Z-Ro — Mediated Wiki

{{Short description|American rapper (born 1977)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist  |name = Z-Ro |image = Z-Ro_cropped.jpg |caption =Z-Ro in 2011 |background = solo_singer |birth_name = Joseph Wayne McVey<ref name="Rap Artists Bio" /> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|1|19|mf=y}}<ref name="Rap Artists Bio">[http://www.rapartists.com/artists/z_ro/biography Z-Ro Biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719200957/http://www.rapartists.com/artists/z_ro/biography |date=July 19, 2011 }}. Rapartists.com (January 19, 1977). Retrieved June 21, 2011.</ref> |alias = The Mo City Don<ref name="Tripolar">[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EU34RHK?keywords=Z-ro%20Tripolar&qid=1444780254&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2 Amazon.com: Tripolar: The Mo City Don: MP3 Downloads]. Amazon.com. Retrieved August 1, 2016.</ref> |birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S. |death_date = |origin = Missouri City, Texas, U.S. |instrument = |genre = Southern hip hop |occupation = {{flatlist| * Rapper * songwriter * record producer }} |years_active = 1994–present |label = {{hlist|1Deep|J Prince|Rap-a-Lot|Asylum|KMJ|Presidential|Straight Profit|Fisherboy|S.U.C. (Screwed Up Click)|Empire}} |website = }} '''Joseph Wayne McVey''' (born January 19, 1977), better known by his stage names '''Z-Ro''' and '''the Mo City Don''', is an American rapper from Houston, Texas. He was named one of America's most underrated rappers by ''The New York Times'' in 2007.<ref>Sanneh, Kelefa. (May 27, 2007) [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/27/arts/music/27play.html "A Hip-Hop Hurricane and Other Phenomena"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829031427/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/27/arts/music/27play.html |date=August 29, 2011 }} ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 21, 2011.</ref>

==Early life== Z-Ro was born Joseph Wayne McVey in Houston's South Park neighborhood on January 19, 1977.<ref name="A.D. Bio">{{cite web | title=Z-Ro Biography | url=http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/bio/z-ro/664377 | publisher=Artist Direct | access-date=January 12, 2012 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025002453/http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/bio/z-ro/664377 | archive-date=October 25, 2012 }}</ref> When he was six, his mother died, and he was shuttled from household to household in search of stability, eventually settling in the Ridgemont area, a middle-class neighborhood in Southwest Houston near the suburb of Missouri City.<ref name="A.D. Bio" /> When Z-Ro reached his late teens he was unemployed and resorted to drug dealing and hustling on the streets.<ref name="A.D. Bio" /> According to Z-Ro, listening to the music of 2Pac, Geto Boys, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Street Military, K-Rino and Klondike Kat inspired him to work harder for his goal of leaving the streets.<ref name="A.D. Bio" /> Z-Ro discovered his talent of freestyle rapping and after going through a couple of recording studios to make a demo,<ref name="A.D. Bio" /> the CEO of a local label discovered and signed him.

== Career == Z-Ro released his critically acclaimed Rap-a-Lot debut titled ''The Life of Joseph W. McVey''.<ref name="A.D. Bio" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/z-ro-mn0000598734/biography|title=Z-Ro – Biography & History|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=July 3, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104073535/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/z-ro-mn0000598734/biography|archive-date=January 4, 2018}}</ref> The record was a huge success and helped expand Z-Ro's fan base beyond the South.<ref name="A.D. Bio" /> In 2005, Z-Ro released ''Let the Truth Be Told'', which was well received.<ref name="A.D. Bio" /> Z-Ro's 2006 album ''I'm Still Livin''' was released while he was imprisoned for drug possession, to positive reviews.<ref name="villagevoice">{{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=December 7, 2006 |access-date=September 7, 2008 |work=The Village Voice |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922055817/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/statusainthood/archives/2006/12/project_pat_and.php |archive-date=September 22, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="nyt">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/27/arts/music/27play.html |title=A Hip-Hop Hurricane and Other Phenomena |first=Kelefa |last=Sanneh |date=May 27, 2007 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=September 7, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414161833/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/27/arts/music/27play.html |archive-date=April 14, 2011 }}</ref> It was called "a great album... powerful" but "relentlessly bleak" by The Village Voice<ref name="villagevoice"/> and "one of the best rap albums to come out of Houston" by the Houston Chronicle.<ref name="houstonchronicle">{{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=November 6, 2006 |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |access-date=September 7, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925151037/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/entertainment/4314522.html |archive-date=September 25, 2008 }}</ref> In 2010 he released the album titled ''Heroin'', which was followed by an album titled ''Meth'' in 2011 and then ''Angel Dust'' in 2012.

Z-Ro released his first EP under The Mo City Don titled ''Tripolar'' on August 25, 2013, via One Deep Ent.<ref name="Tripolar" /> Z-Ro then followed up with ''The Crown'' in June 2014.<ref name="The Crown">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-crown-mw0002673451|title=The Crown – Z-Ro – Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=July 3, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913000129/http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-crown-mw0002673451|archive-date=September 13, 2017}}</ref> In February 2015, Z-Ro released his first proper studio album in three years, titled ''Melting the Crown.''

In 2016, Z-Ro released ''Drankin & Drivin'' in August<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22126-gqom-oh-x-crudo-volta-mixtape/|title=Various Artists: Gqom Oh! x Crudo Volta Mixtape Album Review – Pitchfork|website=Pitchfork|access-date=June 14, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614194603/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22126-gqom-oh-x-crudo-volta-mixtape/|archive-date=June 14, 2018}}</ref> and ''Legendary'' in November under his label One Deep Entertainment.

