THE RODNEY CHROME EXPERIENCE Written by Trystan Calado Rodney Chrome, a 20-year-old Black queer artist that grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, currently resides in New York City, where he attends New York University. Through his art, Chrome unapologetically breaks boundaries, taking aspects of timeless R&B and sprinkling in electronic influences to create a sound that gives you a glimpse into a futuristic, chromefilled world. Before pursuing music, Chrome grew up expressing himself via dance at a company called “Dance Dynamics.” Dance rehearsal was a highlight for him; a safe haven. However, he always knew he had a special place for music. “For my 12th birthday, I got my first microphone,” Chrome recalled. “And, every night, I would sneak into my mom’s closet [to use it]—’cause mine wasn’t big enough to record.” Music became a fun pastime through which he could express himself by writing songs and simply communicating his love for singing by using his little mic.
His mother recognized his passion for music blossoming, knowing deep down that he was becoming an artist in his own specific way.
“The art of understanding who you are within a world that throws every societal pressure at you, to conform an image that limits your full potential as a queer individual.”
After discovering his love for music and allowing that love to grow, he began to recognize his potential as an artist, to a point where he knew he had to make music what he did for the rest of his life.Then, Rodney Chrome was born.
There is an abundance of artists that can make you feel infinite, and listening to their music can inspire you in ways that help articulate your taste and build who you are. For Chrome, Beyonce is one of those artists, and her self-titled album was a monumental influence on his early career. “I’m a very visually driven artist,” Chrome says. “So, studying [Beyonce’s] videos such as ‘Haunted,’ ‘Ghost,’ and ‘Superpower,’ made me feel a rush I couldn’t explain, but now, I understand it was my body gravitating to what would be my calling.” You can see her influence in his craft, but,
in general, the visualizations and photos that connect with his music are very pleasing and always carry such a bigger meaning. With finding inspiration at such a young age, too, one’s identity plays such an important role in determining the stories and experiences one decides to share with a bigger audience. For Chrome (being a Black queer artist), the communities he is part of are like family, groups of like-minded individuals that can navigate with him through a world that is not the most accepting of artists like him. That said, his identity is evident in his craft. After long vicious days in class, Chrome finds relief in heading to his friend’s dorm and sharing various beats they made, collaborating and freestyling to see the various lyrics they can spit on
