Anthony Rodas was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1988 and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. Anthony, also known as "Grizzly The Specialist", was introduced to the music industry by his best friend Geovani "Devious" Negron and by age 15 had dedicated his life to music.
Influenced by the creative output of his friend, Grizzly decided to explore his musical talent by creating rhymes and hooks and writing frequently to fine tune his skills. In 2004 Grizzly decided to step up his game. He and Devious founded Concealed Weaponz Productionz, the umbrella name of the group and their collective projects.
Later that year they collaborated with Live Chambers, aka L.C., which consisted of a group of older and more experienced musicians. Aspiring for industry knowledge, Grizzly and Devious acquired vital information regarding music production from members of L.C., such as song formatting and delivery methods. The members of L.C. also introduced them to a few of their former producers, including Puzz Inc . In 2005, Grizzly and Devious had their first professional recording session with Puzz, where they recorded several tracks. Those tracks, however, were never released to the public.
With the escalating desire to establish themselves, the friends grew frustrated with the limitations they encountered. What they wanted most was the creative freedom to work on their own projects. But, much to their disappointment, that dream had to be put on hold; at least for a while.
Not wanting to lose touch with his goals, Grizzly realized he would need to make a more radical investment to see his music come to life since studio time was expensive and hard to come by. In 2006, he began purchasing his own studio equipment and did not waste time learning how to use it.
In 2007, joined by Devious and Carlos "Krazy C" Alonso, Grizzly released his first mix tape titled, "Takin Da Shine." During this time he also began developing a new interest in engineering. He decided to take a break from rapping and began working with local artists, focusing his attention on recording and mixing. Both later became hidden talents for which he has become well known.
In 2008, Grizzly met fellow industry members Trinity 360 and Feyto. They worked together on a few projects with several artists that continued through 2009. However, things did not work out as expected and those projects were abandoned for new prospects.
Presently, Grizzly is constantly working hard to make a name for himself as a solo artist. His highly anticipated solo mixtape entitled, "Drugs, $$$ & Problems", reflects the hustles and struggles of street life, as well as the determination to survive and succeed. He expresses a great deal of confidence in this project. He ensures that his audience will not be disappointed.
When asked what inspires and motivates him to pursue a career in the music industry, Grizzly admits that the potential to earn a lot of money is a big motivation, but added that music has been a stress reliever and a way for him to express himself in a constructive way. He also acknowledges that there is a certain satisfaction that comes from knowing that his work can have a positive impact on people. The positive feedback of those who are impacted by his music is what stimulates him to work harder.
