By: R. City

Hitmaker Theron “Uptown” Thomas is one half of the brother duo R. City, who is responsible for some of Pop music’s biggest records to date. Having worked with the likes of Rihanna, Lizzo, Jennifer Hudson, Adam Levine, The Pussy Cat Dolls and Akon to name a few, this living legend plans to impact the careers of many more hotshots in the new year.

I had the pleasure of catching up with this hotshot for a candid interview to discuss finding longevity, creating music with his brother and working with some of Pop music’s most notable acts. Check it out below.

Theron Thomas Interview 

Respect: How did you get your start in the music business?

Theron: I officially started in the business in 2007. My brother and I were in a big group in the Caribbean especially the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. We got famous over there and then moved to the states in 2000 to try to make it. It took us 7 years to finally get in. We got in as songwriters but we were trying to make it as artists. A song we wrote in the 7th grade called “The Rain” got us that foot in the door. We didn’t even know that people wrote songs for other people.

So my best friend who was and is still Akon’s DJ let me know that Akon was working on his next album. So he played a few songs for me, and me being young and arrogant I said I can write a better song than the ones he had played. He then asked me to play the song I had in mind. I played “The Rain” and he loved it. My friend called me and told me Akon wanted the song but I was like “why would he sing a song we wrote?”

He then said people write songs for people over here in the states and Akon bought our song for $5000. That was the most money we had ever received at that time. I had a daughter catching the bus so for me I could not believe people paid that much money for a song. After working with Akon people started hitting us up asking us if we wrote songs and it just went on from there.

Respect: What is it like creating music with your brother and how R. City came about?

Theron: Making music with my brother is fun. We both respect each other’s talent and allow each other to lead in the areas that we are experts at. The good part is that sometimes we clash and the music is better because of that. Sometimes I want to do this and he wants to do something else and that friction creates this unique sound.

How we got our name R. City is because we are from St. Thomas, which is known as “Rock City”. We couldn’t legally release music under the moniker “Rock City” so we dropped the Rock and called ourselves R. City, which stands for Rock City.

Respect: When did you catch your big break? 

Theron: I would say linking with Akon is when I caught my big break for sure because it opened up a door that never closed. It was a small opening and once it opened we kicked the door down and bum-rushed our way in. The door never closed on us after that point.

Respect: Can you describe the relationship between R. City & Adam Levine of Maroon 5?

Theron: It is good! Adam Levine embraced us and Maroon 5 took us on tour with them. They are the nicest guys. I feel like I am in their debt for life if you ask me. He did not have to do a song with us, he did not have to take us on tour, nor did the band have to agree with him to allow us to come along. Our relationship is good and will remain that way.

Respect: How did working with the Pussy Cat Dolls on their “I Want To Grow Up” release come about and how did it impact you career?

Theron: That was our first hit record. We did it with Rodney Jerkins and it was originally for Britney Spears but it did not fit the space she was in musically at that time. We were signed to Interscope and my A&R at the time Erica Grayson knew we wrote songs so we sent it to her and she loved it. She sent it to Jimmy Lovine and the rest is history. We had a hit “When I Grow Up” and that was the first time people gave us our respect for charting. That led to us getting more big opportunities, so that was a big deal for us. 

Respect: As you have worked with some of pop music’s biggest stars, who are some artist’s career you have heavily influenced?

Theron: I would say people who we have worked with since the beginning of their careers such as Jennifer Hudson who’s This Isn’t Love Album we worked on. It was a Grammy-winning album. Ne-Yo did “Spotlight” and we did “This Isn’t Love “ the single. Lizzo I would have to say as well. I worked on her current album that is out. She was nominated for 8 Grammy Awards.

Out of the 8, she walked away with 3 awards. She is amazing and a really good person. I knew she was special and a star from the day I met her. At the time I was working with Rihanna on her new album, flying back and forth to Paris and London for 2 and a half years not working on anything else. But at the same time, I knew I wanted to work with her because she was so dope and did.

Respect: How has being from the Virgin Islands influenced your music career and taste in music?

Theron: We do not have segregated radio in the islands. Like in America you all have urban radio, pop radio, rhythmic radio meaning that you all have separate genres. In the Virgin Islands, we don’t. If there is a Bob Marley, Aerosmith or Little Keed song they all play on the same radio station. Growing up as kids we never really saw genres because the lines were blurry. It influenced us in a way where we would put hip hop, r&b, soul, pop and rock all in one like gumbo.

