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Rooga

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki


Rooga
Rooga in 2023
Background information
Birth nameDenzel Charles
Born (1993-10-15) October 15, 1993 (age 33)[1][2]
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2017–present
Labels
Websitewww.iamrooga.com

Denzel Charles (born October 15, 1993), known professionally as Rooga or JHE Rooga, is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois.[1][5] He is a prominent figure in the city's drill scene and is known for his affiliation with the Gangster Disciples.[1] Rooga gained widespread recognition for his collaborations with his late cousin FBG Duck, particularly the 2019 diss track "Exposing Me (Remix)."[6] He achieved further mainstream success in 2021 after releasing his late 2021 single "GD Anthem", also being featured on Ye (formerly Kanye West)'s tenth studio album, Donda, on the tracks "Ok Ok" and "Ok Ok, Pt. 2."[7] Much of his work pays tribute to deceased friends and family, most notably his younger brother Scrapp, his best friend Dooski Tha Man, and his cousin FBG Duck.[2][8]

Early life

Denzel Charles was born on October 15, 1993, in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised on the city's South Side.[1][5] He grew up in an environment where gang violence was prevalent, even during his childhood in the mid-to-late 1990s.[9] He is the cousin of rapper Carlton "FBG Duck" Weekly, whom he met when he was around four years old.[9] Charles's life has been significantly impacted by violence; he has lost numerous friends and family members, including his younger brother, known as Scrapp, his best friend Dooski Tha Man, FBG Brick, and FBG Duck.[2][10] Charles is a member of the Gangster Disciple street gang and is affiliated with the STL/EBT (an abbreviation for St. Lawrence Avenue and Eberhart Avenue) faction, a rap collective that also included FBG Duck.[1] Following the death of his younger brother, Charles and his crew began identifying as "Scrappers" to honor his memory. The name serves as a multi-layered symbol within their community: it is a direct tribute to Scrapp, a term for the survivors who are the "scraps" left behind, and a reference to the act of "scrapping" or fighting to overcome adversity.[8][11][12] In an interview, Rooga explained, "Scrap is my lil brother who passed away. We just took it and basically made it a gang. That's what we rep. Basically, Scrappers is a way of representing my brother."[8] At the age of 17, Charles was arrested on firearm charges and was sentenced to serve one year in an adult prison in Cook County. He described the time as a "learning experience" that motivated him to change his life path and avoid future incarceration.[9] He was in jail when FBG Duck began his music career.[9]

Career

2017–2018: Career beginnings

After his release from prison, Rooga began to focus on music as a way to transition from street life.[13] His first song to gain significant local buzz was "Members," released in 2017. The music video, directed by Yardie Films, was a viral success on YouTube.[14] Rooga has cited the moment the video reached one million views as a turning point in his career, stating, "That's when everything changed. Shit really changed."[8]

2019–2020: Breakthrough with FBG Duck

Rooga's breakthrough came in 2019 through his collaborations with his cousin, FBG Duck. After rival rappers King Von and Memo600 released their song "Exposing Me," which included lyrics disrespecting Rooga's late brother Scrapp, Rooga and FBG Duck recorded a remix to the track.[15][6] "Exposing Me (Remix)" was released on March 13, 2019, through Records, LLC, a subsidiary of Columbia Records.[16][17] The track was a direct response to their rivals, and its music video amassed over 14 million views on YouTube, solidifying Rooga's presence in the Chicago drill scene.[18] Another significant track from this period was "Blickathon," a hard-hitting drill song produced by DigiBeats.[18] Described as an "aggressively streetwise song," it became a fan favorite, with its music video garnering over three million views.[18] On August 22, 2019, Rooga released his debut mixtape, Back Da Fuck Up, through I Told You So Records, Inc.[19][3] The 12-track project included four features from FBG Duck and one from New York drill rapper 22Gz.[19] On August 4, 2020, FBG Duck was murdered in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood.[20] In response to his cousin's death, Rooga released the tribute song "For Duck" on October 9, 2020, with a music video that quickly amassed millions of views.[5] The song was part of a four-track extended play of the same name, For Duck, released on October 8, 2020, via I Told You So Records.[21][22] Rooga later stated that Duck's death motivated him to pursue his music career with greater seriousness.[8]

