The Otherside, his 2010 mixtape, detailed his leap from dream-chasing student to professional musician; 2012’s Driving 88 was heavily inspired by the Back to the Future films and time- travel; and 2013’s Electric Highway continued his full-speed-ahead path toward his goals. And while mic skills and a propensity for bangers have firmly planted Rockie Fresh’s flag in the hip- hop world, his collaborations and associations with alternative-leaning artists like Ed Sheeran, Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, Good Charlotte, and John Mayer, as well as tours with G-Easy and Torey Lanez, have helped his star to rise on other platforms as well. The 2016 full-length debut, The Night I Went To…, with the smash single “Call Me When It’s Over” featuring Chris Brown, cemented his status, paving the way for his 2019 lane change from MMG to Rostrum (home of Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller) and the huge year ahead.

“This upcoming album is a combination of everything I’ve learned in the past,” he says. “I’ve always been a huge fan of different types of music, and when I work with diverse artists I have to remain myself creatively. I always try to pay homage to the artists that inspire me in an original way. My interpretation of music, acting off of my inspirations, and honing in on my experiences has created my original sound.”

“For lack of a better term, I’m a real freak of nature when it comes to making music,” he says. “I just get in the booth, let the beat lead me, and do it. I don’t want the same flow on every song; I’m big on finding different cadence patterns and not being redundant. That approach challenges me to find different production that pushes me to say things differently. It comes so naturally to me that I never overthink my topics; I’ll just be in front of the mic and go at it. I don’t even know where some of this comes from. I’m a firm believer in God, and certain things I’ve been able to do can only come from that. I just feel like I was born to do this.”

While his present destination may be fully in sight, no one but Rockie Fresh knows where he will end up—and the sky is truly the limit. From his mounting experience and his vantage in the driver’s seat, Chicago’s finest is wise enough to keep one eye on the rearview while fully concentrating on the road ahead.

“I’m always reflecting on my past and able to look back and appreciate what I did well or what I can learn from, but I’m focused on looking forward, too, because there are so many more things I want to accomplish in the future,” Rockie says. “I’m a little older now and able to reflect and
speak on my experiences. From a creative standpoint I’m going to be forever growing, and I always challenge myself to make better music. But I’m in a very blessed situation and I’ve been able to work with a lot of artists I look up to, and they’ve shown such great respect for my creativity and trust me. I want to connect with people and put forth a certain vibe in the music community, get Grammys and tour at a high level, and add more of a legacy to the name Rockie Fresh.”