Santa Cruz Rapper Plays Male Stalker in his Video 'Lurk'

Most women have had a brush with a stalker type, or have made the mistake of giving their phone number to a "lurker." And if they haven't, they surely know someone who has.

In his video "Lurk," released on Oct. 31, local rapper Ross Rock whole-heartily embraces the role of that creep who won't take "no" for an answer.

Although "Lurk" features aggressively satirical lyrics and humorous scenes held in place by Ross Rock's strange charisma, the video is actually pretty dark.

"I didn't want to play it safe, I wanted to make a song that risked rubbing the listener the wrong way or making the listener feel uncomfortable," says Ross Rock.

His motivation? "I know a lot of rappers talk about pimpin' and how women flock to them and so on, so I decided to come from the opposite angle. Being turned down by a women and then stalking her," he says.

Produced by Michael "Mikey" Daniel of Ocean House Productions (who also produced Krooked Fam's "Just Go" video), "Lurk" follows Ross Rock's shady character through the familiar and beloved backdrop of downtown Santa Cruz, the Cove on the east side (where he proposed to his wife), Lighthouse Field, (an old childhood haunt for many locals), and Panther Beach in Davenport (the site of "Lurk"'s fire scene.)

Ross Rock says it was "eerily easy" to get into creep mode, dressed in all black in a dark room with candles all around him. His acting skills would never betray the fact that he's actually a devoted husband and father, more likely to be found spending time with his family than flexing his ego at the local dive bar. 

"Playing the "lurker" was ridiculously fun." said Ross of filming. "Right off the bat I got along well with Mikey and his right hand man Corey Hauze." 

Specializing in impeccably delivered lyrics fired off in double time, Ross Rock is also a classic case of a "class clown" personality. 

"In the last year or so I've incorporated a lot more humor in my songs... But I don't always include humor. I try to be as unpredictable as possible," says Ross. 

So what's next for Ross Rock? Well, we'll just have to wait to find out. (In the meantime, check out the Ross Rock ReverbNation page to hear more of his work.)

"But I will say that I want to stay in Santa Cruz's ear and really just want to make music and videos that the Santa Cruz music supporters can be proud of. I want it to seem familiar and feel like its coming from home. Outside of that I'll let the chips fall where they may," says Ross.

Purchase the Lurk single on iTunes.

What do you think of the latest locally-produced video "Lurk"? Tell us in the comments!