2021: Donda collaboration

The success of his independent work attracted the attention of Ye (formerly Kanye West. Rooga's father, who had industry connections, connected him with an associate of West's. After hearing "GD Anthem," West personally contacted Rooga, and the two met.[8][23] This collaboration resulted in Rooga being featured on two tracks, "Ok Ok" and "Ok Ok, Pt. 2," from West's highly anticipated tenth studio album, Donda, released in August 2021.[13][7] Rooga also made a widely publicized appearance at the third Donda listening event at Soldier Field in Chicago, where he stood on the porch of a replica of West's childhood home alongside West, Travis Scott, and Marilyn Manson.[24][25] During the event, Rooga performed his hit "GD Anthem" in front of the packed stadium.[25]

2021–present: Joint project and independent work

On July 23, 2021, Rooga released the collaborative mixtape Scrappers with fellow Chicago rapper Lil Moe 6Blocka.[26] The project, released through Capitol Records, was the culmination of several successful singles the pair had recorded together.[8][4] Despite receiving offers from major labels following his appearance on Donda, Rooga has largely remained an independent artist.[27] He has stated that he is open to signing a record deal but only if the terms are "life-changing."[8] He has announced plans for his debut studio album, titled Heartache, which he has described as an introspective project offering fans insight into his life. The album has been delayed as he continues to work on it.[8][28]

Artistry and influences

Rooga's musical style is in Chicago drill[10] His creative process emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive and high-energy atmosphere in the recording studio, which he believes is essential to creating "hits."[8] His lyrical content is deeply autobiographical, drawing heavily from his personal experiences with violence, grief, and street life in Chicago.[2] Recurring themes include loyalty to his neighborhood and gang, the pain of losing loved ones, and retaliatory violence.[1] Many of his most notable songs, such as "Exposing Me (Remix)" and "For Duck," were created as direct responses to real-world events, including diss tracks from rivals and the deaths of his brother and cousin.[6][5] Rooga has cited Chief Keef as a musical influence.[13] He has also expressed admiration for his late cousin, FBG Duck, whom he looked up to both personally and artistically.[29] In terms of career aspirations, he has named Ye (formerly Kanye West) as a role model, stating his ambition is to become a "mogul in the game" and the "next Kanye."[8]

Public image and impact

Rooga has cultivated a public image as an authentic and unfiltered voice of Chicago's drill scene. He has appeared in interviews on major hip-hop media platforms such as VladTV and No Jumper, where he has spoken candidly about his life, the realities of gang culture, and the impact of violence on his community.[9][13] Rooga's music, particularly "GD Anthem," has been featured in media discussions about the connection between Chicago's drill scene and the city's violence.[10] While some critics and figures like former Gangster Disciples enforcer Wallace "Gator" Bradley argue that violent hip-hop lyrics contribute to real-world conflict, others, including fellow artists, contend that the music is a reflection of their environment and a form of narration for their neighborhoods.[10] The Chicago Sun-Times noted that artists like Rooga often bypass traditional radio and labels by uploading their music directly to platforms like YouTube, where "GD Anthem" gained millions of views, making such platforms a focal point in the debate.[10] In these interviews, he frequently discusses the ongoing violence in Chicago, stating that while many artists from the city are now "promoting peace," the underlying issues persist.[30] He has expressed a pragmatic view, acknowledging the deep-seated nature of the city's conflicts while hoping for a more peaceful future.[8] Citing the high potential for violence, Rooga has stated that he no longer performs live shows in Chicago, viewing it as too great a risk for himself and his fans.[31] Rooga maintains an active presence on social media. His official YouTube channel, "JHE Rooga," has over 219,000 subscribers and hosts his music videos and other content.[32] His official Instagram and X handles are @jhe_rooga and @Real_Rooga.[33][34]

No Jumper interview confrontation

In October 2024, during an interview on the No Jumper podcast, Rooga confronted host Adam "Adam22" Grandmason regarding comments Grandmason had previously made about FBG Wooski and FBG Duck's mother.[24][35] Rooga perceived the comments as disrespectful, leading to a heated on-air argument. The confrontation escalated, and Grandmason had Rooga and his entourage removed from the studio by security, which resulted in a brief scuffle.[24]

Recognition

Through his feature on Kanye West's album Donda, Rooga contributed to a work that received nominations for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in 2022.[36]

