Tru Life

Tru Life
Birth name Roberto Guzmán Rosado, Jr.
Born March 19, 1976
Origin Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper
Years active 1999-2009
Labels Roc-A-Fella
Associated acts Jay-Z

Roberto Guzmán Rosado, Jr.[1] (born March 19, 1976),[2] better known by his stage name Tru Life, is an American rapper of Puerto Rican descent from New York City. He was signed to Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records. His latest release is a mixtape called Tru York, hosted by J-Love. He is part of a loose collective of rappers from New York known as Ghetto Inmates. His career came to a stop when he was arrested for stabbings in June 2009.

Career

Tru Life's career started in 1999 after being signed to Dreamworks Records. His album, Cryin' Out Loud, was scheduled to be released in November 2001. In an interview, Tru Life says "They weren't ready to do black music", and "there were too many bumps in the road, and I couldn't move." He eventually landed an audition with Jay-Z. After more than ten minutes, Tru Life was able to convince Jay-Z of his skills, which prompted Jay-Z to reply "Somebody, get this kid in front of a camera!". He was signed to a six-figure record deal later that evening.[3] Tru Life gained a significant amount of notice when he made an original song "Wet Em Up" for Grand Theft Auto IV's fictional radio station "The Beat 102.7", which was used in the Playboy X trailer released weeks prior to the game.

Tru Life had a feud with Mobb Deep that was documented in the film Beef.[4] He also has a 'beef' with Dipset, in which Tru Life depicted Dipset's Jim Jones wearing a Borat-style mankini; Jones' affiliates retaliating by hacking Tru Life's MySpace page and putting up a similar picture of Tru Life.[5][6]

June 2009 stabbings

On June 15, 2009, Jason Gray, 30, and Christopher Guerrero, 20,also known as ATL, were stabbed in a lobby on E. 26th Street in Manhattan. Roberto Rosado, Jr. and his brother Marcus chased and stabbed Guerrero in the stomach and Gray in the chest. Guerrero died of his wounds and Gray was critically injured. The stabbings were said to have stemmed from a dispute at Club Pacha on W. 46th Street.[1] The brothers were subsequently arrested and charged with murder. Rosado, Jr. was additionally charged with assault and weapons possession.[1]

On February 23, 2011, Rosado, Jr. pleaded guilty to second-degree gang assault and Marcus Rosado, who confessed that he stabbed both of the victims, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter.[7] Rosado, Jr. was sentenced to eight years in prison.[8] He started to serve his sentence in Downstate Correctional Facility on March 22. He is now currently housed at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York.[2] His parole hearing is in February 2016.[9]

Discography

Albums

Mixtapes

Singles

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Gendar, Alison (June 25, 2009). "Tru Life, a rapper once signed by Jay-Z, arrested for fatally stabbing a teen". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Inmate Details - Robert Rosado". New York City Department of Correction. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  3. ↑ Ogunnaike, Lola (2005) "Jay-Z, From Superstar to Suit ", New York Times, August 28, 2005
  4. ↑ "Rapper Tru Life Lands Deal With Roc La Familia", Worldwideconnected.com
  5. ↑ Sunday, Billy (2007) "Tru Life Lost", XXL Magazine
  6. ↑ "Now, New York Rappers Beef Via Photoshop", New York Magazine, 2007
  7. ↑ Grace, Melissa (February 24, 2011). "Jay-Z protege Tru Life faces eight years in prison for role in gang slay". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  8. ↑ Gissen, Jesse (February 23, 2011). "Tru Life Sentenced to Eight Years". XXL. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Inmate Population Information Search". New York Department of Correctional Services (DIN: 11A1297). Retrieved March 24, 2011.

External links