As a music industry veteran, Duane “DaRock†Ramos knows about passion. For the past fifteen years, he has overcome obstacles and broken down barriers to become one of the most established producer-writers in music today. DaRock began his remarkable journey in entertainment as a teenager between Boston and New Jersey as a rapper. After “paying his dues†performing shows along the east coast and enjoying some successes such as recording with Whitney Houston, he moved to Los Angeles to cultivate his rap career. But fate had a different direction for him. Soon, he would develop his talent as a producer, and it was to be in this avenue that his career would take flight.
From his big break producing for Big Daddy Kane (an opportunity for which DaRock sneaked himself in backstage at a show), he caught the attention of industry executives, acquiring a publishing deal with Windswept Pacific at the age of 21. Over the years, this “accidental producer†has worked with some of the largest names in music both in the US and abroad, including Janet Jackson, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, The Game, and others; he has also remixed many other chart-topping artists such as Mary J. Blige, Pussycat Dolls, Keyshia Cole, and many more. Building on the passion that propelled him into the business, his incomparable work ethic allowed him to develop his own imprint, Make Da Plug Productions, featuring a unique roster of talent. Recently, his company’s labor has begun to bear fruit: DaRock has brokered deals for hit producers Chaka Blackmon (Christina Aguilera), Ricc Rude (Destiny’s Child), and Flip Matrix (Ice Cube, Scarface). With an ear for hit records and the heart of an artist, his expertise has been sought by dozens of artists, producers, and industry professionals on a wide array of projects. But DaRock is still dreaming bigger.
Realizing the immeasurable opportunity in a Latino market 38 million people strong and rapidly growing, he has shifted his focus to this underserved segment. The climate for urban music for young Latinos, who became the country’s largest ethnic youth population in 2005, is explosive: retail shipments of Latin music jumped 14% in 2005 (after a 24% increase in 2004), and the urban sector of Latin music is the fastest growing segment at a growth rate of 275% from 2005 to 2006 (source: RIAA). DaRock contributed production to Grammy-nominated reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel (Pa’l Mundo) in 2005. Now partnering with Machete Music/Universal, a premiere urban/Latin label based in Los Angeles, DaRock is coming full-circle, showcasing his talents as producer and artist on his own compilation album, entitled “Puro Fuegoâ€. The offering is a fusion of Latin, hip-hop, and R&B sounds that will hit stores November 2007.
On the hip-hop front, DaRock stays busy as well: he is executive producing hip-hop legend KRS-1’s forthcoming album (due out early 2008), featuring an impressive line-up of MC’s such as Nas, Eminem, and Fat Joe. But DaRock doesn’t let the success relax him; he is just as hungry now as when he first broke in the business. He continues to work with new talent, willing to give anyone a shot that shows the same kind of passion that’s carried him very far.
