Tacoma rapper Roderic already has received a bit of national exposure, thanks to appearances on B.E.T. and an ad spot he shot recently for the U.S. Census.
Now he hopes to become a household name. This week, the Curtis High School grad – full name, Roderic Jamal DeSean Peters – recruited a few dozen friends to shoot a video. On Saturday afternoon, they all converged on Classy Chassis Car Wash & Detail in Lakewood, which served as the set for a promo clip for his catchy hip-hop anthem “Freshman.”
The video – directed by Seattle filmmaker Jon Augustavo – had sort of a “Ferris Bueller” theme, with Peters playing a mischievous detail shop employee who joyrided in a customer’s car before throwing a block party in the parking lot.
Peters lip-synced lyrics as cameraman Phillip Conover captured his swaggering gestures and a cluster of friends danced and bobbed their heads to the beat behind him. Later, a few of the boldest kids – some recruited from Tacoma’s D.A.S.H. Center – vied for face time with some of their freshest freestyle dance moves.
“We’re just rockin’,” said Peters, 20, sporting an infectious grin between takes. “It’s just good to bring this energy (with) a lot of young people getting together and doin’ somethin’ to uplift each other.”
“This isn’t just for me,” he said. “This’ll be good for everybody if this goes well. It’s good for the city. So we’re havin’ a good time with it.”
Peters wasn’t the only rising star on the set, by the way. His University of Washington classmates Isaiah Thomas and Abdul Gaddy, from the Huskies basketball team, made cameos. And Lacey comedian Nate Jackson displayed Bernie Mac-style gruffness as Peters’ fictional boss; Jackson recently joined the ranks of Jamie Foxx, D.L. Hughley and Katt Williams as this year’s winner of the Bay Area Black Comedy Competition.
Peters appeared on B.E.T.’s popular “106 & Park” show in September. Since, his music has generated buzz online. “Freshman” was downloaded 60,000 times during the first six hours it was available on the site HotNewHipHop.com, manager Tanj Meade said.
“They have responded to this particular song that we’re shooting today very well,” she said.
Meade said she will shop the video to B.E.T., MTV and other video outlets. Roderic likely will appear on B.E.T. again in August, she said, after the release of his second mix tape.
Upcoming performances include appearances at the Destiny Classic & Festival, which will be held at Tacoma’s Stanley Elementary School on June 5, and at the Bite of Seattle on July 16.
Ernest A. Jasmin: 253-274-7389
ernest.jasmin@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/tacomarockcity
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