Atlanta Dirty South rapper Rocko's music career always had been a side note to his romantic relationship with R&B singer Monica until he signed with Def Jam in 2007. Born Rodney Hill, Rocko started in the music industry as a producer and ghostwriter in his cousin's studio around 1999, then afterwards for small indie Triple A Records. Based on his success with label act Hitman Sammy Sam, he decided to venture out on his own, establishing Rocky Road Records in 2002.