t know about your humanitarianism. You’ve even started The Rock T Foundation to service the community and the children in the community. What is the Rock T Foundation doing in the community now?

Rock-T: THE ROCK-T FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES POSITIVE INFLUENCE FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. THE MAIN PURPOSE IS TO EFFECTIVELY EDUCATE, INSPIRE AND EMPOWER OUR YOUTH , ALSO HELP RAISE THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE ROCK-T FOUNDATION ENCOURAGES THE YOUTH TO BREAK THE BONDAGE OF MENTAL IMPRISONMENT AND WRITE NEW PRODUCTIVE CHAPTERS IN THEIR LIVES. OUR MOTTO IS: NO EXCUSES! GET IT DONE!

 

Kitty Katana: The hip hop industry is known to be very secular. How did you find the common ground between the bold image and reputation of hip hop and being a family oriented celebrity that teens can look up to?

Rock-T: YOU CAN’T ALLOW THE INDUSTRY TO DICTATE YOUR LIFE……ITS EASY FOR ME BECAUSE OF WHO I AM AS A PERSON…..I AM A ROLE MODEL SO I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT I’M REPPIN POSITIVITY AT ALL TIMES.

 

Kitty Katana: Tell us some other facts about Rock T that the hip hop world may not know

Rock-T: …CHECK OUT ROCKTHOLLA.COM TO FIND OUT ALL ABOUT ME.

 

Kitty Katana: Where is Rock T in 10 years?

Rock-T: ON TOP OF THE WORLD HELPING MANY OTHER PEEPS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS…..

 

 

 

 

 Visit RockTHolla.com

~Kitty Katana

 

Mis-education in America of Africa

Well folks, I went to Half Price Books today to read whichever book the universe led me to. I quickly ended up in the history section of the store looking through the shelf titles. I saw titles like Japan, Australia, Great Britain, and so forth. Then I decided well, since I’m in the history section, why not learn more about the history of my race? So I decide to look for a shelf titled Africa. I found it. It was the very bottom shelf, filled with angry books of oppression and tales of the middle passage. Don’t get me wrong, I know that slavery was a 400 year chunk of African history, but we did not begin there. I was befuddled at the book selection in the African section. No books embracing our culture or enlightening the world of ancient art. How disappointing!

Then I turned around and faced another bookshelf (also located on the bottom shelf just above the floor) titled Ancient Egypt. When I saw this I was highly offended because all of the shelves were titled on a grand scale and not by every individual country in the continent. This basically meant to me that whoever arranged the books was trying to separate the grand culture and accomplishments of the Egyptians from Africa. Looking at the shelves they painted a dreary painful picture of Africa. Yet on the opposite side, the Ancient Egyptian shelf gleamed with stories of ancient medicine, glorified art, and the history of legendary Kings and Queens. Is this not all a part of Africa? What would have made me happy is to see all the books (the good and not so good) all on shelves title Ancient Africa. Is that not an appropriate title?

Why am I even making such a big deal about book shelves?? Well I feel that those shelves are a representation of the miseducation of Americans. We are taught in public schools that Egypt is damn near separate from Africa. We are taught to connect negative connotations with the word “Africa”. We are taught to connect greatness & mystery with the word “Egypt”. Egypt is inside of Africa dammit! They are one in the same. The mystifying hieryoglyphics & pyramids were built by AFRICANS! Yet in school or damn near any other institution we are taught to say the pyramids were built by Egyptians, and they were, but Egyptians are Africans. Another reason why this pisses me off is because I feel like the shelves were a representation of America trying to disconnect African Americans & Africans from our true power and history. We are a people which descend from Kings and Queens! Yet in school I was taught as far back as what plantation my ancestors could have lived on. The education system in America makes children subconciously believe that that is as far back as our history goes. NO! Queen Sheba, Cleopatra, King Tut, the Pyramids, the Sphinx…all of that is my people. THAT is where I come from.

When will the American educational systems get it right?

To my best friend Aisha whom is studying to be a diplomat; PLEASE FIX THE EDUCATION AND HEALTH SYSTEMS IN AMERICA! IT’S ALL SCREWED UP!  So I took it upon myself to make my way to the storefront counter to consult with an employee about this situation. I kindly asked him “why is the Ancient Egypt shelf separate from the Africa shelf when Egypt is inside Africa?”. He told me that the shelves were arranged in categories of history and pre-recorded history. Meaning, the beginning of intellectual lettering is considered history and anything before such is “pre-recorded history”. So that means that whoever arranged those shelves considers the hieroglyphics written by Egyptians, not actual writing. How disrespectful! On the contrary, that is where writing descended from! Yes, many words in today’s English language directly stem from Greek and Latin but if you take it back a step further you will find Africa. If you want to question this or simply inquire, study the word “soul” and see what you come up with. (*steps off the soapbox*)

 

 Kitty Katana~

Stevie Wonder…”Isn’t He Lovely?”

…And the moral of the story is, if you love what you do you should study it! Learn the ins and outs and every detail, because my reality is that if you aren’t progressing every day or the best at your craft- you don’t matter. So seeing as how I am a musician, I study the legends in my genre and the genre that influences me. I began my quest for knowledge with the legendary Stevie Wonder originally names Steveland Hardaway Judkins. He was coined with the name “Stevie Wonder” as a preteen youth by Barry Gordy because he was a child “wonder”.

 He was signed to Motown by Barry Gordy as a 12 year old where he made his first #1 hit “Fingertips Part 2″. Imagine that! A chart-topping, hit-maker at the tender age of 12. That should tell us all that the best music is created for the soul’s sake. He just loved to play his harmonica and sing! Let me also acknowledge that he not only plays the harmonica, he is proficient in 10 different instruments including the piano, synthesizer, drums, congas, bass guitar, bongos, organ, melodica and clavinet. He has recorded more than 30 top ten hits, won 22 Grammy Awards, & won an Academy Award. His hefty list of accomplishments, recognition, and awards goes on and on.

Stevie Wonder’s list of accomplishments ranges so far and wide that if I were to list them all I would be typing a book instead of a blog post. Although I thought it was important to let you know one of my favorite highlights of his career. I’m still in study for another artist and as soon as I know all the scoop on ‘em, you’ll be the first to know sweetcakes!

 

  Kitty Katana~