The Virgin Islands ... even though it's clear to everyone that hip-hop music is no longer just an African American thing, that's just one place you don't hear and connect with the genre. When you close your eyes and envision the Virgin Islands, nine times out of ten, you're not going to be thinking about hearing Jay-Z or Nas. Instead, you're most likely going to be thinking of something totally different. While some might find this to be a hindrance, it's actually a blessing for up-and-coming group R. City, formerly known as Rock City, consisting of brothers and Virgin Islands natives, Theron (aka Da Spokesman) and Timothy (aka Don't Talk Much).

The guys can now find themselves in a rare space where they can make music and introduce themselves to the world with little expectations from fans and critics about what they should sound like. But, that's not to say that there are no expectations at all for the duo who have already worked with some of the biggest names in music before they even dropped their first album.

R. City, who is signed to music superstar Akon's wildly successful Konvict Music label, know that joining such a prominent label with the type of resume that they've built for themselves, means that they need to come with more than just an "okay" album, and they feel they are more than ready for that challenge.

BallerStatus.com: What type of music would you categorize yourself under?

R. City: We don't really put ourselves under a category. At the end of the day, everybody is making music. I feel categories are created so the music industry can box people in and try to make money. When marketing and advertising came in is when the whole genre of pop and R&B and all that came in because they had to put everybody in a place. Music now is very open, so we don't have to put ourselves into any category we just make music.

BallerStatus.com: You guys were songwriters before you own careers started taking off. How did you become involved in writing for other artists?

R. City: We got into the songwriting thing about three or four years ago because we wrote a song called "The Rain," back in seventh grade and we re-recorded it because everybody back home told us how good it was when we put it back out in the Virgin Islands. So we played it for Akon and he was working on his second album and did it. After he did it, everybody was coming up to us asking if we're songwriters, so we said "Yeah." Because at the time, we were broke.

BallerStatus.com: How did you get signed to Konvict Music?

R. City: We've known Akon for about six or seven years as of now and we're all good friends. At the end of the day, we did the deal Konvict because it made the most sense. He let us have full creative control because so many people would try to change us and put us into this box. We just rolled with Kon because he was friend for about two or three years before the deal and he was one of the few people who truly understood who we are, what we do, and what we represent.

BallerStatus.com: Do you feel that there's pressure to succeed because of all the success that the label has had so far?

R. City: We don't really get caught up in all the hype of clicks. Although we're signed to Konvict, no disrespect, but if Konvict were to start beefing with G-Unit or Ruff Ryder or whatever, we're not apart of that.

BallerStatus.com: What's going on with the debut album situation?

R. City: We're actually finishing up the album and it's very, very dope. We're really excited because everybody's on board. We just had a meeting with Akon and it went very well, so we're about to put out a song and run with it and we have his full support. We can't complain and we love doing music, so we're about to get on the road and perform for the fans.

BallerStatus.com: Who would you say are some of your inspirations musically?

R. City: Bob Marley, Jay-Z, Fugees. To be honest -- and I know this might sound funny -- but everybody. Even people that I don't like musically inspire me to a point because call it hate if you want, but if I hear something that's wack and it's working, I'll be like "Sh**, I know I'm better than that." I know people's sh** that is amazing like "Oh my God, that's the best thing I ever heard, I need to go back to the drawing board, so I can make something as good or better." The people that we like and the people that we don't like, everybody is an inspiration to us.

BallerStatus.com: What would you say are some of the long term goals for the group?

R. City: We want to be what Bob Marley was to Jamaica for the Virgin Islands and just to be respected by our peers for our talents.