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10 Things You Should Know About Rockie Fresh - When news broke that Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group had just added a new member, Rockie Fresh, the reactions were split down the middle. One half of the hip hop community shrugged, "Who?" But everyone else thought, "It's about time." After all, Rockie's been making waves, if a bit beneath the surface, for years now, culminating in his acclaimed 2012 mixtape, Driving 88. But for all you newcomers, wonder no longer: Click on to meet MMG's newest star-to-be, Rockie Fresh. —Alex Gale (Photo: Facebook/Warner Bros Records)

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1. He's a 21-Year-Old Rap Vet - At just 21, Rockie has already dropped five mixtapes and embarked on three nationwide tours. (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Photo By Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage

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2. He's Yet Another Emerging Artist From Chicago - Even after Chief Keef, King Louie, Lil Reese and Lil Durk inked with major labels earlier this year, the Windy City's rap scene, recently ballyhooed of late, isn't done producing upstart talent. Rockie Fresh lived on Chi's South Side before moving to next-door Homewood.(Photo: Warner Bros Records)

Photo By Warner Bros Records

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3. But He Sounds Nothing Like His Fellow Chitowners - Though Rockie reps the Windy City, his music is a far cry from the dread-shaking, Lex Luger-influenced "drill" sound popularized by Chief Keef and others, instead sprinkling his songs with melodic rock and pop elements. (Photo: Facebook)

Photo By Facebook

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4. He's Down With Fall Out Boy - Rockie's got connections all over the map. How many folks are down with MMG and alt-rock stars Fall Out Boy? Rockie is close friends with FOB leading man Patrick Stump, has toured extensively with the band, and cites them as a major influence on his music.(Photo: Twitter)

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5. He's Down With Good Charlotte Too - Rockie Fresh's rock associations run deep. He's also worked with Good Charlotte, who featured him on their recent mixtape, The Madden Brothers: Before Volume One.  (Photos: Facebook/Warner Bros Records)

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6. He Had the Industry Going Nuts - Before eventually signing with Maybach Music Group, Rockie sparked an major-label feeding frenzy with his 2012 mixtape, Driving 88, attracting interest from Cash Money and Bad Boy. (Photo: Warner Bros Records)

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7. He's a Beast Live - After three national tours and countless local gigs, Rockie has honed his stage show something serious. He regularly sells out shows in his hometown, and now that he has MMG's stamp of approval, expect similar results nationwide. (Photo: Facebook/Warner Bros Records)

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8. Rick Ross Has His Back - Many fans were surprised Rockie signed with Rick Ross, as his crossover-ready, pop-rock-influenced sound seems at odds with MMG's street-oriented aesthetic. But Rockie says Ross wants him to keep doing what he does best. "Salute to @rickyrozay for seeing my vision," he tweeted after the deal was announced.  (Photo: Twitter)

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9. He Has Big Goals - After signing with Ross, Rockie has his eyes on the prize. "Now I have the resources to actually make an incredible album," he recently told Billboard. "I have the features to pull in, the producers to pull in. It's gonna be something classic. I feel like I'm gonna become, in the next few years, one of the top rappers in the game. That's the goal." (Photo: Maybach Music Group)

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10. He's About to Get a Whole Lot Busier - In the wake of his deal with MMG, Rockie is taking it up a notch. He's embarking on yet another tour in August and dropping yet another mixtape, Electric Highway, before beginning work on his major-label debut. If you don't know, now you know. (Photo: Warner Bros Records)