RoQy TyRaiD is the lyrical phenom from Phoenix who pulls no punches as it pertains to delivering a line. His ability to sound as though he’s memorized a dictionary gives the listener the feeling of an impending asthma attack….he makes us all wish he would go ahead and take a breath of air! Luckily for both us and himself he rarely does and it’s because of this that the Hip Hop game has been stepped up! Because simply put, TyRaid is a breath of fresh air!
Take a look at what he had to say to TRUE in the interview below!
TRUE: You have been a part of the west coast hip hop scene for a while now. What have been some of the highlights and lowlights for you?
RoQy TyRaiD: Highlights? Plenty of them! I really feel that as of late, The West has had a huge influence in keeping the spirit of the indieground alive. I mean like with your plethora of cypher series, the acclaimed festivals, the general activity and independent buzzes surrounding so many artists and so called “movements”. Being in an area where a lot of creative activity is happening all around you is inspiring.
Now, as for the less positive lowlights. I guess there is a certain level of inherent exceptionalism which us westcoasters are known for. We’re always right, we’re the best, west or die and wooptie woop.
What I’m referring to is the narcissistic tendencies we’re known for which causes certain organizations and collectives to fall asleep at the wheel when it comes to having that drive to discover certain talents. I guess that’s the “industry” in general though, right? I’m sure there’s something else out here. I’m here to help uplift though, damnit! (laughs)
TRUE: You are super versatile on the mic…but do you have a specific flow that calls to you the most?
RoQy TyRaiD: Thank you! Seriously! Feels good to be recognized for that. It’s a fear to be pigeonholed into a specific subcategory so it’s a practice of mine to naturally switch it up from time to time.
I don’t have a specific flow. If I did have to fall back on something, I’d say I do have a tendency to say forget this and spaz out on an aggressive battle rhyme, Miyamoto Musashi type of flow. Some crazy syllabic, samurai, there-can-only-be-one type of flow.
TRUE: What has been your favorite moment interacting with your fans?
RoQy TyRaiD: Hard to pick a favorite. Let’s see, I’d have to say when supporters tell me my music impacted their lives, you know? Especially when they describe why. That’s a feeling of indescribable value. Isn’t that why we give back? Or at least one of the reasons? Because we are also supporters. We are fans at heart.
So much so that in fact that we found ourselves walking the paths the legends of our hearts trekked across. Knowing someone took a feeling, message, or energy away from my music and applied it to their lives is just awesome and beyond humbling.
TRUE: Where do you hope to be within the next year?
RoQy TyRaiD: With a highly acclaimed album under my belt and another either recently released or releasing at that time. I’d also like to have a completed international run. I’d love to be able to rock a more creatively advanced stage. I’d also love to be in a more financially advanced stage!! (laughs)
Mostly, I just want to experience joy. The pursuit of happiness is constant. We should all want to be a happier version of ourselves. I know I’ll continue to find that and I hope you all do, too.
TRUE: How can the people find you?
You can find me at @RoQyTyRaiD on Twitter and Instagram. Thank you for the attention shown towards my craft and one love to my supporters otherwise known as the RoQ Riffs! The Culture Is Back!
And thanks again to RoQy TyRaiD for the sit down! It’s always a lesson when he stops by!
