Joseph Wayne McVey (born January 19, 1977), better known by his stage name Z-Ro, is an American rapper, singer and producer from Houston, Texas. He was named one of America's most underrated rappers by the New York Times.
Z-Ro was born Joseph Wayne McVey in Houston’s notorious South Park neighborhood on January 19, 1977. At age six his mother died, and he was shuttled from household to household in search of stability, eventually settling in the Ridgemont area of Missouri City, Texas. When Z-Ro reached his late teens he was unemployed and resorted to drug dealing and hustling on the streets. It was at this point that he discovered rapping to be his true calling. According to Z-Ro, listening to the music of 2Pac, The Geto Boys, Street Military, K-Rino and T-Rent Money inspired him to work harder for his goal of leaving the streets. Z-Ro discovered his talent of freestyle rapping and after going through a couple of recording studios to make a demo, the CEO of a local label discovered and signed him.