Rockard Darageway: Forging the Sound of Midtown Memphis Metal

In the heart of the Bluff City, a new wave of sound is rising, and at its core is Rockard Darageway — a name that’s as unique as the music it represents. A clever play on words (“Rock Hard The Rage Way”), Rockard’s identity is more than just a stage name; it’s a manifesto of grit, passion, and originality.

“I’m a rock artist and I have a love for the culture,” says Rockard. “I lead by example. I don’t copy and paste. I have my own genre — Midtown Memphis Metal — a mixture of heavy metal and hip hop with Memphis roots.”

Music has always stirred something deep in Rockard. “I used to get chill bumps from music that I really liked,” he recalls. “I started becoming creative by listening to songs and wishing I could be as great as the artists and producers who made the record.”

This hunger to create has led to some deeply personal and groundbreaking work, including one of his favorite lyrical pieces — The Thaddeus Bernard Gillard Sr. Story — a track that tells, with unflinching integrity, the story of how he met the mothers of his children and explains his life’s journey directly to them through music. “I’m the first father in history to do this in a lyrical format,” he says proudly.

Currently, Rockard is promoting The Letter To Cumberland County, a bold and unapologetic response to what he calls “injustice” in the local justice system and its excessive child support rulings. But his ambitions don’t stop there — on February 1, 2026, he plans to release his full-length album Whites Only Pies, a project promising to push boundaries both sonically and socially.

In the meantime, fans can look forward to his single Dead Inside, an intense showcase of his Midtown Memphis Metal artistry that blends raw emotion with hard-hitting sound.

For those ready to witness the rise of a genre-bending force in music, follow Rockard Darageway across all socials: @rockarddarageway.