Obviously, people thought it was weird at first but then they realized that is what makes R. City unique. One time we were writing a song for Gwen Stefani and she told me that she loved the R&B melody. I didn’t even know that it was an R&B melody. I just liked it because it sounded cool.

Respect: How important is it as an artist and songwriter to have creative freedom? 

Theron: It is very important because with your art you want to make sure people see your vision. I write songs for other artists that I won’t sing so my vision is important. I might write the most gangster hood song for DJ Khaled’s album and then for my album take a completely different direction because that is simply just not who I am. Feel like in the music I want to make sure people are getting to know me as much as I can as well as my brother. We just want people to see what we stand for and what we are into and rock with it.

Respect: What Advice would you give any creative looking to break into the industry as a songwriter?

Theron: Practice makes perfect. Keep on writing and learn how to accept advice. But do not let the advice control you because everybody’s story is different. Like no one no matter what will have my story I don’t care how they try. Nobody is going to move from the Islands with $35 in their pocket. No matter what advice I give you, you have to walk your path. As cliché as it sounds, the best advice anyone can tell you is to never give up. The only people that actually who lose are the people that quit and that is for real.

Respect: What are you currently working on? 

Theron: A kid named 11:11, my good friend Dr. Luke, Mario, Usher, Lordes, A1 LaFlare (singer/songwriter) and I’m currently in the studio with Saweetie. So much love for her and her drive and work ethic. I have a different level of respect for her being in the studio with her seeing her create.

I am also working with Doja Cat on her new album. I did her records “Rules” and “Like It” Feat. Gucci Mane. I am in a space where I want to work with new people and be responsible for ushering in a new wave of talent. Kim Petras is one of the best pop voices in the world. I am super excited about her. That is where I am mentally. It is all about working with new artists.

My son Sumo and I did a kid’s album that we will release this year. He is 7 years old and I am truly excited about that. It’s called Sumo World. I am just in a great space. When I first started music I did it because I had a daughter, I was broke and wanted to take care of her my way. Now money is not an issue, and I’m making music that I love and that I want to hear.

I am ecstatic to also announce that new R. City music is coming soon!! 2020 will be a crazy year!!! 

 Be sure to follow Theron on IG @therontheron_ as he continues his reign over the music business. .

The post Theron “Uptown” Thomas: Pop Hitmaker You Need To Know appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Raja Kumari

Kumari is from LA. Her sound perfectly meshes rap vibes with her Indian roots creating something very special. Her EP, The Come Up is refreshing on the ears and bound to be different to what you’ve ever heard before in hip-hop.

Although this is the Raja Kumari’s debut EP, she’s already gathered accolades for herself. She’s collaborated with Timbaland and Iggy Azalea. With her songwriting hat on, Kumari is also Grammy Award nominated and has worked with Fallout Boy and Gwen Stefani in the past who has had nothing but great words about her:

“Raja is an amazing artist and songwriter and I am so lucky to have worked with her on a number of songs on my album. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for her”.

For Raja, this EP is all about positivity and will no doubt leave you wanting to hear more from her.

“The Come Up is a collection of songs that mean a lot to me and the positive message that I want to share. I can’t wait to finally be able to share a body of my own work with people who love music.”

Stream the EP on Spotify or iTunes.

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The post Raja Kumari Debuts 6 Track EP, ‘The Come Up’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

For thousands, New York City is called “home” by creatives who have flocked to the unofficial capital of the world just to get a chance at fulfilling their dreams. For Mexican-born, California-bred photographer Alejandro Garcia, this pilgrimage holds true. After completing his BA in Photography at the San Francisco Academy of Art University, Garcia made his way to the Big Apple to fulfill his “want for more.” For the past four years, the 29-year-old photographer has been honing in his craft as a freelancer in the concrete jungle while exploring his creativity to accomplish his goals. Possibly even that one aspiration of his that includes breaking into Gwen Stefani’s house to get the perfect shot.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to get a shot?

 Well, it’s not really crazy; it was just that I had to wait a really long time, pretty much all day, to get a shot. After I got the shot, it was all worth it. It was when Miley Cyrus and Mike Will Made It were shooting a music video and I was the behind-the-scenes photographer. At the video shoot, there were just so many people around her and my job was to get shots of her. It was so hard. Later on in the day, I was hanging out in Mike Will’s dressing room and I guess he saw I was trying to get a photo of her and he was like, “Just hang out here and I’ll get Miley to come in.” It was just crazy because I had to wait all day.

