Over the years, Hip Hop as a genre of music and culture has witnessed a unique evolution in many ways, from the invention of new and-or hybrid production styles to the change in lyrical thematics. The soundscape of rap has moved towards a new-age sway, with only a select few capable of standing out in the scene.
A product of this evolution of Hip Hip is none other than Royce Cornell "Ugly God" Davison-Rodriguez. His playful yet bawdy approach to music has, with time, garnered significant attention and contributed to his rise to fame. Ugly God recently made headlines after it was revealed that he is a suspect in the murder of his friend’s father. While the rapper has been taken into custody, the deceased’s family has taken to social media to accuse the rapper of the crime.
Ugly God's Background
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 24: Ugly God performs during In Bloom Festival at Eleanor Tinsley Park on March 24, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
Ugly God was born Royce Cornell Davison-Rodriguez on September 19 in 1996. During his early years, the Indiana-born, mostly-Houston-raised rapper developed interests in basketball, music, and computer engineering. However, his passion for music intensified and trumped the pack during college. Unsurprisingly, the interracial rapper is fluent in Spanish and English, as he is of Dominican and African American descent.
As a middle-schooler, he conceived the moniker ”P*ssy Bacon.” He shared why he chose the pseudonym in an interview with FADER. “I always wanted my name to be something [that] if you hear it once, then you can just never get that out of your head… You’ll never forget that sh*t.” Subsequently, he changed the moniker for numerous reasons, one being marketability.
“Water” & Musical Breakthrough
Growing up, Ugly God had multiple musical influences, which all seem to shine through in his distinct sound. He typically employs modern styles of Hip Hop in his production, as well as comedic approaches and racy lyrical content. Indeed, his style of music may have garnered some controversy. Regardless, he has garnered a deeply appreciative fan base since his early SoundCloud days.
Ugly God began on SoundCloud in 2015. He released the song “I Beat My Meat,” which gave him some notoriety on the streaming platform. In 2016, he released one of his most popular solo songs, ”Water.” The distinct track was co-produced with Danny Wolf. “Water” was released under Asylum Records and made it to both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.
He was selected for the 2017 XXL Freshman Class because of his notable climb. He featured alongside notable names, including Playboi Carti, XXXTentacion, and MadeinTYO. By August 2017, “Water” went Platinum, documenting 1,000,000 units sold by the RIAA. The hit single was a precursor to the release of The Booty Tape, which contained the amusing self-diss track named "F*ck Ugly God."
