You’ve seen him own the stage at the city’s most popular performance venues including Headliners and The Louisville Palace. You applauded him after his exciting performance as the only local hiphop artist featured at Forecastle in 2014. You’ve bought his merchandise after witnessing him as the opening performer for nationally known musicians like Chance the Rapper.
Image: JaLin Roze
And now this Saturday, you can attend his figurative funeral. Don’t worry, there hasn’t been an actual death. Unless you consider the end of JaLin Roze’s powerful hip-hop era a death in itself.
Many would argue that with death comes rebirth. And in this case, that theory is accurate. The artist known as JaLin Roze will be put to rest as his spirit is reborn as James Lindsey, the birth name of this local hip-hop royal.
“I chose to go back to my government name for a plethora of reasons,” admits Lindsey. “I definitely enjoyed the name ‘JaLin Roze’ and the music that came with it, and I will still perform those songs. I just felt like it was time to break free of the name.”
And though breaking free of his performance name may seem like a simplistic action to move on from the past, Lindsey ultimately made the decision to change names while planning for the future of his career as a musician.
“When you are a young black musician, you kind of get known as just a ‘rapper.’ People do not see you for more than just that so they treat you as such,” Lindsey explains. “You will constantly get asked ‘will you rap for me?’ instead of questions like ‘what can you do for me?’ I feel like I am a lot more than just someone who can rap well. I am not just entertainment. I have more than one passion, and I think we all do. I think we are all multifaceted.”
Image: JaLin Roze
You can pay your respects to the late JaLin Roze at “Death of Roze” at the Adam Horton Gallery located at 1403 Story Avenue on Saturday, March 26 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. The event is free to attend.
Image: JaLin Roze