Most memorable shoot?

 Every shoot that I’ve done has always been good. I’ve never had a bad shoot. You know, there will be things that stick out like little details. Like, oh the clothing was really cool, the models and stylists were so much fun to work with, or there was crazy music, but it’s just little things that make everything stand out to me. I don’t really have a top favorite.

Where have we seen your work?

Fashion blogs, online magazines, Inked magazine, The Source. If you’re a fan of my work and you’re keeping up to date with what I’m doing, you can follow my work on Instagram (@thec00l) and see what I’m up to and see where my work is headed towards.

Who are some photographers that you admire?

 David LaChapelle. I love his work. Much more his older stuff, not so much what he’s doing now. I love Cindy Sherman. She’s amazing at just taking pictures of her and making a career out of it. It’s like she’s the queen of selfies. Michael Thompson is amazing, as well. Richard Avedon. I feel like they are so good at creating a world and that world they’re going to capture though a photo…among all this chaos that they’ve created just to get this particular shot is amazing because you get so many different emotions and feelings. People look at art in so many different ways, but in their world, they’re creating something that they themselves came up with. For other people to interpret it as something else is pretty cool because…they wanted to create chaos within this space. So, thinking like that has helped me, in a sense, kind of create my own atmosphere, my own world in the space that I was able to work with.

What’s your ideal soundtrack for a shoot (to keep you moving)?

 It would definitely have to be something upbeat. I feel like for any photo shoot, the music keeps the vibe going. It keeps you in the zone. Sometimes when I’m shooting, I love to listen to The Weekend because I just feel like his music is the same throughout the whole album. The mood doesn’t really change so you can work at a pace where you know you’re good. I want the make-up artist to do her thing, I want the stylist to take his time and do a good job, and when I’m shooting, I want to do a good job so I don’t want to rush anybody.

Top 5 dead, alive, or fictional: Who do you want to shoot?

 Gwen Stefani is my number one. I love Gwen Stefani. James Dean. I love me some James Dean. And then, Cleo from Set It Off, Clint Eastwood, and Quentin Tarintino.

What would make you turn down a million dollar shoot?

I don’t want to turn down a million dollars! (Laughs) I guess, if I had a vision that I wanted to do with a huge publication and everything was great; we have a date, we have makeup, we have the whole crew. If the day of the shoot we have everything and something happens with the art director and he comes up to me saying, “Oh, so-and-so doesn’t like the idea. We want to change the whole thing.” If they tried to make it their own, I feel like I would feel some type of way because I would feel like I was being molded into what they want me to be. It’s like, I was supposedly hired because you guys liked my vision.

If it was guaranteed you would get it, which shot would you be willing to go to jail for?

Probably sneaking into Gwen Stefani’s mansion and photographing her while she’s sleeping. I just feel like if I’m going to sneak into her house, she would have to be sleeping so she doesn’t know I’m there and doesn’t call the cops. And then that photo could end up in Vanity Fair. It will be high fashion. But I’ll probably end up in jail and won’t get credit for the photo.

What do you want people to take away from your work?

 The rawness of my work. It’s not make-believe. If I see somebody walking down the street and I take a photo of them, when I show it to people, I want them to be like, “Wow! You took this? You made them look so good!” Yeah, because that’s how they look. I’m not emphasizing anything. This is just me capturing a simple photo. Everyone is walking by this person, but nobody stops and focuses on just one subject. Everyone is so busy going to Point A and Point B. I feel like with my photos, I want people to take away the simplicity, but at the same time, the beauty of it.

The post RESPECT. Photographer of the Month: March Edition appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Since Adian Coker made his tongue-twisting debut with “Cream”, we’ve been waiting with baited breath for his follow-up. Today, he finally makes his return, channeling his inner demons on the freshly-minted “Suicide Drive”. The hard-hitting joint finds the South London rapper furiously rhyming in typically grand fashion with enough lyrical ammunition to overload his own slinking electronic, synth-bass boardwork. The accompanying video displays Adian’s unique artistry while boasting futuristic elements with video game-inspired sequences, multi-coloured effects and daunting imagery. Watch below.

Critical note: he uses Gwen Stefani as a verb.

The post New Video: Adian Coker – “Suicide Drive” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.