Ro James | Episode 2
CREDITS: Ro James wears Rastah’s “Eye of the Storm” block print bomber jacket, Levi’s jeans, Gucci boots, and Balenciaga sunglasses.
“I’m not holding myself back from anything anymore,” Ro James tells me as he drives through New York City’s Lower East Side. “For any reason.”
It’s been four years since the singer-songwriter released his sophomore album, Mantic–a project that came as COVID-19 chained us all to our living room couches and stopped the world. During that quiet time, well, a lot happened to Ronnie James Tucker.
Like everyone in the entertainment business during the early pandemmy days, his record label struggled to come up with promotional strategies beyond, “Hey, you should jump on Instagram Live and play music.” Friction with them also grew over constant nudges to make the rugged, rakish artist from, um, all over (the army brat calls New York home, but has lived all over the U.S.) a traditional R&B act.
Loved ones died during the ugly stretch. Then there was a bad breakup with his ex-girlfriend. His mental health took a dive as he tried to stay afloat and “strong” for his daughter at home. By the time vaccines hit and “Back outside” became the theme of 2022, James was trapped in proverbial quicksand–wedged between the frustration of not being able to put out the music he wanted to and the misery of losing family who used to be in his corner. Sinking.
Over the last few days, though, I’ve spoken to a reflective Ro by phone in Los Angeles, laughed with him over drinks at NYC bar Death & Co, and rode shotgun in the city streets with the guy. All while asking probing questions about what it’s like to seemingly be the star of a fantasy and actually be the lead of a nightmare. Now I’m no doctor. But I’ve gotten to a place where I can confidently diagnose him… Solid! Happy even. On the eve of a fresh, genre-defying Ro James musical era, watch the latest episode of THROUGH IT. We celebrate the 10-year anniversary of his Coke, Jack and Cadillacs EP, he explains how he made it out of the darkness, and announces his new creative hub R8T3DR.
“I fell into a depression. Like real bad. I’ve never really been like that, because I was starting to question myself. ‘Am I making great songs? Am I doing the right thing?’”
- Ro James
“I’ll pull up somewhere and probably sit listening to music for an hour. It’s a safe place.”
CREDITS: Ro wears a Nike x ACRONYM® woven jacket, Nike ACG "Smith Summit" Cargo Pants, Nike Air More Uptempo Low x AMBUSH sneakers, a Chanel bucket hat, and Oakley sunglasses.
“I felt like there was more for me. But there was a wall between me and where I was supposed to be.”
“R8T3DR is everything. ‘Respected. Raw. Real…’”
“I’m in a great space.”
Written by Brad Weté
Photographer - Aaron Murray Vazquez
Photo Editor - Joseph Weté
Image Director & Cover Designer - John Marquez