Today we’d like to introduce you to Koren Rolle.
Hi Koren, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
First, I would like to thank God for making all of this possible. Love you Big Dawg! Second, Everybody who’s reading this! Let’s Work
My story begins where most black stories began, Poverty. To be more specific, growing up we had just enough for us to be among the blessed but not enough to make a difference financially. My dad worked a 16 hr job and my mother stayed home to tend to the 6 of us ( Oh did I forget to say that? Yea, there were 6 of us). So what that means is food x6, clothes x6, shoes x6, on many occasions we just didn’t have.
One Christmas my parents got me a CD player and the “20th Century masters The best of the Jackson 5” album. Man, when I tell you I wore that cd out! Mind you I am the only one in my family that can sing so everybody was irritated because I would sing around the house all the time. From that, I developed a love for music and songwriting. I would write all the time and try new ways to structure a song.
In college, I was always on the move and always in the groove. I would sing at every talent show I could and wouldn’t hesitate to appease a crowd of listeners. I started a group with a few of my boys( Anthony, Jae, Kennan(Perfect), and Tylan) and we would practice all the time in the piano room and sing around town. Back then boy bands were hot! So we were doing what was considered to be hot at the time. We took it a little serious for a bit but nothing major. We realized that none of us had the drive to put in what was needed at that time.
Homelessness! Something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. This is where I found myself throughout college. My grades were tanking and I was too hard-headed to do something about it. Even though I worked a full-time job I would blow my money on keeping up the “image” instead of keeping up as an adult. I lost my apartment and resorted to sneaking into the dorm rooms while they were closed due to summer break. My Brother Dejr Bostick (@blkmenmedidate) would bring me food whenever he could but he had his own problems to deal with at the time so there were many nights of hunger.
Ms. Portee Tribute.
There was a lady by the name of Ms. Portee that took me under her wing while I was in college. She shared what little she had and always treated me as her son. We worked at the same job so a lot of people didn’t know this but Ms. Portee and I talked for hours and hours about everything including scriptures and football. For a young black man growing up in the street alone, she reminded me of my mother and gave me that sense of security. R.I.P Ms. Portee and you will forever be missed!
Fast-forward. Everything after that was pretty much struggle struggle struggle until the pandemic hit😂. I took all that time to fix myself. I found my wife Star Rolle (@Thecurlstop). I have 2 beautiful daughters September and Ocean Rolle. I was able to start my own business (@Officiallybeardbased) and was able to accumulate multiple streams of income from movies, Instagram, Music Streams, Turo, Stocks, etc.
NOW
My music is really why I brought you guys here though! I have been ever so blessed to be a part of some incredible projects with some incredible artists! It’s a blessing that I travel to different studio sessions and cook up some amazing tracks. I’m also grateful for the lessons I learn and what’s to come. I was able to lock in and find my passion and love for music again. I have music out on all platforms and I have a vlog called All Around the World. I also am big on fitness and I’ve lost over 20 pounds in 3 months. I would love for you guys to follow my journey and take advice from my experiences.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Nothing worth going for is a smooth road. What have you learned on the way? What have you done to make yourself worthy of what you want? The bumps along the way build the character. It’s the bumps that create the foundation. “Ce qui sera sera”. Just enjoy the road whether smooth or bumpy and stay focused on the end goal with tenacity!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What do you do?
-As a musician what don’t you do? You have to make sure that if there’s ever a budget cut they wouldn’t dare think about cutting you, so to make that possible you do it all. When I’m at DABG Studios I usually produce, mix, engineer, master, sing, song write, rap, act, video editing, I mean the list goes on and I continue to learn and get better every day.
What do you specialize in?
-Even though I am good enough to pass by with a lot of stuff I specialize in Singing and Songwriting. I always like to say that God gave me the gift to write before he gave me the gift to sing. I can write anything. I’m talking down to slogans for companies. I love anything dealing with writing and it’s just a bonus that I can put a melody to it😂.
What are you known for?
-Hands Down, I am known for my writing. When people tell others about me there will always be two things that they will never forget to mention. My work ethic and my penmanship
What are you most proud of?
-I’m not even going to lie, this is a tough one. I have had so many accomplishments in my life that just picking one is like an insult to the others. So with that in mind, I’m going to go that safe route and say, my kids! They are what I’m most proud of! I know I know, I took the easy road.
What sets you apart from others?
I do what needs to be done! People identify you by the things that set you apart. “A coward dies a thousand deaths. A soldier dies but once”- Tupac Shakar. I don’t want to be a coward when it comes to the things I push for. I got homies getting Grammy Nomo’s in these streets. I can’t see great and not be great. That is what sets me apart.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking?
To be honest I would say I am a risk-taker. I take a risk on myself and my music every time I put something out. All of us do! I honestly feel like stepping outside of the norm in society nowadays is a risk. Especially as a black man. We have to work harder than the next person no matter what the subject or the venture. As a musician when you release something you ask yourself over and over again was it ready, what will their reaction be? Is this going to be the one or is it the next one? Everything in life and growth consists of risk. If you ever wanted to consider yourself a successful individual it all starts with risk. So if you are someone chasing your dreams or finding ways to better yourself every day, we are all risk-takers.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/chylmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChylMusic/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/chylmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KorenRolle/featured
