Romey

Chicago IL/ Madison Wisconin’s own Romey, aka The Midwest King has done something alot of established artists can’t even do. His hit single ‘Don’t Behave’ featuring up and coming R&B singer J Stills, has been on the billboard charts for 6 weeks straight. All of sale, all with no help from a major, all independant. Romey’s grind is unmatched, touring the midwest area in his wrapped vehicle and expanding his network is what has taken him from ‘an’ to ‘not just any’ artist. Armed with a new mixtape dropping in July called ‘I am King’ presented by Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes, Romey is out to prove to the world that being indie is all it’s cracked up to be.

Hey Romey, thanks for taking the time to sit with me. How you doing?

No prob it’s truly a blessing to be interviewed about my music. I’m doing great in light of the circumstances surrounding me my peoples getting locked up left and right, a lot death from close family and friends but despite all of that my career, musically has never been better.

How does “I Am King” compare to your previous projects?

I honestly can’t compare it to previous projects because the Romey you hear on records or interviews now is so much more polished than the younger Ro. I mean everything from track selection musical arrangement mixing & engineering is so much more advanced its almost unfair because the projects before never had this type of platform. Lyrically, I feel like each mixtape has always been consistently good. I feel like the machine I have set in place behind this one (the fact that this is the first record with all original material and the success of my first single “Don’t Behave”) make this one the biggest project. I will never say one song or album is better than another. I let my close peers and fans choose favorites but I love all my work the same, they are like my children some songs may get more attention than others but they are family and they come together to make great bodies of work collectively.

I hear you have a branding deal with Makaveli Branded clothing, sweet! How did that collaboration happen?

My manager at the time Rick Edwards, recognized my talent back in ’05, he flew out to Chicago to do a photo shoot with Twista for Makaveli Branded and a mutual friend set up a sit down at Ricks hotel I took him to Mac Arthurs to eat we hit the circle on the Westside just looking at cars and girls then we went to the Wild 100’s where I’m from on the south side all the while we were listening to my music he thought it was incredible and the partnership was cemented. Him being VP of Marketing at MB he felt my music as well as what I stand for as a person would be good to represent Tupac and the rest of the company fell in love with the movement and the rest is pretty much history. Shout to Roccett too, we both have been representing the Tupac brand for years and we both take that blessing as a responsibility and tremendous honor.

What producers and artist do you have on the mix tape”?

I kept all the features really close knit for the most part. My in-house producer Unit-7 did 80 percent of the project my man DJ Pain 1 contributed three Reign day productions, Young Boyz, and Music Tech all delivered bangers too. Rap wise we got my artist B-Ezee Unit-7 and Boo Veli sparring with me throughout then J. Stills Devante and Project 718 adding those memorable hooks and choruses just make it such a versatile and well rounded album. The team effort from everybody I mentioned makes this project special cause it’s nothing like making beautiful music with people you genuinely care for.

Your whip is crazy! What made you get your truck wrapped?

I was preparing my first official tour and thought to myself what can I do to make this journey even more monumental so I took Optimus Prime lol that my trucks nickname hit my graphic design guy with my concept and a week later the Romey mobile was born. It was the ultimate investment because everyday I’m branding my name label and album simultaneously.

Is that strictly the tour vehicle, what’s the reaction you get from the public?

I always got the superstar treatment even when I was on the block I stayed in the flyest of whips but now that people see the music taking off and the movement growing the response has been amazing. I see people take pictures of it while driving on the highway little kids always run up to the truck for autographs this whole grind is just I don’t have a word to describe it.

Your coming from a place not too well known for Hip-Hop, how do you plan on marking your territory?

I’m just touring my region and planting the Get Rich flag where ever I go it makes me feel good to come from Chicago then move to Madison Wisconsin as a teen. When I seen Lebron become MVP and come little bitty Akron Ohio it really inspired me to do the same with hip hop. Just know I plan on continually using my talent to grow throughout my territory and beyond.

What’s next on the list for The “Mid-West King”?

ummmm lets see.lol but nah I just plan on staying busy and working hard and remaining humble as I climb this success ladder and if Grammy’s and platinum plaques come with that then expect all of the above from the Midwest King baby.

Where can we find you online?

www.iamromey.com, www.myspace.com/getrichrecords, www.youtube.com, www.twitter.com/romeymdwestking

Any shout outs?

Big Shout out to Hood Grown for taking time with a real hood grown hustler such as myself. Then I just wanna shout out Get Rich Records G’s & R’s all day every day my staff and personnel is the reason I’ve made it this far real talk.