In 2017, Z-Ro announced he was retiring and released ''No Love Boulevard'' in June as his final album.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Caldwell|first=Brandon|date=2017-07-07|title=Z-Ro Is Done With Rap; We're Not Better Off For It|url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/z-ro-is-done-with-rap-after-his-stellar-no-love-boulevard-9586817|access-date=2021-05-10|website=Houston Press}}</ref> He came out of retirement 6 months later and released ''Codeine'' in December.

In 2018, Z-Ro released ''Sadism'' on November 16 under One Deep Entertainment and was distributed by Empire.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-10|title=Review: Z-Ro's "Sadism" Speaks To Day 1 Houston Fans|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3324/title.review-z-ros-sadism-speaks-to-day-1-houston-fans|access-date=2021-05-10|website=HipHopDX}}</ref>

In 2020, Z-Ro released an EP titled ''Quarantine, The Social Distancing EP'' with appearances from rapper Boosie Badazz, Slim Thug, Lanlawd and late rapper Wicket Cricket. He then later released an album titled ''Rohammad Ali'' on June 26.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Album: Z-Ro 'Rohammad Ali'|url=http://rapradar.com/2020/06/26/new-album-z-ro-rohammad-ali/|access-date=2021-05-10|website=Rap Radar|date=June 26, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2021, Z-Ro along with S.U.C. rapper Mike D released a collaboration album titled ''2 The Hardway'' with appearances from Slim Thug, Lil' Keke, Beanz from the production duo, Beanz N Kornbread, Klondike Kat, Grace from Grace Boys, Duke Gutta, Oticia Redmond, C-Note, Big Pokey, and Lil' O.<ref>{{Citation|title=2 The Hardway|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/5OMDvLVGBUhIQM0BwuEXag|language=en|access-date=2021-05-10}}</ref>

In 2022, in a statement to ''XXL'', Z-Ro claims Trae Tha Truth asked to talk to him outside of a Houston restaurant before he allegedly sucker punched him. After that, several men jumped in and continued to assault him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fitzgerald |first=Trent|title=Z-Ro Claims Trae Tha Truth Asked to Talk and Then Sucker Punched Him |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/z-ro-trae-the-truth-sucker-punched-fight/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=XXL Mag |date=August 30, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

==Legal case== On July 26, 2017, Z-Ro was arrested after his ex-girlfriend, Just Brittany, accused him of beating her three months earlier. Z-Ro told the media that Brittany was using this accusation to get more publicity for herself as she is also appearing in a reality show on television.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2017/07/28/rapper-z-ro-arrest-publicity-stunt/|title=Rapper Z-Ro Claims Arrest Was a Publicity Stunt, Won't Address Recording|website=tmz.com|date=July 28, 2017 |access-date=June 14, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309201430/http://www.tmz.com/2017/07/28/rapper-z-ro-arrest-publicity-stunt/|archive-date=March 9, 2018}}</ref> On October 10, a grand jury dropped the felony charges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2017/10/10/rapper-z-ro-no-indictment-felony-assault-charges/|title=Rapper Z-RO Dodges Indictment in Just Brittany Beating Case|website=tmz.com|date=October 11, 2017 |access-date=June 14, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219020330/http://www.tmz.com/2017/10/10/rapper-z-ro-no-indictment-felony-assault-charges/|archive-date=February 19, 2018}}</ref> The next day, the Harris County, Texas, district attorney filed misdemeanor charges against Z-Ro on the same alleged incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2017/10/11/rapper-z-ro-misdemeanor-charge-just-brittany-beating/|title=Rapper Z-RO Charged by D.A. in Just Brittany Beating Case After Grand Jury Passes|website=tmz.com|date=October 11, 2017 |access-date=June 14, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220161358/http://www.tmz.com/2017/10/11/rapper-z-ro-misdemeanor-charge-just-brittany-beating/|archive-date=February 20, 2018}}</ref> The case was later dismissed in January 2019 after Z-Ro completed a batterer intervention program.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/Domestic-violence-case-dropped-against-famed-13520769.php | title=Domestic violence case dropped against popular Houston rapper | url-access=subscription | website=www.houstonchronicle.com}}</ref>

==Discography== {{Main|Z-Ro discography}} '''Studio albums''' *''Look What You Did to Me'' (1998) *''Z-Ro vs. the World'' (2000) *''King of da Ghetto'' (2001) *''Z-Ro'' (2001) *''Life'' (2002) *''Screwed Up Click Representa'' (2002) *''Z-Ro Tolerance'' (2003) *''The Life of Joseph W. McVey'' (2004) *''Let the Truth Be Told'' (2005) *''I'm Still Livin''' (2006) *''King of tha Ghetto: Power'' (2007) *''Crack'' (2008) *''Cocaine'' (2009) *''Heroin'' (2010) *''Meth'' (2011) *''Angel Dust'' (2012) *''The Crown'' (2014) *''Melting the Crown'' (2015) *''Drankin' & Drivin''' (2016) *''Legendary'' (2016) *''No Love Boulevard'' (2017) *''Codeine'' (2017) *''Sädism'' (2018) *''Rohammad Ali'' (2020) *''Pressure'' (2022) *''The Ghetto Gospel'' (2024) *''Call Me Rother'' (2024) *''Unappreciated'' (2025) *''Never Love a Bitch Again'' (2026)

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:1977 births Category:African-American male rappers Category:Living people Category:Rappers from Houston Category:Screwed Up Click members Category:Underground rappers Category:Rap-A-Lot Records artists Category:Gangsta rappers Category:21st-century American rappers Category:People from Missouri City, Texas Category:20th-century African-American musicians Category:21st-century African-American rappers Category:21st-century African-American male rappers Category:21st-century American male rappers