Z-Ro

Infobox musical artist
Name = Z-Ro

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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Joseph Wayne McVey
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Origin = Houston, Texas
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Genre = Hip hop
Occupation = Rapper
Years_active = 1998 - present
Label = Fisherboy Records
Asylum
Rap-A-Lot
King Of The Ghetto Ent.
Associated_acts = Screwed Up Click
Trae
Lil Flip
URL = MySpace|zromocitydon
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Joseph Wayne McVey, better known by his stage name Z-Ro, is an American rapper from Houston, Texas. Z-Ro has built a significant underground reputation as a southern rapper, though this has not developed into widespread popularity outside of the southern United States.cite news |title=Project Pat and Z-Ro: The Unsung Heroes of Southern Rap |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/statusainthood/archives/2006/12/project_pat_and.php |first=Tom |last=Breihan |date=2006-12-07 |accessdate=2008-09-07 |publisher=The Village Voice] The New York Times has called him "one of America's most underrated rappers".cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/27/arts/music/27play.html?_r=1&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/M/Music&oref=slogin |title=A Hip-Hop Hurricane and Other Phenomena |first=Kelefa |last=Sanneh |date=2007-05-27 |publisher=The New York Times |accessdate=2008-09-07]

His 2006 album "I'm Still Livin'" was released while Z-Ro 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.cite news |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/entertainment/4314522.html |first=Eyder |last=Peralita |title=Z-Ro breaks ground, visits the past on new CD |date=2006-11-06 |publisher=The Houston Chronicle |accessdate=2008-09-07]

His follow-up album, "", received mixed reviews however, with one review calling the release "unwieldy" and "scattershot".

Common themes in Z-Ro's music are crime and poverty, often relating to his personal experience. For example, the music video for "Hate You" was recorded while he was incarcerated in Orange County jail.

Personal life

Z-Ro's cousin Trae is another well known Houston-area rapper.

Discography

References