Joseph Wayne McVey (born January 19, 1977), better known by his stage names Z-Ro and The Mo City Don, is an American rapper from Houston, Texas. He was named one of America's most underrated rappers by the New York Times.

Early Life and Career

Z-Ro was born Joseph Wayne McVey in Houston’s notorious South Park neighborhood on January 19, 1977. At age six his mother died, and he was shuttled from household to household in search of stability, eventually settling in the Ridgemont area of Missouri City in Southwest Houston. When Z-Ro reached his late teens he was unemployed and resorted to drug dealing and hustling on the streets. According to Z-Ro, listening to the music of 2Pac, Geto Boys, Street Military, K-Rino and Klondike Kat inspired him to work harder for his goal of leaving the streets. Z-Ro discovered his talent of freestyle rapping and after going through a couple of recording studios to make a demo, the CEO of a local label discovered and signed him.

Z-Ro released his critically acclaimed Rap-a-Lot debut titled The Life of Joseph W. McVey. The record was a huge success and helped expand Z-Ro’s fan base beyond the South. In 2005, Z-Ro released Let the Truth Be Told, which was well received. Z-Ro's 2006 album I'm Still Livin' was released while he was imprisoned for drug possession, to positive reviews. It was called "a great album... powerful" but "relentlessly bleak" by The Village Voice and "one of the best rap albums to come out of Houston" by the Houston Chronicle. In 2010 he released his next album titled Heroin, which was followed by another new album titled Meth in 2011 and then Angel Dust in 2012.

Z-Ro released his first EP under The Mo City Don titled Tripolar on August 25, 2013 via One Deep Ent. Z-Ro then followed up with The Crown in June 2014. In February 2015, Z-Ro released his first proper studio album in three years, entitled Melting the Crown.

Discography Main article: Z-Ro discography Year Title Chart positions U.S. U.S. R&B 1998 Look What You Did to Me - - 2000 Z-Ro vs. the World - 90 2001 King of da Ghetto - - 2002 Screwed Up Click Representa - 58 2002 Z-Ro - - 2002 Life - 57 2003 Z-Ro Tolerance - - 2004 The Life of Joseph W. McVey 170 27 2005 Let the Truth Be Told 69 14 2006 I'm Still Livin' 75 14 2007 King of tha Ghetto: Power 197 32 2008 Crack 48 12 2009 Cocaine 147 19 2010 Heroin 142 29 2011 Meth 90 12 2012 Angel Dust 120 17 2014 The Crown - - 2015 Melting the Crown - 16