Storytelling is essential – Rockstone on the songs that defined his career

Hip-life pioneer Reggie Rockstone offered a masterclass in songwriting, pinpointing the tracks he believes represent the peak of his lyrical craft and emphasizing the non-negotiable role of storytelling in music.

When pressed on his favorite personal work, Rockstone bypassed a single choice to highlight the creative depth behind one of his songs and the universally relatable narrative of “Visa.”

He revealed that “Visa,” a song he is consistently asked to perform, is not based on a true story.

“It’s not a real story, right? It’s not. No it’s not,” he stated in an interview on Joy Prime monitored MyNewsGh.

“But it was so creative. No. It sounded like something somebody had to hear.”

He explained that the track marked a key evolution in his skills as he transitioned from being an “English rapper” to mastering his “tree self.”

“The reason why is because at that time I had just got a real grip of my writing skills… when I got a grip of my tree self, that that’s the song that was the epitome. That was the one.”

For Rockstone, this narrative skill is the benchmark for any serious MC.

“I always ask who’s your favorite MC and why? And if he hasn’t told a story before, forget it. No, no, no, no,” he asserted.

He also cited one of his hit songs as another creative high, noting, “On that song, everything is based on abbreviations… I just went all out.” This focus on clever, structured writing, he argues, is what gives music its lasting soul and makes it resonate across generations.