Discography

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Album details
Back Da Fuck Up
  • Released: August 22, 2019[19]
  • Label: I Told You So Records, Inc.[3]
  • Format:], streaming
No.TitleLength
1."Back Da Fuck Up"2:48
2."Blickathon"3:19
3."All of a Sudden"2:15
4."Slide By" ((featuring]))3:29
5."Sit Down"2:21
6."Blood" ((featuring]))2:44
7."Extra" ((featuring 22Gz))3:20
8."Flex" ((featuring]))3:00
9."Wonder Why"2:17
10."Already Knew"2:37
11."Feisty"2:49
12."Go Harder" ((featuring]))3:04
Scrappers
(with Lil Moe 6Blocka)
  • Released: July 23, 2021[26]
  • Label:][4]
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
No.TitleLength
1."Real Life"1:37
2."4Ge"2:43
3."Get Out"2:16
4."Street 2 Me"3:02
5."Get You Wacked"2:17
6."Scrappers"3:24
7."Bali"2:33
8."No Love"3:03
9."Where I'm From"2:07

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details
Title EP details
For Duck
  • Released: October 8, 2020[21]
  • Label: I Told You So Records, Inc.[22]
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
No.TitleLength
1."For Duck (Dirty Version)"3:53
2."For Duck (Clean Version)"3:53
3."For Duck (Instrumental)"3:53
4."For Duck (Acapella Dirty Version)"3:53

Singles

List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Members" 2017 Non-album singles
"Blickathon" 2019
"Exposing Me (Remix)"
(with])
"Back Da Fuck Up"
"Knife in Me" 2020
"More"
"Gangsta Party" 2021
"Do Bout It" Scrappers
"Horizon" Non-album singles
"GD Anthem"
"Journey" 2022
"Old Rooga"
"You Gotta See Me"
"Toxic"
"She Ain't Proud" 2023
"Throw It"

Music videos

Rooga has frequently collaborated with director Billy Kauck, who has helmed the videos for many of his most prominent singles, including "Many Men," "For Duck," and "Stash House."[37][22][38] This partnership has been instrumental in shaping his visual identity.

