Rocca
Comparable to MC Hammer, Jesse Jaymes, J.J. Fad, and Vanilla Ice, Rocca was among the commercial pop-rappers who were active in Los Angeles in the late '80s and early '90s. The obscure Rocca, a white rapper, was untouched by the violent, profanity-drenched gangsta rap that was ubiquitous on the West Coast at the time; his music was crossover pop-rap all the way. And even though Rocca never enjoyed much commercial success, his recordings were quite radio-friendly.
Rocca was born and raised in L.A., where he signed with the independent AVC Entertainment in 1990. Founded by producer Jay Warsinske (who has also gone by Jim Warsinske and James Warsinske), AVC was a small label that was interested in hip-hop as well as rock and urban contemporary; AVC subsequently changed its name to Solid Entertainment and, after that, Activate Entertainment (a name it was still using in 2003). AVC also had some hardcore rappers in the early '90s (most notably, Madrok), but with Rocca, AVC wanted a crossover rapper -- and Warsinske's company went after the pop/Top 40 and urban contemporary markets when it released Rocca's first single, "In 2 the Night," in 1991. "In 2 the Night" wasn't meant to appeal to the N.W.A./Ice-T/Above the Law/Compton's Most Wanted crowd; AVC felt that Rocca was someone who could appeal to the sort of pop and urban contemporary fans who were getting into crossover rappers like Hammer, Salt-N-Pepa, Sir Mix-A-Lot, and Young MC.
In 1993, AVC released Rocca's debut album, Sexy Smooth, which wasn't the hit that Warsinske's company had been hoping for. After that, Rocca parted company with AVC and faded into even greater obscurity.
© Alex Henderson /TiVo
Similar artists
-
CIMARRON (Français)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by El Original Prod. on Mar 10, 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Les Jeunes De L'Univers
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Urban on Jun 1, 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Entre Deux Mondes
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Universal Music Division Barclay on Jan 1, 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
CIMARRÓN (Español)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by El Original Productions on Mar 29, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
La Vida Loca (Bande originale du film)
Film Soundtracks - Released by Sober & Gentle on Mar 1, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Elevación
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Universal Music Division Barclay on Apr 24, 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
RELATIF (Français)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by El Original Prod. on Jan 24, 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Le calme sous la pluie
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Urban on Jul 22, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Comme Une Sarbacane
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Urban on Jan 1, 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Amour Suprême
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Universal Music Division Barclay on Jan 1, 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
CRIMINEL (Français)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by El Original Prod. on Feb 24, 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
-
La Vida Loca (Bande Originale Du Film: Musique de Rocca)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by El Original Productions on Mar 1, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sabotaje
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by El Original Productions on Jun 30, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
COMME UN AIMANT (Français)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by El Original Prod. on Dec 21, 2022
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
PA' LOS MAYORES
Afrobeat - Released by El Original Productions on Feb 23, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
La Vida Loca (Bande Originale Du Film: Musique de Rocca)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Rocca on Mar 1, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Como un imán
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by El Original Productions on Oct 20, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
El Gran Feat
Rocca, Doble Porción, Crudo Means Raw
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Rocca on Jul 27, 2018
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
LE TEMPS LE DIRA (Français)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by DEMAIN on Sep 7, 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo