When I first met John serving pasta in the caf, I’d never imagine that the quiet guy in front of me could also be seen rapping at Club Diamond under the name Young Chucky D Boy. It turns out 25-year-old John Dock IV, or Chucky D, not only works for Sodexo but also manages the kitchen at the Renaissance Festival, is a security guard at Raymond James Stadium and also works at the Kids Museum while still finding time to book local gigs and raise his 3-year-old daughter. Chucky D’s influential experiences and his passion for the local music scene are certainly impressive.
The Minaret: Outside working for Sodexo, you’re also a rapper. Have you played any shows recently?
Chucky D: Yeah, I did a few shows locally. I think the most recent one was at Club Diamond. We did another one at the Orpheum and one at the Pegasus Lounge. Those were some tight shows too.
M: How does it usually go when you play your shows?
CD: It goes good. I get a lot of love from the locals. I’m trying to get more of the UT students to come out. I got a lot of love from the UT students. A few hundred students downloaded my app.
M: Are you going to be playing any shows in the near future?
CD: Oh yeah, definitely. Those three spots I was saying before… The Orpheum, Pegasus Lounge, Club Diamond… Those are some of my regular spots. I’m trying to get more outside of Tampa, more shows on the road. I’ll be hitting the road with my partner, Josh.
M: When did you start rapping?
CD: I’ve been rapping since I was a kid, just a little kid. Tupac, Biggie… They were big inspirations of mine. I grew up on them. I always wanted to be like those guys since I was a kid. But I really started taking it seriously back in 2007 when my little brother was killed. I don’t know if you checked out that song “Fly Home?” We made that like the day after my little brother was murdered. I’ve really been going hard since then. I was more artistic back then, when I started, but the last few years I’ve been taking it more business-wise.
M: So what would you say your motivation is to keep rapping?
CD: Definitely my little brother. He was an artist too. We did a lot of tracks together. We didn’t really record together too much when he was alive. We did some songs together, but like I said we weren’t really trying to be rappers, like famous rappers or anything. He did a few songs by himself, and after he died I said “I’m gonna go ahead and do it for him.” I got his song on my app too, Young Cutty Bre, “Jook City.” He is the inspiration behind all that. Also, my daughter, Jaida, is turning three on the 28th of this month. That’s my biggest motivation to be successful. I don’t know how I forgot to mention that (laughs).
M: Do you have any goals for your music career?
CD: Yeah, I wanna make some money off of this. I’m not one of those guys that’s trying to be too famous, but recently I’ve been kind of noticing that they go hand in hand. You can’t have the money without the fame. You’ve gotta have people listening to you. I appreciate all the UT students for supporting me.
M: It comes up a lot in your raps and a lot of students might not know, can you explain to me what Jook City is?
CD: Jook City, yeah, yeah, definitely, because I need all the UT students to know. Jook City, that’s Tampa. That’s our soul, that’s our vibe, that’s the way we live. If you’re ever around the city and you hear somebody talking about “Jook City” they’re talking about Tampa. Definitely keep Jookin’ man.
M: In one word how would you describe your music?
CD: My music? “Soulful.” If you really through and listen to all of my songs none of them really sound the same, so I guess “versatile” would be another word. But definitely, I wanna keep some soul in all of them, keep them versatile and keep them personal.
M: Is there anyone that you’d like to collaborate with in the future?
CD: Definitely a lot of the local artists in Tampa. I know a lot of people try and get big and wanna get with Lil Wayne and all those guys. I like to stay humble, stay down with my city. I would like to get with Kanye West on a track though and have him lace up one of my beats. He is sick with the beats. If I could get Lil Wayne on a track with me that would be tight, but for the most part the local artists, the dudes who have been doing their thing in the city and just haven’t had the recognition for it.
M: Do you make your own beats?
CD: I don’t make my own beats but I do have a producer, Heat Man. I wish I could have brought him out here. He’s tight on the beats. He made most of the beats that you’ll hear. I’ve got a few other artists: House of Hits, Lord Dre, my man Jook Streets, Pop Quiz––that’s my man-drummer boy––all those guys.
M: Do you have any advice for other aspiring musicians at UT?
CD: Oh yeah, definitely. Get with me! (laughs) Keep doing your thing. Don’t let people that tell you “don’t do that” or “you’re wasting your time,” get in your heat at all. Keep doing what you love to do. Stay humble. Just follow your dreams. Don’t let anybody take your dreams from you because their dreams didn’t come true.
If you want to hear more of Chucky D, check out his profile on Reverb Nation (http://www.reverbnation.com/youngchuckydboy) and download his free App (Young Chucky D Boy) on Google Play.
Selene SanFelice can be reached at selene.sanfelice@spartans.ut.edu