List of music videos, showing director(s) and year released
Title Year Director(s) Ref.
"Members" 2017 Yardie Films [14]
"Blickathon" 2019 Billy Kauck [39]
"Exposing Me (Remix)"
(with]) 		2019 Unknown [40]
"Many Men" 2020 Billy Kauck [37]
"For Duck" Billy Kauck and Exclusive [22]
"GD Anthem" 2021 Unknown
"Self Made" Billy Kauck and Exqlusive [41]
"Scrappers"
(with Lil Moe 6Blocka) 		Unknown [42]
"Get You Wacked"
(with Lil Moe 6Blocka) 		Crownsoheavy [43]
"No Love"
(with Lil Moe 6Blocka) 		[44]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Rooga hometown, biography". Last.fm. Retrieved November 2, 2024. Denzel Charles (born 15 October 1993), popularly known as Rooga, is a drill rapper from Chicago, Illinois.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Rooga". Booking Agent Info. Retrieved November 2, 2024. Denzel Charles (known by his stage name Rooga) is an American rapper who was born on October 15, 1993, in Chicago.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Back Da F**k Up by Rooga". Apple Music. Retrieved November 2, 2024. ℗ 2019 I Told You So Records, Inc.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Scrappers – Lil Moe 6Blocka, Rooga". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2024. Label: Capitol
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Fresh Artist Fridays: Lil Chris and Rooga". HipHopScriptures. April 30, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024. Denzel Charles, born on October 15, 1993 on Chicago's south side is recognized as the Chicago Musical artist known as Rooga.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Rooga on Doing 'Exposing Me' Remix After King Von Dissed His Brother Scrapp (Part 4)". djvlad. October 1, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Rooga hometown, biography". Last.fm. Retrieved November 2, 2024. Rooga is a protégé of Kanye, with the duo working extensively on Ye's 2021 album, Donda. Rooga was featured on the tracks “Ok Ok” and “Ok Ok pt 2.”
  8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 "Rooga and Lil Moe Talk "Scrappers," FBG Duck, and Kanye". Clark St. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 "Rooga on Getting a Year in Adult Prison at 17 on Gun Charges (Part 1)". ]. djvlad. September 29, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Moore, Evan F. (October 26, 2021). "Chicago rap/hip-hop — fairly or unfairly — has a reputation, but it's connection to violence is far from certain". ]. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  11. ↑ Frank Main (August 7, 2023). "The web of Chicago gang violence that entangled slain rapper FBG Duck". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  12. ↑ Eric Duwel (July 28, 2021). "Lil Moe 6Blocka & Rooga Release Joint Mixtape "Scrappers"". Grooverelly. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "Rooga on Growing Up in Chicago, Being In The Streets Before Music". YouTube. No Jumper. February 1, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Rooga - "Member" (Official Video) Dir. @Yardiefilms". YouTube. Yardie Films Production. October 22, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  15. ↑ Aron A. (November 22, 2022). "From King Von's "Exposin Me" To CJ's "Whoopty": A Hindi Love Song Turned Drill Beat". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Exposing Me Remix · FBG Duck · Rooga". YouTube. Records/Columbia. March 13, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2024. ℗ 2019 RECORDS, LLC Released on: 2019-03-13
  17. ↑ "Exposing Me Remix (feat. Rooga)". Deezer. March 13, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Team, Aipate (June 12, 2019). "Watch Rooga's "Blickathon" video". Aipate. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Back Da Fuck Up". Last.fm. August 22, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  20. ↑ "3 Shot, 1 Fatally in Violence on Fashionable Chicago Street". The Washington Post. Associated Press. August 4, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "For Duck - EP". Last.fm. October 8, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 "For Duck - EP by Rooga". Apple Music. October 8, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2024. ℗ 2020 I Told You So Records, Inc.
  23. ↑ "Rooga on His Dad Plugging Him with Kanye's People, First Convo with Kanye (Part 5)". YouTube. djvlad. October 1, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Cole, Alexander (October 14, 2024). "Adam22 Kicks Rooga Out Of "No Jumper" Studio After Heated Exchange". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Braboy, Mark (August 27, 2021). "Five Takeaways From Kanye West's 'Donda' Listening Event at Chicago's Soldier Field". ]. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Scrappers by Lil Moe 6Blocka & Rooga". Apple Music. July 23, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Rooga on How Things Have Changed Since Being on Kanye's 'Donda' Album (Part 10)". YouTube. djvlad. October 1, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Rooga on Issues with Adam22 Over His No Jumper Interview: He Better Chill (Part 6)". YouTube. djvlad. May 17, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Rooga on FBG Duck Being His Little Cousin but Looking Up to Him (Part 3)". YouTube. No Jumper. February 1, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Rooga: Chicago Hasn't Changed, There's More Senseless Killings But the Rappers are Changing (Part 8)". YouTube. djvlad. May 17, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Rooga: I've Never Performed in Chicago, It's Too High Risk (Part 6)". YouTube. djvlad. October 1, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  32. ↑ "JHE Rooga". YouTube. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Rooga - Interview (Official Music Video)". YouTube. JHE Rooga. December 22, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Rooga - Toxic (Official Music Video)". YouTube. JHE Rooga. September 30, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  35. ↑ B, Deja (October 14, 2024). "Adam22 & Rooga Have Heated Argument Over Wooski Comments". HipHopCanada. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  36. ↑ Billboard Staff (April 4, 2022). "2022 Grammy Awards Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "Rooga -"Many Men" (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Billy Kauck. September 22, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Rooga - Stash House (Official Music Video)". YouTube. JHE Rooga. April 23, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  39. ↑ "Rooga -"Blickathon"(Official Music Video)". YouTube. Billy Kauck. May 24, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  40. ↑ "FBG Duck feat. Rooga "Exposing Me Remix" (WSHH Exclusive - Official Music Video)". YouTube. WORLDSTARHIPHOP. March 13, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  41. ↑ "Rooga - Self Made (Official Music Video)". YouTube. JHE Rooga. May 11, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  42. ↑ "Lil Moe 6Blocka x Rooga - Scrappers (Official Video)". YouTube. Lil Moe 6Blocka. August 21, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  43. ↑ "Lil Moe 6Blocka, Rooga - Get You Wacked (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Lil Moe 6Blocka. April 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  44. ↑ "Lil Moe 6Blocka, Rooga - No Love (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Lil Moe 6Blocka. July 23, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024.



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