“When I had the opportunity to meet him at a Soul Assassins event, I was even more impressed. We spoke for a bit, and it turns out, Rome had lived in my neighborhood for a while—Queens Village/Hollis, the heart of that hip-hop spirit. Hearing that personal connection really put things into perspective. It’s clear that his life experiences have shaped his music, and he’s one of the few artists who still brings that authenticity to the forefront.”