Although it took him until his sophomore year of college to pursue his rap career, Frederick Rosales, also known as “Sliver”, has always been around and intrigued by music.

Rosales’s first time being introduced to music was when his father gave him a guitar when he was a kid, and told him to learn how to play it. “I feel as if most kids at the age of 14 wouldn’t be interested in learning an instrument, but for me, it was a great experience. It taught me how to be dedicated. I had to set a goal, and then meet that goal.”  He also said, that the whole process, the ups and downs and getting through them really pushed him into pursuing music.

The now 20 year-old attended Hope High School in Providence, R.I. While there, Rosales continued to build a stronger relationship with music. He was in the schools band, where he continued to play the guitar. Rosales added, “I also sang, but not to other people. I would just walk around my house singing certain lines to myself, or if I was in school, I would just sing the notes in my head.”  

After his four years at Hope High School, Rosales was accepted into the University of Rhode Island through its summer program, Talent Development, or TD for short. “It was tough, being in school during the summer and receiving a lot of work to do, but I was focused on getting into college, so whatever was given to me, I put my all into.”

Rosales finished the program with a 2.9 GPA, and was accepted into the university. At first he was a computer science major, but Rosales quickly learned that it wasn’t what he wanted to do anymore, and decided to switch to communications. He said, “I feel as if with comm., I have a little more time to work on my music, and it has already helped me and my ability to network and communicate with others.”

This is where Rosales became good friends with  rapper, and URI student, Taj Smith.  They had met previously during the TD program, but didn’t become close  until the middle of freshmen year. “One day we were hanging out in my room with some friends, and we were just chilling. Then Taj started to freestyle, so we all joined in. Ever since that day I write or freestyle everyday.”

“After a couple of months went by, a week or so into sophomore year, Taj said that he saw something in me and believed in my rapping ability, and that I should continue to work hard and pursue it.”  

Since that conversation, Rosales and Smith have spent almost everyday together, whether it is working hard on their music, searching for new talent to work with, or just hanging out, doing nothing.

The two put out an EP (short for extended play) titled, “Summer Daze” this past summer, which was Rosales’s first project. He also came out with his first solo mixtape this past January called, “Misunderstood”.

Rosales has also performed at The Met a number of times. "I love performing there. Every time I go back, there are more and more fans. I've also made connections with other artists around the east coast." He mentioned that most of the music he has made is not on the internet, but his mixtape is on SoundCloud, and any other music he has coming out will be as well.  

Now a year into the rap world, Rosales has surrounded himself with people who support and share the same goals he has, stating, “Since I’ve been a part of D4, it’s been nothing but pure love and respect for music, and for that I’m grateful. I have seen so much hate in such little amount time before joining D4, and to be with people who are with me 100 percent, as I am with them, I couldn’t ask for anything else.”