With the magnetism of a polished performer and entrepreneurial spirit of a seasoned businessman, Rover is the new generation of hip-hop artist. Combining deep and witty storytelling with an impeccable flow, intense charisma, and an incredible drive to succeed, he has refused to wait, rather hitting the streets and creating his own opportunities.
Using his music as an outlet, Rover translates his journey, both struggles and victories, into memorable snippets of life told smoothly over slick harmonies, hard drums, and deep base lines. Rover breathes his personal experiences into his songs by speaking of his love and lust for women, the allure of street life, commitment to success, and everything in between.
Born Ramon Pasos in 1981, Rover was raised by his mother and stepfather after his biological father passed away in a motorcycle accident 3 days before Rover was born. A lovingly strict woman whose goal was to keep her son away from the harsh streets of the South Bronx, she taught Rover the ideals of hard work, the power of conviction, and appreciation for the blessings that life gave them. Inevitably, Rover also learned from the smooth talking hustlers and gangsters, the unofficial 'role models' of his neighborhood, by adopting their infectious charm, confidence, and steadfastness in the face of adversity.
Rover's first love was not music but basketball. Rover quickly made a name for himself as a promising young athlete. Then one day his good friend Mike Dog challenged him to write a rhyme. The two took it to their school guidance counselor and landed a slot on an upcoming talent show where they became a crowd favorite. Still it was not until several years later, when Rover met Jimbo, a producer who lived in his apartment building, that he began to take the possibility of a career in music seriously. The pair would hole up in the studio, where Jimbo encouraged Rover to focus and 'master his flow,' working on developing a unique delivery, as well as hard-hitting and consistent lyrics.
In 2001, still recording heavily, Rover and his good friend Smooth founded an independent label "Bottomline Entertainment" and began hitting the club circuit. The two rapidly built a name for themselves within the industry. Rover's first single, “Trick Please†was a success relying heavily on word-of-mouth. Despite limited promotion ‘Trick Please’ was picked up by radio stations from New York City to Orlando, and appeared on several underground mixtapes. The partners soon decided to release a full Rover mixtape, which they sold in Mom & Pop CD and DVD stores, barbershops, the Internet, and out of the trunk of their cars. In total they distributed almost 6,500 copies.
The buzz from the single brought new opportunities to connect with radio, expand Rover's fan base, and perform in more substantial venues, including the official “Mase Welcome Back Concert†at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York. Rover shared the bill with artists such as Fat Joe, Elephant Man, Mobb Deep, Lil' Flip and Mase. Soon after, Rover released a second mixtape, “The Crack is Back,†building the BottomLine catalog and creating even more noise in the marketplace. In July of 2004 “Trick Please†landed on the turntables of popular New York City DJ, DJ Cipha Sounds, who was impressed with Rover's talent. He offered Rover a joint venture deal with his imprint, JackMove. Although, ultimately the deal did not come to completion, it helped Rover increase both his fan base and his knowledge of the music business. In January of 2006, Rover released his latest mixtape titled “World Thru My Eyes.†Unlike its predecessors, “World Thru My Eyes†received a major lift from industry heavyweight DJ Green Lantern and Team Invasion.
Rover is currently in the studio recording a full album for tentative release in 2007. Working with production heavyweights such as Sam Sneed, Prestige, Young Lord and GMM, the album promises to be a classic. With his newest single “Dip†heating up the airwaves and dance clubs alike, Rover is poised and ready to bring his career to the next level.
