Three years ago, Turo Rose was weighing his options. He’d lost what felt like everything he’d built, and the future seemed uncertain. But in his Fort Worth apartment, he had something most people don’t: a growing collection of beats and vocal recordings that hinted at a different path forward.
“I was already practicing my vocals and creating beats as a hobby,” Rose recalls. “Then I started noticing my songs were getting higher streams compared to other friends of mine that made music. That boosted my confidence up a little bit.”
That confidence has since evolved into something more substantial. Rose, an independent artist who describes his sound as “chill emo rap,” has been quietly building a following with music that deliberately sidesteps the typical Fort Worth hip-hop playbook.
“There’s many different types of artists in Fort Worth,” he explains. “But when it comes to hip hop and rap, they mostly tell the same stories or rap about the same things. I wanted my music to be different and have a new take.”
His approach is refreshingly direct. Instead of the guns, drugs, and violence that dominate much of contemporary rap, Rose mines his personal experiences for material. Take “Message 2 You,” perhaps his most vulnerable track. “I created that as a farewell to my ex girlfriend,” he says. “We had spent 7 years together and it was my first time being single since high school.”
It’s that kind of emotional honesty that defines Rose’s catalog, which includes tracks like “Cherry Blossom,” “Sunset Kisses,” and “Waiting On You.” But it’s “Diamonds N Pearls,” released in 2023, that’s become his calling card. At just 2:35, the song manages to hit just the right mainstream quality while maintaining the introspective quality that sets his work apart.
“My fan favorite track is Diamonds N Pearls, so I think I’d like new listeners to start with that track first,” he says.
Rose’s mission extends beyond personal catharsis. “I hope listeners get the emotions from my music and that the vibes help soothe their own negative thoughts,” he explains. It’s an ambitious goal for any artist, but one that feels genuine coming from someone who’s clearly done his own emotional work.
His upcoming album “Demons,” set for December 2025, promises to show another side of his artistry. “My newest album will have a more party style, sexual, fun vibe to contrast my older music telling more of a sad feeling,” Rose says. The title track shares the album’s name and has already become his personal favorite from the collection.
For now, Rose is staying independent, though he’s open to collaborating with other Texas artists. He’ll perform in Dallas this November, giving fans their first major opportunity to see how his introspective songs translate to a live setting.
“I just want to have more exposure,” he says simply. “I want to grow into a big name.”
But perhaps more importantly, Rose wants to prove something about hip-hop itself – that vulnerability can be just as powerful as bravado, that healing can happen through honest expression. “I aspire to help others get through their own obstacles and let us all have a good time,” he says. “Changing the world one step at a time.”
For an artist who started making music to work through his own pain, Rose has stumbled onto something bigger – proof that the most personal stories often turn out to be the most universal.
Turo Rose’s music is available on Spotify. Follow him on Instagram.
