Dirty Rose 'self-titled' album

"Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else even cared!"--Tupac Shakur . Those words, composed by the late Tupac Shakur, remind us that a thing of beauty -no matter how dirty and tattered, no matter how rugged and flawed -can thrive. That it can push its way through even the tiniest cracks in the concrete in even the darkest corners of the world and find the sunshine and nurturing it needs to grow and prosper.

It was those words that breathed life into Dirty Rose, the dynamic three-man R&B group that sprang up from Houston's toughest neighborhoods to create a sound that is melodious, innovative and inspiring.

"Initially we came up with the name Dirty Rose because it describes us best due to our music," says group member Zandric. "It's like finding something beautiful with some edginess or rough ends to it or like raw materials in a natural state, untampered with. It's not just a rose, it's dirty. That definitely describes us as far as our sound, our image and how we were raised. It's the same as Tupac's poem."

And Dirty Rose's sound is as much an oxymoron as their name. According to Chase, another Dirty Rose member, “you can hear the 'hood and the roughness on the beats and the vocals, but it's still R&B music. It's still soft and loving. Our image too -we're easy on the eyes, just three guys with a street appeal that everyone can relate to.”

Chase, 23; Zandric, 24; Q, 24, grew up in Houston's southwest side, 3rd Ward, and Greenspoint areas where they worked odd jobs while continuing to perfect their craft. Eventually they approached fellow Houston native Bryan Michael Cox, the prolific producer who has crafted hits for superstars like Usher, Jagged Edge, Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson, Jessica Simpson, B2K and BowWow. “B.Cox” was taken not only by the group's talent, but by their story as well. "The whole circumstances of how they came together and the struggles they've been through is what intrigued me," he states. "I feel they have the concept of struggle and it comes through in their vocals. They got their stripes. By far there is not a group out here singing like them and I’m hearing that all across the board -even from the haters. They're staying true to what they know and that's what I want them to do."

After coming together with the group and working on several songs with them, B.Cox decided to pluck Dirty Rose - thorns and all ---and make them the first act to be put on by his Black Baby Productions, and his faith in his three homeboys could not be deeper. "I’m committed to seeing this all the way through," he affirms.

Known for their soulful vocals and engaging lyrical content, Dirty Rose is proud to be carrying the torch for R&B music, building on the contributions made by fellow R&B groups like Jodeci, an act to whom they've often been compared. “Jodeci sang songs, they entertained, they captured the audience and brought them into their world, took them on a journey, an experience. We're gonna bring back that whole vibe, energy and style of R&B. We wanna bring the love for it back,” says Zandric.

And Dirty Rose has the music to do just that --none of what B.Cox refers to as ‘microwave R&B.’ Instead, their music is well-seasoned with emotion, marinated with just the right blend of smooth R&B and hip-hop edginess and cooked to simmering perfection.

“We've got some grimy beats, a grimy sound. We're gonna have a party just like a rapper would. We can get on stage and give the people a show like they've never seen before. We're entertainers and I think that good entertaining, good singing, good music will break through.” expresses Chase.

One of Dirty Rose's dirtiest 'street' records is “Not A Game” which features Interscope rapper Slim Thug and Aftermath rapper Stat Quo. “Relationships are not a game, remarks Q. They should be taken seriously. If you gone be friends with benefits, let it be known and everyone agrees, or things could get really messy.”

A record in the same vein is “Just Like Us.” “This song hits home to anyone who’s ever cheated or been cheated on,” proclaims Chase. “It's about being in a relationship and the man is picking up on clues of a cheating woman. And the woman denies it. He lets the woman know, that guys know they creep too. The only difference is their cleverer with it.”

“All For Love” is the jump off smash hit single for the trio. “This song simply put, is about a man that's willing to pay any price, travel any distance for his lady. Even if she doesn't agree with the things he may do in the street, he does it all for love,” explains Zan.

A group favorite is “What U Need”, remixed and called “H-Town”. "You have to rep were you’re from and show ya pride at all times. We must let the world know how we get down in Houston. How we pour up, how we ride, what type of ladies we like etc.. You get the picture,” says Chase.

Sure to be a timeless and classic ballad, is the record “Monumental”. “That's a B.Cox special,” acknowledges Zan. "It's about the pinnacle, the prototype of relationships. Some thing everyone strives for. It's worthy of celebration each and every day. It didn't just happen over-night though; it took blood, sweat, and tears to reach that final level; thus, monumental.”

Dirty Rose has made many sacrifices for the sake of their dreams. And the road has been anything but easy, with lots of twists and turns, lots of potholes and cracks in the concrete. “We've packed up and drove to LA, packed up and drove to Atlanta, packed up and drove to Memphis. We've gotten jobs for a week, gotten a check and quit. We've done everything humanly possible to get where we're trying to go. A lot of people have told us it won't work, that we sing too soulful but we can only do us. We can only do what we do. We just want to be the number one R&B group of our generation, our moment in time. We want to be the group that makes people fall in love with R&B again. If it takes three albums, if it takes thirty albums, we want to accomplish that!” declares Q.

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Dirty Rose - self-titled