Story by David Menconi, “Down on Copperline,” Orange County Arts Council
On April 17, the local music industry suffered a heavy blow when hip-hop host Kevin Joshua Rowsey II’s Rowdy passed away suddenly. The cause of death was cardiac arrest. At just 32 years old, his legacy extends far beyond acting.
Courtesy of Chapel Hill Library
Roddy’s death came as a shock to everyone who knew him because he was young and he did not appear to be physically ill. His mother, Dr. Pamela Johnson Rowsey, said he had been at the home for several hours on the day he died. He suffered cardiac arrest shortly after leaving home.
One of the most inspiring figures in the local music scene, Roddy is charismatic both on and off the stage. As a local activist, organizer and educator in Orange County and beyond, he turned every forum into a performance venue. 2023 Piedmont Laureate and hip-hop poet Dasan Ahanu (Chris Massenberg) met Rowdy while working at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and got to know him well.
“He’s always been very smart and energetic and has a crazy amount of energy on stage,” Ahanu said. “The way he blended art into academics was infectious. He was talented, able to improvise, and a gifted writer. Just a kid with so much energy.
Rossi earned a business degree from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler School of Business and headed to New York City after graduation. But about a year later, he followed his heart and chose to return to China.
“He moved back home because he had a goal and a mission to make North Carolina a leader in hip-hop,” Dr. Rossi said. “This has always been his passion and he decided he didn’t want to work a 9-to-5 job.”
Courtesy of Chapel Hill Library
He did, however, continue to work a 9-to-5 job, earn a master’s degree in teaching from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and teach ESL (English as a Second Language) classes in Guilford County Schools. He wears many hats in the Triangle and co-founded a record label and production company called Only Us Media. He also serves as executive director of Blackspace, a youth support arts organization founded by Grammy-nominated rapper Pierce Freelon.
“Rowdy is a very important member of the North Carolina hip-hop community and a cornerstone of our scene and an international ambassador,” Freelon said. “He was such a bright light. Loving, generous, and very creative. It’s astounding because he accomplished so much in 32 years. As AZ said, you never know when you’re going to be gone. So give this short and precious life and you have all you have to offer Roddy did.
Rowdy is also an active participant in Tracks, the Chapel Hill Public Library’s music program. He served as artist, curator and presenter for the accompanying “Tracks in the Stacks” performance series, and even wrote and recorded the theme song for it.
“It’s a huge loss,” said Molly Luby, the library’s community history coordinator. “He’s totally committed to building community through hip-hop and education, and he really brings people together. The way he supports young artists is a joy to behold.
In fact, one of Roddy’s greatest legacies is his mentorship of many young men. No matter what he did, he was a born teacher, and no matter what he did, he led by example.
“He loved working with kids,” his mother said. “Calling himself a hip-hop educator and incorporating that into his work. He did a lot of things that had a big impact on the lives of the people he knew and worked with. He really made a difference in the lives of the people he touched. “Extraordinary” is the right word to describe what he did.
(Story + Photos via Orange County Arts Council)
Chapelboro.com has partnered with the Orange County Arts Council to bring our readers more arts-centric content through columns written by locals, featuring some of the amazing things happening in our local arts scene! Since 1985, OCAC has been promoting and enhancing arts and culture in Orange County, North Carolina.
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