Visalia native's rap dreams becoming reality

From writing lyrics late into the night beginning his sophomore year alongside his best friend to touring on the national stage as an opening act for a rap artist, the life of Ray Bock of Visalia has changed hugely since his high school days.

During the 21-year-old's time at Redwood High School, his life was largely lived on the baseball field.

He played ball for all of his four years at Redwood High School, where he received numerous recognitions — including the title of offensive player of the year — and went on to pursue the sport more seriously in 2011 when he moved out to Mission Viejo to attend Saddleback College.

Baseball was his life.

That was until his arm began hurting.

"I threw way too much," he said. "I played way too much baseball. I never had a break really. It was winter, spring, summer, fall."

Realizing his dreams of playing ball professionally might not pan out with a deteriorating arm, Bock began to shift his life's focus to his other passion.

In high school, Bock and best friend, Quinten Owens, would regularly skip social gatherings to write lyrics in a home office-turned-studio at the Bock family home.

Inspired by a poetry course he took his sophomore year, Bock wrote his first song at 17 and he and his best friend went on to perform their lyrics in a rap performance on the Redwood stage at a talent show during their senior year.

Bock was ready to get more serious about a music career. And it just had to be rap.

"When I heard a beat and it had that rhythm and I could flow to it — it was about the beat," he said. "I love that whole creation process. It started with nothing and then at the end you have this crazy creation you've made out of nowhere."

Bock was able to convince a promoter at the Anaheim-based club, Chain Reaction, to perform under the condition he sold 20 tickets. Bock sold 50.

The experience of that first public show was a game changer, Bock said. He was nervous going on stage, but the nerves quickly dissipated as he spewed his lyrics to a huge crowd of upbeat, dancing and cheering spectators.

"That's where I realized that's what I wanted to do," Bock said of the experience. "I love being on stage. It's awesome."

Continuing to work with the same promoter, Bock kept on selling tickets and performing at music venues throughout Southern California, from the House of Blues in Anaheim to Pomona's The Glass House.

At the Glass House, Bock first met rapper Mark Battles, who was the opening act for an artist called Rocky Fresh.

After Bock's performance, he was approached by Battles.

"I got off stage. He said he liked my style and my message and told me to keep in touch," Bock explained.

Two years went by, with Bock continuing to perform and with Bock and Mark Battles text messaging one another occasionally.

It was at a dinner with friends one evening when Bock received the text that would bring his music career to a new level.

The text, from Battles, explained that he was going on tour. And he wanted Bock to join and to perform as the opening act.

"It didn't seem real," Bock said. "I texted my friend Quinten and asked if he wanted to go on tour. I checked with my mom and dad and they said they're all for it. And when I woke up, I had to check myself. It was a dream come through. I've seen some places I never thought I'd see in my life."

The tour, Dreams 2 Reality, kicked off Sept. 5 in Oregon and Bock is currently making his way across the country through the tour's last day on Oct. 25. He typically performs a 15-minute set of roughly five songs, with his most songs popular being "I Want It All" and "Intoxicated."

The experience can be scary sometimes, Bock said. On the tour, he performs in front of about 350 never-before-seen faces at each show. He describes it as the biggest road show of his life and he got to do part of the journey with his best friend, Owens, who was Bock's DJ the first few shows.

It's powerful performing his self-written lyrics as it's all about impacting people through what he's written, and about "letting them know there's someone out there with the same stuff going on as in their life," Bock said.

And Bock is proud of his Central Valley roots and likes to give a shout out to Visalia and the Central Valley during his performances, he said.

After the tour ends, Bock is hoping a Visalia venue will agree to allow him to perform, as he'd love to bring his act to his hometown.

"It all started on a piece of paper and to bring it from a piece of paper to the stage, it's awesome," he said.