about me

Professionally known as Rod The Pro (aka Pro), Rodney ​Jerome Hall (born July 13, 1979) is an American record ​producer, multi-instrumentalist, and MC. He is considered ​one of the best independent hip hop producers to come ​out of the Bay Area. Rodney Jerome Hall was born in the ​Kaiser Foundation Hospital of Oakland, California, on July ​13, 1979. He lived in Richmond, up until his early twenties. ​He attended El Cerrito High School, where he met his ​future friend, music, and business partner, Tre' Woodard ​of the TreSoul Network.

MUSIC CAREER

Pro’s first instrument was a recorder, when he had gone ​to a Catholic school, but doesn’t really count that as a ​true beginning. “I knew a few notes, but that really ​wasn’t my thing.” He credits the drum set as his first ​true instrument, which he began playing around the age ​of ten. "Growing up in church, I started singing. But I got ​tired of it and wanted to do something else. So, the ​lead musician at the time let me get on the drums. I ​naturally had to pick up on it and figure it out myself.” ​Pro also credits being in a house with a lot of Gospel ​and Soul records. “I also come from a musical family on ​both sides. Dad has played piano and guitar. Even mom ​played the trumpet. They also both sing, and one of my ​sister sings as well. But once rap music came out, and ​on video, I really got into that the most. I think I just ​loved the way it sounded. I started doing beats on ​keyboards and karaoke machines as far as early ​production goes. Originally, I started writing raps ​because no one else around would really do it. ​Everybody wanted to be a producer. But of course, I ​had to do my homework and respect both parts ​equally.”

In the early 2000s, he has worked with artists from ​Merced like Vicious, Trife Da Great, and SoIronic (as a ​group, they are known as Duo of Dynamics). He ​currently resides in Fresno.

Recently, he has set up a YouTube channel, with two ​hip-hop instrumental albums, which are part of his Pro-​mentals series.

INFLUENCES

Pro is open-minded as a producer, based on the ​artist, but his signature style, especially when working ​solo, is reminiscent of the Boom Bap sound, derived ​from New York City. He cites DJ Premier as his main ​production influence, but also credits 9th Wonder, ​RZA, Dr. Dre, J Dilla, Battlecat, and Pete Rock as ​other influences.

LEGACY

He also plays the piano, organ, cajon, marimba, and ​guitar. He has even enrolled in Fresno Pacific ​University after being accepted.

PRO-MENTALS VOL. 1​

PRO-MENTALS VOL. 2

PRO-MENTALS VOL. 3

CUTZ & STAPLEZ

MEN OF THE CLOTH

3 ​PETE

OUR KIND CLOTHING

LONER CLOTHING

TREATS BY MRS. T

TALKIN' WITH SAMMY PODCAST

CAPTURED BY TAM PHOTOGRAPHY

BE ADORNED WAIST BEADS AND BODY JEWELRY

GOOD OLD BALLOONS

ONE ROOM PARADISE

WE GET AROUND FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN

THE TRESOUL NETWORK

ROD THE PRO

BLADE BROWN

KICKSWITHVEE HOTS

DIVINE DAY CONSULTING AGENCY

MY SIGNATURE LINE

LILLIAN TRANEA DESIGNS

THE BAKER BUREAU

PEACE AND RAGE CLOTHING

BFN RADIO

KENWOOD SPORTS MEDIA PODCAST

CRUSHING CREDIT

MINDSECT

WORLD FINANCIAL GROUP

THA RATS PODCAST

CHANGAMIRE DOMBO PHOTOGRAPHY

LEGENDARY LUXE

HIP HOP ADDS

THE PRO SHOP

A unique design of merch by a special ​collaboration between Rod The Pro and Lillian ​Designs.

"An extraordinary talent. He's one of the most ​unknown brilliant minds in music and one of the ​reasons why we started the Network. People ​need to hear his music."

--THE TRESOUL NETWORK

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