Rock City

Rock City has penned countless multi-platinum smashes including Rihanna’s “Pour It Up”, Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop”, Becky G’s “Shower”, as well as songs for Justin Bieber, Usher, Future, and many others.

R. City’s influence remains inescapable. In fact, the songwriting and production pair of brothers Theron and Timothy Thomas have penned countless multi-platinum smashes including Rihanna’s “Pour It Up”, Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop”, Becky G’s “Shower”, as well as songs for Justin Bieber, Usher, Future, and many others. However, the world will really hear what this dynamic duo can do on their forthcoming full-length artist debut for Kemosabe Records/RCA Records.

“The number one priority is to tell our story,” affirms Theron. “This album is the introduction to R. City. When we’re writing for other artists, we write the script, and they act it out. Now, you’re about to know who we are.”

It starts back in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands where Theron and Timothy grew up enamored by their parents’ hip-hop records. Their own dream started to materialize after catching a glimpse of Jay-Z filming his music video on the island which, “made doing music real,” as Timothy puts it.

The door into the music industry doesn’t open easily for anyone though, never mind a group emerging from the hood of St. Thomas.

“When people come to the Virgin Islands, they come here on vacation,” sighs Theron. “They don’t want a demo CD. They don’t care. When you live in the projects somewhere, you want your hood to be known. We want people to know St. Thomas. The island’s nickname is Rock City—hence our name.”

So, they traded St. Thomas for Atlanta. In order to survive, Theron and Timothy performed at local talent shows, winning so many that they eventually were asked to forfeit further participation. After moving back to the island to regroup, longtime friend DJ Benny D heard a song the guys had composed years prior entitled “Rain”. At the DJ’s suggestion, Akon listened and bought the track for his 2006 breakout Konvicted.

As R. City solidified themselves as one of the business’s most sought-after writing and production teams, the twosome never stopped writing music of their own. Their output proved prolific over the course of 15 free mixtapes and guest appearances on tracks for the likes of Flo Rida, Ace Hood, Rick Ross, Pitbull, Janet Jackson, and more. In 2014, they inked a deal with Dr. Luke’s Kemosabe Records, reaching a new plateau altogether.

“Musically, we want to do something you’ve never heard,” says Timothy. “We grew up on American culture as well as Caribbean culture. So, we look up to all of these great rappers as well as Elephant Man, Beenie Man, and The Fugees. They’re all sprinkles of what makes up R. City.”

The group’s first official single “I’m That” featuring 2 Chainz certainly nods to their Caribbean roots, while boasting deft mic skills, soulful delivery, and an invigoratingly fearless approach. In between a sample of the Beenie Man classic “Who Am I? Sim Simma”, Theron and Timothy trade incendiary bars punctuated by a slick 2 Chainz cameo.

“It introduces us,” says Theron. “In the song, we’re talking about where we’re from and our aspirations to do very big things.” “When you say you’re from St. Thomas, people assume you grew up on the beach,” continues Timothy. “I’m not trying to glorify that we’re from the slums, but we didn’t grow up on the beach. We wanted to show both sides of our home on the single. It’s beautiful, but it’s also very violent.”

Those dynamics define R. City’s sound. That’s what makes it so focused, fresh, and fiery. Some moments will make you sing, dance, and laugh, while others will make you think, cry, and love. Most importantly, you’ll hopefully leave this town with a little bit of inspiration.

“When people listen to this album, I want them to feel like nobody can ever tell them the word ‘No,’” concludes Theron. “This is for anybody who’s ever heard that word.”

“It’s a temporary word,” agrees Timothy. “Don’t believe it.”

Theron goes on, “You just need one person at a time to say ‘Yes.’ I want everybody to think, ‘These dudes came from where and they did this? I can do it!’ We want to be the face of overcoming adversity. We come from St. Thomas. Look at where we are now.”

Welcome to R. City.