TROCHE

Where are you from?

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, whole life, haven't lived anywhere else...Westside

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When did you first fall in love with Hip Hop?

Back in the day my brother, Bee K, used to rap with a group and I thought they were dope.  It really peaked my interest.  But I think it was 1997 that I was actually like, "yea, I'm doing this thing foreal".  Wu-tang had came out with the song Triumph and I was like "oh my god! Inspectah Deck is spazzing on this first verse. that's crazy!".

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And another thing that happened, LL Cool J released a song called 4, 3, 2, 1 and it featured DMX.  This was the first time that I heard DMX and as soon as I heard dude I was like "bruh, this mf is a killa!" The way that he as aggressive and smooth at the same time with the bars.  I remember the first two albums too, Flesh of my Flesh and Dark and Hell is Hot.  I was gone off them albums.

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What's the fuel behind your passion for music?

Every since I wrote my first verse and let people hear it and the reactions that I was getting from it, I was like yo, I can do this and I must be pretty good at it.  Plus, my mother and aunties, they always sang around the holidays when we were younger and it was pretty dope.  I felt like I had a gift already and my grandfather played the guitar.  So, once that bug got me, I couldn't let it go even if I tried.​

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What sets you apart from other artists?

Balance of lyrical talent and the confidence to play around with other genres and make it sound good still.  Don't see many artists that are willing to pop stuff, or some r&b stuff, or some rock stuff.  We're just all around the board with it.

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Who are some of your influences and inspirations?

It would have to be my bro.  Him and my cousin was a group and they were nice with it.  So, that was definitely a big influence.  The Lox, that's my favorite group.  Jadakiss, that's my favorite rapper ever, of all time to me...period. Definitely Eminem and anybody that's going to bar it up.  I like to add that play to my stuff.  Busta like a mofo, foreal!

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What are some highlights of your musical career?

I was proud of myself when I was doing Androids with my mans and we finally released the mixtape but it was crazy cause the mixtape wasn't no mixtape.  We put all original songs on there and gave people an album and called it a mixtape.  It was dope cause it was like the first full project that I actually released.

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Any achievements and/or awards?

I got an Artist Appreciation award from Keisha Kautiouz, Ear Hustlin'.  I definitely got one and I love it!