Joe Roc | ‘New Roc City EP’, The Father of Merc Mondays
It’s a true pleasure to introduce Joe Roc and his new album ‘New Roc City’. If you’re the type to value a true lyrical wizard & an artist who adapts with fluidity, this is the album for you. With 90s boom-bap blood infused in him, he’s a chameleon in the way he blends in with the modern trap Hip-Hop era. The King of Merc Mondays, an Instagram series where Joe Roc has committed to dropping enticing freestyle visual content for over 60 weeks straight, this man isn’t playing games. He puts his heart & soul into Hip-Hop, and this new album is a testament to his greatness.
Literally got chills from the intro. He starts out ‘New Roc City’ with a recording from a show he performed with the crowd literally screaming his name, and infused with a Nujabes Lofi instrumental that puts the Westchester rhyme slayer in Jesus’ light. The perfect way to tee up into his first track ‘RAH!’. While we’re on the topic of the holy, the vocal harmonies Joe Roc had sampled in this beat feels like Opera singers throwing up hail marys. How one can use something so pure and create a banging hype track off it is unthinkable. Joe Roc slides off in his usual style of ripping up the beat with endless flows & sharpened verses.
Right off of ‘RAH!’ sneaks in ‘Where We at’ featuring Duval & Tmmyx. This has to be the track off the album that has some of the most replayability. Rap Fiesta envisions this being the song of choice at any house party to get people jumping. From the melodic bits from Duval, the machine gun energy from TmmyX, and Joe Roc’s ability to tie in 15 different elements together with his flow switches- he has a very strong single to show for the album.
‘Ay, Send a text. Ay, Send a snap. Ay, where the party? That’s where we at. Ain’t nobody gonna miss me when I’m gone. – Joe Roc
This dude has a vibe for every single mood you can endure. Without a question ‘Oh Man’ has to be one of my favorite tracks off the album. It’s smooth, emotional, and melodically sound. It’s clear how thought out ‘New Roc City’ is. He didn’t focus on capturing one mood for the entirety of the project, there is a song for every person to enjoy on this album. The chorus is filthy with catchy melodies and contains an ambiance that entrances you. Joe Roc’s pen game is truly well polished, and Rap Fiesta was lucky enough to ask the Westchester County artist where he got his start in the rap game,
I’ve been writing poetry, stories, and lyrics my whole life… I been playing guitar since I was 8. But it wasn’t until I was in high school that I would start freestyling with friends in between classes and that turned into writing rap verses over instrumentals we found on YouTube… 2017 was when I first started putting music out… shortly after I got my first live show at an artist showcase. The second I hit that stage I knew this was all I wanted to do with my time on earth and it’s been that way ever since. – Joe Roc
With influences like Eminem, Big L, and a Tribe Called Quest in the young Joe Roc’s headphones- it’s no wonder how he acquired the ninja spitting lyrical style he has. With these artists influencing the birth of a lyrical marksman, Joe Roc had to put his skills on display with Merc Mondays. We asked the rapper what sparked him to go on this Hip-Hop journey of aesthetically pleasing rap visuals for over a year straight, and he told us,
It started as a challenge for myself; to be able to make myself create weekly content while also working on my craft…After a couple of episodes it became a part of my routine and after a year straight it’s now taken on a life of its own… I couldn’t miss an episode if I tried. It’s not just for me now it’s for everyone that’s tuned in from episode 1 to now…also I refuse to be outworked I’m Italian, I’m stubborn, it is what it is … I wanted to give myself an opportunity to test my work ethic as well as my versatility as an artist… I also started the series to give talented producers a spotlight that they otherwise aren’t granted due to the idea that you need followers to be validated in this industry…There’s a lot of talented people out there and I hope my platform gives audiences a chance to find out for themselves… Also it’s fun as fuck! – Joe Roc
With that type of mentality and an album that is infused with bangers, Joe Roc’s is future is bright. Without tooting his horn too much, we need to touch on one more track. Casamigos is the one that will intoxicate you with exuberant confidence and put you in your bag. This is the only time you can consume Casamigos and acquire a Blood Alcohol level of .08 without drinking any alcohol, listen to this heater before you get behind the wheel.
Joe Roc, Father of Merc Mondays
With Joe Roc (originally dubbed Joey Rocks by his pops), the Italian-American bar spitter found his love for music listening to oldies in Papa Joe Roc’s bronco. With that mental image in my mind, he had an obligation to make proper of that moniker, and thus Joe Roc was born.
It’d be wise to follow Joe Roc’s Instagram and keep up with boy wonder. His next moves are rooted in evolutionary growth and building out the Joe Roc brand further. We’d be lying if we didn’t admit his merch was fire, we even bought a shirt. Don’t hesitate to do what’s right, stream ‘New Roc City’ now.
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