Word quickly spread of Z-Ro's prowess, and in 1998 the emcee released his debut, Look What You Did to Me. Z-Ro's deep, laconic voice was a perfect foil for the DJ's approach: slowing down beats to a snail's pace to simulate the buzz from a codeine high. In the mid-'90s, the fledgling emcee was noticed by DJ Screw's already notorious Screwed Up Click. Raised in the slums of Southern Houston, Z-Ro joined a gang following the death of his mother and spent his early years hustling. Too real for the radio, Z-Ro continues to command respect from peers and critics. Somehow, he still found time to release 2006's excellent I'm Still Livin'. Instead, he was arrested various times for various offenses, and spent much of 2004-'06 in prison. When Houston hip-hop blew up in 2005, Z-Ro failed to capitalize. All of them were well regarded, both by critics and Southern hip-hop audiences, but were overlooked by the general public. Prince's infamous H-Town indie label Rap-A-Lot and released seven albums over the next five years, both solo and as a member of the group Guerilla Maab. In the tradition of Houston hip-hop pioneers Scarface and UGK, the album was dark and violent. The following year, he croon-rapped his way through another set, Sadism.Raised in the slums of Southern Houston, Z-Ro joined a gang following the death of his mother and spent his early years hustling. That didnt last long, however, as Z-Ro quickly followed with album 22, Codeine. Released in 2016, Drankin Drivin peaked in the Top Ten of the RB chart.
Z-Ro Album Crack Was HisĬrack was his highest-charting album to date (number 48) and featured Slim Thug, Mike D, Paul Wall, Pimp C, and Mya. The following year, he issued Let the Truth Be Told, which featured Juvenile, Ashanti, and frequent guest Paul Wall. He made his solo debut in 1998 with Look What You Did to Me, following it with an album release each year (except 19) for nearly two decades.Īfter signing with Rap-a-Lot Records, he released his eighth overall LP, The Life of Joseph W. Z-Ro got his start with the Screwed Up Click, a crew of Houston rappers led by the late DJ Screw.
His style merged the two genres, bringing a hard edge to explicitly honest songs about love, relationships, and street life.
Born Joseph Wayne McVey, Z-Ro (aka the Mo City Don) grew up with equal parts inspiration from hardcore rappers like 2Pac and the Geto Boys and soulful crooners like Babyface and Sam Cooke.